Emergency Trauma Care - When there is no time to lose.

Name: Emergency Trauma Care - When there is no time to lose.
Start: 2011-09-25T16:00:00-04:00
End: 2011-09-25T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Liberties

Hosted By

Barb and FERNANDO ANTONIO S.

Emergency Trauma Care - When there is no time to lose.

Details

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/7/9/0/event_15150608.jpeg

Someday you may find yourself in a life or death medical situation. You or a loved one may need IMMEDIATE help in dealing with a severe trauma wound or shut down of body functions. Perhaps 911 is too far away, perhaps they cannot be relied on at all.

With this engaging skillshare we are fortunate to have one of our founding members - Barb , a critical care R.N. on hand to teach us some important basics for getting a grip on a bad situation.

Our Survive and Thrive group has many doctors, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists, cops, military and even a firefighter in our membership. That said, Barb has done a FANTASTIC job of teaching these valuable bits of life saving information to our group for years now. Her manner and tone make the presentation easy to follow and absorb.

We will cover:

Stabilizing physical traumas ( gunshots and stabs, amputations, stopping blood loss, setting breaks in bones)
Proper suturing techniques and materials to use or improvise with
Wound care ( starting the healing process along without doing MORE damage)
One and two person methods for moving wounded victims
CPR and removing breathing blockages for adults and children ( you will receive Red Cross training but will not be certified on paper)

This will be a very hands on meetup. You will be able to practice what you learn there and then. Bring friends and family.

Here are a few related file links that you should find useful beforehand:

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/Common%20Household%20Items%20With%20Uncommon%20Uses.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/Common%20Household%20Items%20With%20Uncommon%20Uses.pdf)

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/Basic%20First%20Aid.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/Basic%20First%20Aid.pdf)

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/US%20Marine%20Corps%20-%20First%20Aid.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/US%20Marine%20Corps%20-%20First%20Aid.pdf)

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/Wound%20Care%20And%20Sutures.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/Wound%20Care%20And%20Sutures.pdf)

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/Dehydration.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/Dehydration.pdf)

http://files. meetup.com/1332202/Dakin%27s%20Solution.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/1332202/Dakin%27s%20Solution.pdf)

These are the meeting notes for you to print out ahead of time:

Topic Outline:

I. The “ABCDE’s of first aid”

II. Specific conditions

a. Bleeding

b . Burns

c . Fractures

d . Shock

e . Gunshot wounds

III. Resources for self-education

*Remember: Don’t become a second victim! What will kill the patient first?

I. The ABCDE of first aid

*The Rule of Three’s: Three minutes without oxygen; Three hours without shelter; Three days without water; Three weeks without food

a. Airway

i. YELL: Are you okay?

ii. Log roll onto back

iii. Look/listen for breathing

iv. Head tilt/chin lift to clear airway (is there any obstruction?)

b . Breathing

i. Give 2 breathes then 30 fast, deep compressions – lock elbows, compress chest 1 ½ - 2 inches down

ii. Continue cycle for 15-30 minutes

c . Circulation

i. Check for pulse – use pointer and middle finger, place on carotid (on side of neck), hold for 10 seconds

ii. Look for signs of bleeding (more details below)

d . Disability

i. Purpose: Keep head, neck, and spine stable (as little movement as possible)

ii. Assume spinal injury, especially if violent trauma or fall – signs include numbness in limbs, altered consciousness, neck/back pain

iii. Improvised cervical collar – sleeping pad, ground pad, etc. then wrap with ace bandage

iv. If you must move patient – log roll method OR synchronous movement (lift/lower all at once with as much help as possible)

e . Environment

i. Majority of wilderness deaths are due to hypothermia

ii. Keep patient off ground – ground pad, blanket…anything that will help stabilize body temperature

II. Specific Conditions

a. Bleeding

i. Find source of bleed

ii. Cut away clothing

iii. Well-aimed, direct pressure

iv. Elevation – if feasible

v . Pressure dressing – keep applying on top of first dressing, even if soaks through

b . Burns

Remove burned clothing/jewelry first!

i. 1st Degree – painful red WITHOUT blisters (i.e. sunburn)

Treat with cold water irrigation
Apply aloe vera gel or honey dressing
Lightly bandage with sterile dressing
Ibuprofen for pain/swelling

ii. 2nd Degree – painful red WITH blisters

Do NOT pop blisters
Treat same as 1st degree burn, but may lightly apply antibiotic ointment

iii. 3rd Degree – grey-black skin, may not hurt

Treat same as above, but monitor patient for signs of shock
Antibiotic prophylaxis if feasible

c . Fractures

i. Definition – any break of crack in a bone

ii. If not sure, assume fracture – signs include deformity, pain, inability to use limb, grinding

iii. Stable vs. Unstable

Stable – no deformity, swells SLOWLY, full range of motion, circulation okay, no numbness

a. Treat with R.I. C.E.

Unstable – obvious deformity, rapid swelling, limited ROM, extreme pain, decreased circulation, apparent numbness

a. Immobilize joints above and below fracture

b . If “open” (coming through skin), will also need to water irrigate

c . Pull traction along line of bone

d . Apply splint before releasing traction

e . Cover wound with sterile dressing and bandage

f . Antibiotic prophylaxis if feasible

d . Shock

i. Definition: Lack of oxygenated blood to tissues

ii. Common causes – bleeding, dehydration, diarrhea, etc.

iii. Signs/symptoms – pale, cool, clammy skin with rapid and/or weak pulse/breathing, anxiety, nausea

iv. Treatment

Treat underlying cause!
Maintain body temperature – protect from excess heat/cold
Elevate legs 8-10 inches
Consider fluids if patient is coherent and can tolerate

e . Gunshot Wounds

i. Treatment

ABCDE’s of first aid
If injury is in chest – possibly an “open" (sucking) chest wound

a. Signs/symptoms - painful breathing, sucking/crackling sound with inhalation, bubbles at wound site with exhalation, bubbles felt on chest wall near the injury

b . Treatment

i. Seal opening immediately with any air-tight substance (zip-lock bag, saran wrap, vaseline/honey on gauze pad) taped on three sides, to give a “flutter-valve” effect