QUICK FIRST AID

Bleeding:

Wear gloves if you have them
Apply direct pressure to the bleeding wound over a dressing or clean fabric
Elevate the bleeding part (unless you suspect a fracture)
If the wound is gaping, apply a 'pull across' or 'butterfly' bandage
Call an ambulance (dial 998) if bleeding does not slow quickly
Is something in there?
Don't remove it..... gently surround it with a bulky dressing
Go to the doctor
Nosebleed?
Tilt the head forward and pinch the nostrils firmly (for 5 - 10 minutes)
Discourage speaking, swallowing, spitting or sniffing
Let them dribble if necessary into a tissue or bowl
When the bleeding stops, there should be no exertion or nose blowing for 4 hours so as not to disturb the clot.

Call an ambulance (dial 999) if:
You suspect a neck or back injury (keep them still)
If walking or breathing is difficult
If there is more than one injury
Do you suspect a broken bone?
The limb is painful and movement is painful or even impossible
It is swollen or deformed
There is tenderness over the injury site with even the lightest touch
A snap might have been heard
There may be signs of shock
Immobilize this injury:
Warn them to be still until the limb has been immobilized
For a BONE injury &endash; splint the joint above and below
For a JOINT injury &endash; splint the bone above and below
Always splint the injury in the position you found them in
Always elevate the injured part after it is splinted unless it makes it hurt even more.
Do you suspect a sprain?
If the limb is painful
If the limb is swollen
Movement is possible but may be uncomfortable
No deformity is visible
If you are in doubt, treat it as a fracture
Remember RICE:
Rest the limb
Ice to the sprain
Compress with a tensor (ace bandage)
Elevate the limb

This is a sudden, involuntary and painful contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles.
This can be caused by:
Poor stretching before or after exercise
If chilling takes place following or during exercise
If too much salt and water has been lost through sweating, diarrhea or vomiting
During sleep
What to do:
Pain is usually relieved through stretching the muscle
Straighten the limb and gently massage the muscle or muscle group

Animal bites & endash; take them seriously!
Wash with soap and water
Cover with a dressing
Go to the doctor
Insect Bites &endash; a common nuisance that can be very serious if an allergy exists
If you see a stinger, remove it by scraping lightly back and forth. Don't squeeze it.
Wash with soap and water
Use an ice pack or cold to reduce pain and swelling
Apply a sting swab or a pain relieving spray to improve comfort

Heat exhaustion affects people performing physical exercise in hot, moist weather especially if they don't replace the water and salt lost in the sweat.
The body tries to cool itself:
The skin looks red. There is lots of sweating. Breathing becomes faster.
The person feels:
Exhausted but restless
Headachy or tired and dizzy
Their face may become pale, but cold and clammy
They may even faint
What to do:
Let them lay down in a cool place
Give sips of cold water (if they are vomiting or have cramps give a teaspoon of salt in a litre of water.)

The body is no longer able to control it's temperature. Sweating stops. This is a very serious condition that results from a feverish illness (like malaria) or a greatly raised body temperature from long heat exposure.
The skin is warm to touch but dry
Headache, dizziness and restlessness
Unconsciousness follows if not treated
Very high body temperature, pulse is bounding and breathing may be noisy
What to do:
Move the person to a cool environment and remove any extra clothing
If unconscious, open their airway and check breathing
If conscious lean them up against something in a half sitting position
Wrap them in a cold, wet sheet and keep it wet
Fan the sheet with a fan or magazine to keep the surface cool
Call for an ambulance &endash; Dial 998 in Abu Dhabi