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| EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT |
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| FIRST-AID |
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| FIRST-AID |
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| ASPHYXIA Asphyxia, often called also suffocation, is suspended animation due to a deficiency of oxygen and an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues. The degree of asphyxia varies in proportion as these two factors are present. It may be mild or so severe that death results. Causes Mechanical obstruction of respiration due to: Foreign bodies in the throat, larynx, and trachea, such as in choking. Immersion under water, such as in drowning. Compression of the neck, such as in hanging or strangulation. Clothing or bedclothes covering the mouth and nose, such as in suffocation. Inhalation of gases, such as carbon monoxide, coal gas, smoke,camping gas and ammonia gas, Other causes may be electric or lightning shock; poisoning by certain narcotic drugs, cerebral injury or cerebral pressure. Treatment If possible, call a physician. Remove the cause, such as by: Freeing the air passages of the obstruction. Shutting of escaping gas or the electric current, or bringing the patient out of contact with either of these. Counteracting the influence of the drug by antidotal measures. Supply the patient with plenty of fresh air together with oxygen, if it is available. Take off or loosen any article of clothing that hampers the respiration and/or the circulation. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Treat for shock. It is always present. Keep the patient at rest, preferably in the recumbent position, and comfortably warm. In case of asphyxia from poisonous gases or drugs, take the patient to the nearest hospital after carrying out emergency measures, or as soon it is safe to do so. NOTE: In all cases of asphyxia immediate treatment is imperative; even a few seconds delay may cost the patient his life. Special Measures CHOKING Keep the patient sitting in an upright position if it is not necessary to perform artificial respiration. DROWNING Place the patient in a flat surface, stomach down, both arms extended forward, head turned to one side and six or eight inches lower than the feet. such a position favors the drainage of water and mucus from air passages. |
| HANGING In releasing the patient, use special care not to produce further injury from the slumping of the body to the floor or ground. Expose him to fresh air, avoiding an overheated room. Apply external heat to keep the body cimfortably warm. BREATHING GAS/SMOKE In removing a patient from a smoky atmosphere, crawl low or keep close to the floor or the gound since most gases are lighter than air and will rise. Cover your nostrils and nose of the patient with a wet cloth. remove the patient to a place comfortably warm and with abundance of fresh air. Precautions against Gas Poisoning Never sleep and use a gas lamp/stove as a source of light or heat inside a poorly ventilated tent. Have a well ventilated tent. Be mindful of the warnings regarding the use of the gas. Do not breathe gas even for a short time. Even if it does not cause serious difficulty it will impair your strength. The strongest person is not immune to any poisonous gas. Cover your nose and mouth as well as the patient's with a wet cloth. Poisoning from Drugs If you know what poison was taken, administer a suitable antidote. Asphyxia from contact with an electric current Do not remove the patient from a live wire with bare hands, with a piece of metal, or any moist article. Use a dry object, such as a garment, rope newspaper, a stcik, or a rubber article, remembering to protect your own hands. Prevention Of Electric Current Accidents Never touch: an electric wire lying on the ground along the trail even it has a protective covering. guy wires which anchor poles to the ground or to other wires of poles. electric poles that are wet. Never climb a pole or tree on or near which a wire passes. Sign of Death The skin is ashen, white, cold and clammy. The eyes are sunken and have no luster. The eyelids are usually half-closed and the pupils dilated. The respiration have stopped. There is a complete cessation of heart action. No pulse can be felt at the wrist. Rigor mortis (rigor of death), stiffening of the body occurs. |