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First Aid Minor Wounds

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First Aid

One of the first matters to address with minor wounds is cleansing the wound.^[3,8] Cleansing is important for incisions that are caused by sharp objects, such as knives or broken glass. However, it is even more critical in abrasion injuries, in which the skin’s outer layers have been scraped away by abrasion against a rough object, such as when elbows and arms scrape against pavement during a skateboard fall. If the abrasion occurred on a surface that contains loose materials, the wound is likely to be contaminated with gravel, dirt, grass, and other foreign substances. Each foreign object remaining may serve as a source of infection and should be removed.

The wound can be washed with tap water under enough pressure to thoroughly cleanse the wound of foreign materials. Wound Wash Saline is a pressurized sterile 0.9% sodium chloride product that can accomplish this cleansing for minor wounds.

What is heat rash?

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Heat rash (prickly heat) is a red or pink rash usually found on body areas covered by clothing. It can develop when the sweat ducts become blocked and swell and often leads to discomfort and itching. Heat rash is most common in babies, but may affect adults in hot, humid climates.

What causes heat rash?

In babies, heat rash can be caused by well-meaning parents who dress their baby too warmly, but it can happen to any baby in very hot weather. A baby should be dressed as an adult would be to be comfortable at the same temperature and activity level. Babies’ hands and feet may feel cool to your touch but that does not mean they need to be dressed too warmly in hot weather.

What are the symptoms of heat rash?

Heat rash looks like dots or tiny pimples. In young children, heat rash can appear on the head, neck, and shoulders. The rash areas can get irritated by clothing or scratching, and, rarely, a secondary skin infection may develop.

How is heat rash diagnosed?

Heat rash can usually be identified by its appearance and does not usually require medical attention. However, if doesn’t go away after 3 or 4 days, or if it appears to be getting worse, or if your child develops a fever, contact your health professional right away.

When you or your child has a rash, it is important to watch for signs of infection, including:

• Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the affected area.
• Red streaks extending from the affected area.
• Drainage of pus from the area.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.
• Fever of 100° F (37.8° C) or higher, or chills with no other known cause.

If any of these symptoms develop, contact your health professional immediately.

What is the treatment for heat rash?

Most prickly heat rashes heal on their own. The following steps can help relieve symptoms.

• Start by removing or loosening clothing and move him or her to a cool, shady spot.
• Let the skin air-dry instead of using towels.
• If your baby’s skin is irritable to touch, calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream may be used with your health professional’s approval.
• Avoid ointments or other lotions because they can irritate the skin.

The following tips can help prevent future episodes of the rash:

• Dress your child in as few clothes as possible during hot weather.
• Keep the skin cool and dry.
• Keep the sleeping area cool.

After the rash is gone, gradually expose your child to warmer temperatures so that his or her skin can acclimate.

What are the different kinds of casts?

A cast, which keeps a bone from moving so it can heal, is essentially a big bandage that has two layers — a soft cotton layer that rests against the skin and a hard outer layer that prevents the broken bone from moving.

These days, casts are made of either:

• plaster of paris: a heavy white powder that forms a thick paste that hardens quickly when mixed with water. Plaster of paris casts are heavier than fiberglass casts and don’t hold up as well in water.
• synthetic (fiberglass) material: made out of fiberglass, a kind of moldable plastic, these casts come in many bright colors and are lighter and cooler. The covering (fiberglass) on synthetic casts is water-resistant, but the padding underneath is not. You can, however, get a waterproof liner. The doctor putting on your child’s cast will decide whether a fiberglass cast with a waterproof lining is appropriate.

How is a cast put on?

First, several layers of soft cotton are wrapped around the injured area. Next, the plaster or fiberglass outer layer is soaked in water. The doctor wraps the plaster or fiberglass around the soft first layer. The outer layer is wet but will dry to a hard, protective covering. Doctors sometimes make tiny cuts in the sides of a cast to allow room for swelling.

Can plaster of paris casts get wet?

Absolutely not! A wet cast may not hold the bone in place because the cast could start to dissolve in the water and could irritate the skin underneath it, possibly leading to infection. So your child shouldn’t swim and should use a plastic bag or special sleeve (available online or sometimes at pharmacies) to protect the cast from water. And instead of a shower, your child may need to take a sponge bath.

Can synthetic (fiberglass) casts get wet?

Although the fiberglass itself is waterproof, the padding inside a fiberglass cast is not. So it’s still important to try to keep a fiberglass cast from getting wet. If this is a problem, talk to the doctor about getting a waterproof liner. Fiberglass casts with waterproof liners let kids continue bathing or even go swimming during the healing process. Although the liner allows for evaporation of water and sweat, it’s still fragile. Also, only certain types of breaks can be treated with this type of cast. Your doctor will determine if the fracture may be safely treated with a waterproof cast.

Under normal conditions, we all lose some body water every day in our sweat, tears, urine, and stool. Water also evaporates from our skin and leaves the body as vapor when we breathe. We usually replace this body fluid and the salts it contains with the water and salts in our regular diet.

Sometimes, however, kids lose abnormally large amounts of water and salts through fever (more water evaporates from the body when body temperature is increased), diarrhea, vomiting, or long periods of exercise with excessive sweating. Some illnesses might also prevent them from taking fluids by mouth. If they’re unable to adequately replace the fluid that’s been lost, kids can become dehydrated.

Recognizing Dehydration

If your child has fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, or is sweating a lot on a hot day or during intense physical activity, you should watch for signs of dehydration, which can include:

• dry or sticky mouth
• few or no tears when crying
• eyes that look sunken into the head
• soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby’s head that looks sunken
• lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
• lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
• dry, cool skin
• lethargy or irritability
• fatigue or dizziness in an older child

Preventing Dehydration

The best way to prevent dehydration is to make sure kids get plenty of fluids when they’re sick or physically active — they should consume more fluids than they lose (from vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating).

