BLS CPR & First Aid Classes

Drowning is completely preventable. There are approximately 1.2 million people that die each year. More than half of these are children; more than 200,000 of those children will die at their own homes, or the homes of family and friends. We can all prevent drowning by making sure that our children learn to swim and by taking a CPR Course. If they cannot, then we need to provide our children with additional life-saving equipment such as a life-vest. We can also prevent drowning by being vigilant while people are in water.

Drowning is caused when liquid enters the lungs and prevents us from taking in the air that we need. Everyone is at risk! Even for those of us that know how to swim. We should never swim alone because of the risk of drowning. There is no one out there that is exempt.

Our focus should always be on water! If friends, telephone, or anything else is distracting us, then get rid of the distraction. Politely tell whoever it is that they are distracting you, offer to have them assist you. Also, if you are the one in charge, stay away from alcohol and recreational drugs. Since both of these can have an effect on your awareness abilities.

If we are being vigilant either at work or at home, we can recognize the signs immediately. There are a few extremely noticeable signs; the person that waves their hands above their heads and the ones that yell for “Help!” Then there are the ones that bob up and down. They are bouncing off the bottom of where you are. They just aren’t able to get above water. I think this is one of the harder ones to recognize. This one can be especially hard since some of our kids like to play the “bobbing” game.

Once we have recognized the signs, react! Ask if the person is okay. If they say yes, watch them, they may not be okay in a few seconds. If it’s a child that is intentionally pretending that they are drowning, ask them to stop. Believe it or not, they will! If they don’t respond, jump in and get them! It is always better to rescue the person that doesn’t need rescuing than not to rescue the person that does. When you pull the person out of water, make sure that they are alright. They have probably swallowed quite a bit of water. The best way is to just observe and let them cough the water out. It is the body’s natural reaction.

Above all, make sure that you are checking the water on a regular basis. This works both at work and home. When at home, check the pool before the kids enter and when they leave. When at work, check the pool when you enter and when you leave. Make sure that there is nothing at the bottom of the pool. When in doubt, check it out! Constantly keep your eyes on water! At home, you know how many you started out with. Count them regularly. Getting up and walking around the pool, checking it out will also help. When at work, use what you have learned. Check the outlines of your water, working in, just make sure you are watching!

• Ideal for any home and office, sports activity or construction sites
• Compact nylon case and 88 pieces
• Easy transportable with convenient handle and heavy duty clip
• Kit contains detail listing below

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First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, 2010 (First Aid USMLE)

The 20th edition of the world’s #1 selling medical review book! Trust two decades of experience for the most effective USMLE Step 1 preparation possible 1100+ must-know facts and mnemonics organized by organ system and general principles Hundreds of high-yield clinical images you need to know before the exam – including 24 pages of full-color photos Rapid review section for last minute cramming Ratings of 300+ top review products based on the authors’

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Trauma

The most trusted, widely used guide to managing the trauma patient–now in a 2-color format with added algorithms A Doody’s Core Title ESSENTIAL PURCHASE! 4 STAR DOODY’S REVIEW
“Practitioners at any level will benefit from this work originating from major trauma programs in the United States with selected contributions from the international trauma community….This book remains the standard against which other works in the field may be judged. Content has been expanded and updated

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List Price: $ 225.00

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• Bag has a waterproof bottom.
• Velcro handle closures, three rows of elastic loops sewn into the lid, and reflective strips for added visibility
• Two generous exterior pockets with Velcro-attached removable pouches feature a clear vinyl see-through window and multiple elastic loops to help organize your equipment
• fully stocked bag!