How you keep a child adequately hydrated can depend on the circumstances. For example, a child with a sore throat may become dehydrated due to difficulty drinking or eating. Easing the pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help, while cold drinks or popsicles can soothe a burning throat while also supplying fluids.

Home Safety and a First Aid Kits

A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice. You should keep one first-aid kit in your home and one in each car. Also be sure to bring a first-aid kit on family vacations.

Choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to carry, and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes or containers for storing art supplies are ideal, since they’re lightweight, have handles, and offer a lot of space.

Include the following in each of your first-aid kits:

• first-aid manual
• sterile gauze
• adhesive tape
• adhesive bandages in several sizes
• elastic bandage
• antiseptic wipes
• soap
• antibiotic cream (triple-antibiotic ointment)
• antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
• tweezers
• sharp scissors
• safety pins
• disposable instant cold packs
• calamine lotion
• alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• thermometer
• plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)
• flashlight and extra batteries
• mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
• your list of emergency phone numbers
• blanket (stored nearby)

After you’ve stocked your first-aid kits:

• Read the entire first-aid manual so you’ll understand how to use the contents of your kits. (If your children are old enough to understand, review the manuals with them as well.)
• Store first-aid kits in places that are out of children’s reach but easily accessible for adults.
• Check the kits regularly. Replace missing items or medicines that may have expired.

Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2007

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Red Cross - Kelowna First Aid Course

50- Assorted Band-Aids, 1- Adhesive Tape 1″x5yds, 2- Abdominal Pad 8″x10″, 4- Gauze Pads 4″x4″, 6- Cotton Tip Applicator 3″, 2- Pressure dressing – Sterile 4″x6″, 4- Triangle Bandage, 2- Tension Bandage 3″

30- Wet-nap Hand Cleaner, 12- Antiseptic Towels, 1- Bandage Scissors 5 1/2″, 1- Splinter Forceps 4 1/2″, 1- Cold Pack, 12- Gloves, Pocket Mask With Soft Nylon case

1-Splinter forceps 4 1/2″, 2- 24-Antiseptic Towelettes, 30-Hand Cleaner, 100-Assorted Band-Aids, 6-Gauze pads 4″x 4″ 2/pkg, 4-Pressure dressing 4″x 6″ elastic tails, 2-Tensor bandage 3″, 1-Adhesive tape l” x 5yrd.

4-Surgi pads 8″x 10″, 6-Triangular bandage, 1-Bandage scissors 51/2″, tip applicators 6″ 6/pkg, 1-Pocket Mask C/W one way valve, 6pr Nitrile gloves, 1-Accident record book, 1-Cold kompress instant, 1-Pencil, Pocket Mask 

BC-Level 2 First Aid Kit (Bag & Contents)

24-Antiseptic towelettes, 150-Assorted bandaids, 6-Gauze pads 4″x 4″ 2/pkg, 4-Pressure dressing 4″x 6″ elastic tails, 12-Triangular bandage, 6-Surgi pads 8″x 10″, 2-Adhesive tape l”x Syrd, 2-Adhesive tape 2″x 5yrd.

6-Tensor bandage 3″, 1-Saline solution 500ml., 1-Green soap 60ml, 1-Scissors universal all purpose, 1-Kelly Forceps 5.5″, 1-Pen lights disposable, 1-Esmarch Bandage, 6pr. gloves, 1-Pocket Mask C/W one way valve

1-Airways oral size 0-6 in each kit, 6-Patient assessment chart, 1-Accident record book, 1-Pencil, 1-Cold kompress instant, With Soft Nylon Case, Level 2 Complete – As Above Plus Bag Valve Mask 3 Blankets

Oxygen Therapy Kit

Level 2 Bag & Contents PLUS, Bag/Mask Resuscitator, Rescue-Vac Suction Unit, Oxygen therapy unit, 3 Blankets in zippered bag, Individual blanket

Please note that the Level 3 Kit is designated as Dangerous Goods and cannot be shipped by bus and certain other forms of transportation. Please inquire with us as to the best shipping method

Health and safety officer (OFA Level 3 Attendant) in Terms of Employment: Permanent, are usually Full Time,

Usual Salary: Dependant upon Location Range of $15.00 Hr – $75.00 Hourly

Usual Skills Required for OFA 3 Attendant

Skill Requirements: Education: Some high school, Completion of high school, Some college/CEGEP/vocational or technical training Credentials (certificates, licences, memberships, courses, etc.):

Association for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals Certification

Experience:

Experience an asset Languages: Speak English, Read English, Write English

Type of Inspection and Investigation: Hazardous products handling and storage, Workplace,

Work related accidents Specific Skills: Inspect workplaces for safety or health hazards, Investigate workplace accidents or illnesses

Transportation/Travel Information: Own vehicle, Valid driver’s licence, Own transportation

Work Site Environment: Outdoors Work Location Information: Urban area

Own Tools/Equipment: Tools, Safety equipment/gear, Steel-toed safety boots, Hard hat, Safety glasses/goggles Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Attention to detail, Hand-eye co-ordination

Some other courses may require you to work in oil patch industry; 

H2S alive training – Hydrogen Sulphide Training 

Petroleum Safety Training PST-CSTS,

Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)

Regional Orientation Program Oil Sands Safety association (OSSA)

Confined Space Level 1 – Pre-Entry

WHMIS – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

TDG – Transportation of Dangerous Goods