UNIQUELY DESIGNED FIRST RESPONDER KIT FEATURES A RUBBERIZED BOTTOM PANEL, DELUXE SHOULDER STRAPS, VELCRO HANDLE CLOSURES, REFLECTIVE STRIPS, AND PADDED LINER WITH 12 ADJUSTABLE COMPARTMENTS. ALSO INCLUDES 3 RIP FREE POCKETS! Measures 20″W x 9″H x 13″D
5 1/2 Bandage Scissors
Kelly 5 1/2″ Straight Forceps
Mini Scalpel, Disposable
Dixie Emergency Airway Kit
cold compress
Liquid Glucose
Wire Splint
Tourniquet
Diagnostic Pen
CPRotector with Gloves
Sat Stick
Mylar Rescue Blanket
2″ x 2″ Bu

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Adventure Medical Kits Tactical Field/Trauma with QuikClot

• Contains Quikclot to help control bleeding fast
• Non latex gloves, trauma pads, wound dressings and wound cleaning supplies
• Basic medications for insect bites, antihistamines, pain relief, burns and blisters
• Contains Dr Eric Weiss book Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine.
• Perfect item for hunting guides and rescue operators.

Part of our Professional Series kits-Tactical Field/Trauma with QuikClot is designed with all the essentials needed to stop or control bleeding. QuikClot is a chemically inert material in a mesh bag that speeds the coagulation of blood, resulting in a stable clot that stops bleeding. Sto[s bleeding faster than convential methods and is safe to leave on wound until advanced medical help arrives. Kit contains dressings, medicines and supplies to deal with more than just bleeding.

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List Price: $ 40.00

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Every parent, grandparent, caregiver, and babysitter should take a CPR/First Aid Course and become certified in Infant CPR.  According to the CDC, there has been a rise of deaths in infants that suffered from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed or ASSB.  In a 20 year period, the infant mortality rate has quadrupled.  These rates are extremely high since the rate of death from SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, has declined in that time period.

To perform CPR on an infant, there are a few things that we should keep in mind.  While they are tiny precious gifts, we cannot do CPR effectively while holding the baby.  The baby must be laid on a flat surface.  They are much smaller than us.  We must be careful how much air we breathe into them.  We also need to watch the compressions.  While it is true that ribs break during CPR, we do not want to break all of them!

Usually with a baby we do not have to check the scene, as the baby’s parents have already removed them from the scene.  However, if we just find the baby, we do need to take the same precautions for our safety.  Now, we have to check for responsiveness.  Gently play with the baby’s foot and softly to the baby.  Watch for movements in the hands, mouths, and eyes, since some baby’s take longer to awake than others.  Next, we have to get the parents’ permission to treat their baby.  If no one is there to give us permission, we do need to yell “Implied Consent!”

Taking the pulse on a baby is quite a bit different.  Since most infants have not stabilized their heads yet, their necks are usually still a little wobbly.  Sometimes too, the “baby fat” makes the choroid artery unreliable.  On a baby, you want to place your index and middle finger on the inside of the baby’s arm right above the elbow, the brachial pulse.  Once again, you want to place your ear near the baby’s mouth for breaths, watching to see if the chest rises and falls, and checking the brachial pulse.  When these conditions do not exist, we need to start CPR at once!

The compressions on an infant are the same as they are on children.  If 1 rescuer, the ratio is 30 to 2.  If there are 2 rescuers, the ratio is 15 to 2.

First, place your choice of barrier method over the infant’s mouth and nose.  Gently and slowly, administer 2 small breaths into the baby.  Watch to see if the chest rises and falls.  If it does not, place the baby’s head back in the original position, and retilt.  Try the two breaths again.  If that still does not work, you must perform the Heimlich maneuver before continuing.

In order to do compressions on an infant, place your thumb and your middle finger across the infant’s chest lining up with its nipple line.  Follow the nipple line up, marking it with your index and middle finger.  You will use these 2 fingers to administer compressions.

You will perform 5 cycles on the infant before checking the vitals.  If the infant does not have any vitals, continue with CPR until medical assistance can take over.

CPR in adults is very easy but  there is much controversy over what age is an adult and which age is a child.  Since the heart size is determined by the size of the person and not the age of the person, always go by  if the 8 year old looks like he could be 12, then treat him as an adult.  But if the 10 year old looks like she is about 7, then treat her as a child.

The very first thing you do is, secure the area.  You are looking for anything that may have made this person need help.  If there is a liquid around them and you can’t identify it, stay away from it!  If you determine the area is safe, then you can continue to step 2.  If the area is unsafe, look and see if it is possible for you to move the person out of that area without risking your own safety.  If you can move them, then that is great!  However, if you cannot then you must just stop, call 911, and keep the area clear until medical assistance arrives.

Second, appoint someone to call 911 for you.  However, you want to be very specific “Hey you, in the red shirt, go call 911 and get back with me!”  Now you want to check and see if the person is conscious.  While tapping their arm or foot, yell as loud as possibly “Hey, are you okay?”  If you get a response, then you are done, if not then move on. You need to do a complete quick examination of the body with your hands, looking for any additional injuries.  Next, you are going to place your ear up to their mouth and your index and middle finger on their choroid artery.  Look down the chest to see if it is rising and falling, also feel for breath on your ear and checking their pulse.  If you have neither, begin CPR.

The counts are simple it is 30 compressions to 2 breaths.  This is the same for 1 or two rescuers. The first thing you do is tilt their head back to open the airway.  Now, place your barrier method over their nose and mouth, and breathe in 2 long breaths, each about a second.  While doing this, watch for their chest rising and falling.  If it does not, retilt their head, and try the two breaths again.  If this does not work, you are going to have to perform the Heimlich maneuver before you can proceed.

Now you are ready for compressions, place your fingers where the ribs and stomach meet.  With your fingers, follow the ribcage up to where the 2 sets of ribs meet up.  Place two fingers here to mark the spot, now place the other hand in front of those fingers.  Lift up your fingers and place your hand on top of the other, lace your fingers together.  With your knees firmly pressed against them, start applying the 30 compressions (about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep). Begin the cycle again. You are going to do this for 5 cycles, check for a pulse and breathing.  If the person is still not breathing, continue these cycles of CPR until medical attention arrives.

Administering first aid for an impaled object is very difficult and needs a lot of patience to ensure that the person being treated as well as yourself are safe and no further harm comes to the victim. Depending on the location and size of the object and the impalement and if you’re not familiar with First Aid Training you may need to call emergency rescue to handle more serious situations.

The first thing you need to remember is to keep yourself safe. Any object that is sharp enough to be impaled into the victim will be sharp enough to cause harm to you as well. They can cause significant harm to any rescuer and it is also tainted with the victim’s blood. Wear protective gloves, clothing if needed, and protective face masks to avoid any injury and to steer clear of communicable diseases that can be spread through bodily fluids. If the severity of the situation is high, call 911 immediately. You, as an innocent bystander are not qualified to handle situations this severe even if you have taken a First Aid Class impaled objects. Even if the impaled object seems small and the injury does not seem life threatening, it still requires professional medical assistance.

Whatever you do, do not remove the object that has impaled the victim. They create a puncture wound while at the same time creating pressure on the wound which prevents excessive bleeding. The exception to this rule is if the victim needs CPR rescue breathing and the impaled object is in the way or if the object is obstructing the airway of the victim. Removing an impaled object will remove the “clot” which will cause the victim to bleed out. If you absolutely have to remove the object to do rescue breathing or CPR or it is preventing the victim to breathe then you must take the appropriate measures to stop the bleeding.

If an ambulance has not arrived, is not available immediately, or the victim has been moved, it is necessary to cut the object down to as short as possible. The longer the impaled object is outside of the body the more damage it can do to internal organs and body tissue. Once the object has been shortened as much as possible secure the object; by securing the object it will prevent movement which will in turn prevent additional tissue damage and will decrease the chances of excessive bleeding. Once the object is secured, begin administering basic first aid.

Step 1: Keep yourself safe. This should always be the primary concern before administering first aid to any person. Wear gloves, protective clothing, and protective face masks if available.

Step 2: Check to make sure the victim is awake and conscious. If they are not, this is a significant indicator that the impaled object has caused other serious medical conditions. If the victim does not respond to your attempts to wake them call 911 immediately. If the victim is awake although seems confused or disoriented, still call 911; when in doubt, always call 911.

Step 3: Check the victim’s airway to make sure there are no obstructions and that they are still breathing. If the victim is awake, ask them to speak to you. If they can respond to you verbally this is a good indicator that they are breathing. If they are unable to respond then chances are their airway is blocked. If the victim is unconscious you must listen, feel, and watch for breathing. Put your ear to their mouth to listen for breathing. Put your check near their mouth to feel the victim breathing during exhale. Watch the victim’s chest to see if it rises and falls as it would if they were breathing normally. If the victim is not breathing begin administering CPR immediately; if they are breathing place them in the recovery position.

Step 4: Check for appropriate circulation. Once you have determined that the victim is breathing normally check the color of their skin, lips, and nail beds to ensure that their blood is circulating the way it should be.

Following all of the above steps will help you administer first aid for an impaled object.

First Aid for a Cat Scratch

One of the most common domestic pets is a cat. One may think they are harmless and while most domesticated species of cats are extremely docile and serene, there is always a chance of getting scratched. Smaller scratches can be taken care of by washing out the wound and using antibiotic ointment. For more severe wounds, first aid for a cat scratch is imperative in preventing the wound from getting infected.

The first thing you should do is move the person away from the cat. If the cat is yours, move them to a secure and quiet place and observe your cat to make sure that their temperament is back to normal and has not shown any other aggressive behaviors. If the cat belongs to someone else, find out if the cat has been vaccinated with the rabies shot and still keep the cat contained to ensure the person’s safety. Usually, healthy cats will attack someone when they are hurt, sick, inured, scared, or annoyed. They will also attack if they feel their kittens are being threatened by harm in any way. Since the cause of why the cat attacked the person is unknown, keep it contained and under observation to ensure that it won’t attack again.

If you don’t have any First Aid Training this information will help you. When administering first aid for cat scratches, make sure you wear protective gloves to prevent yourself from coming into contact with any bodily fluids that may be infected. Reassure the person who was scratched that they are out of danger and tell them what you plan to do to treat the wound before you begin. You must stop the wound from bleeding. To do this, firmly place a clean cloth over the wound to stop the bleeding for approximately five to ten minutes. A tourniquet is not needed unless the bleeding is so severe that it cannot be stopped. Once the bleeding has slowed down or has stopped, wash the wound with soap under running water for approximately five minutes. It is important to attempt to clean the wound as deep in as possible as a cat’s claws can carry a lot of bacteria which can cause infection. When cleaning the wound, make sure you rub the area gently as rubbing more briskly could damage any tissue that surrounds the wound. Rinse off all the soap to prevent irritation and infection from occurring later. Once you have washed out the wound, dry it and apply antibacterial cream to it if available and cover it with a sterile bandage.

After the wound has been treated, keep an eye on it for several days for any signs of infection. Some of those signs include drainage, swelling, an increase in pain or redness, and heat emanating from the wound. If these symptoms become evident or worse notify a physician immediately as a serious infection could have developed. It is also important to contact a physician to find out if any follow-up treatment is necessary such as antibiotics, stitches, a series of rabies shots, or a tetanus shot. Since cat scratches usually result in deep wounds, any scratches to the hands or face should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible as it could cause loss of function, loss of sensation, or extreme scarring. If the wounded person develops flu-like symptoms such as headache, fatigue, fever, loss in appetite, or swollen glands within two weeks of the wound occurring, it is imperative that a physician is notified as the person may have developed cat-scratch fever.

Even though domestic cats are docile pets, they too can become agitated and aggressive if they feel they are being threatened, harmed, or abused as well as if they have developed a serious illness. Take heed when your cat’s behavior changes to avoid this type of injury. But follow the first aid for a cat scratch steps very carefully and precisely as it could prevent seriously complications.