Home >> Do-It-Yourself >> First Aid Survival Guide

First Aid Survival Guide

Drowning

When carrying a drowning casualty, the head should be lower than the rest of the body to avoid inhalation of swallowed water. Lie him down on a blanket or towel. Turn the head to one side to allow water to drain from the mouth. If the casualty stops breathing, brain damage can occur in less than 5 minutes. It is vital to ensure that oxygen reaches the brain, and the kissof life puts air into the lungs until theyare able to breathe again by themselves.

Electric shocks

It is vital not to put yourself at the riskof an electric shock as well whendealing with a casualty. Immediatelyswitch off the source of power at themains. If you are unable to do so, standon any good insulating material such asa thick hook, a rubber mat or a pile ofnewspapers before attempting to helpthe casualty.

Use a wooden broom handle, walking stick or chair to push thecasualty away from the source ofelectricity. Otherwise, withouttouching the casualty, a scarf or ropelooped around their arms or feet candrag them clear. Once the victim is freefrom the electric current, place him inthe recovery position or, if unconscioushe prepared to resuscitate (see right).Treat any burns.

DEALING WITH ELECTRIC SHOCKS

• Do not touch the casualty until youare sure that the electric current hasbeen switched off.

• Never use a damp or wet towel or ametal object to free the casualty, evenwhen the power has been turned of First turn the head sideways and removeany obstruction from the mouth.

• Close the nose by pinching the nostrilstogether. Take a full breath and, placingyour lips over the casualty's mouth, blowfirmly into the mouth until you see thechest rising. (With a small child or baby,cover both the mouth and nose with yourmouth.) Remove your lips to allow the airto be exhaled and the chest to fall fully.Repeat the sequence at the rare of 15-16breaths per minute (for a small child orbaby, take quicker and more shallowbreaths to avoid injuring the lungs).

• Placing 1 hand on the forehead and theother under the chin, tilt the head hack toopen the airway.

• When breathingbegins, place thecasualty in the`recovery' position.Tilt the head backto open the airway,adjust the uppermostarm so that the handsupports the headand bend theuppermost knee sothat it is at right-angles to the hip.

Eye injuries

Do not attempt to remove any foreignbody that is sticking to or into theeyeball. Cover the eye with a sterilepad, bandage both eyes to prevent themfrom moving and seek hospitaltreatment immediately.

Wash out any grit, dust or ochersmall particles. Ask the casualty to tilthis head to the injured side, and rest atowel on his shoulder. Using your fingerand thumb, hold the eyelid open andgently wash out the particles using aglass of clean, warm water.

Other Do It Yourself Articles:

| Austrian Blind | Buffet Party | Buying Plants | Ceiling Decorating | Choose Paint Brush | Choosing Floor Coverings | Choosing Your Own Flower Arrangements | Choosing Landscaping Plants | Choosing Themes | Christmas Decoration Ideas | Cleaning Tip | Container Gardening Ideas | Cooking Methods and Choice of Nuts | Cooking Tip | Cornice Window Treatments | Covering Floors | Cusion Materials | Daily Household Chores | Decorating Rooms | Decorative Art Painting Technique | Decoupage Equipment | Decoupage Ideas | Dinner Table Etiquette | Display Lighting | Diy Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Do It Yourself Wood Storage | Door Repair | Double Glazing Windows | Draught Proof Door | Dried Fruit Loaf | Dusting Tips | Easy Cushion Embellishments | Emergency and First Aid | Fabric Repair Holes | First Aid Survival Guide | Fish Varieties | Fitting Shelves in an Alcove | Fixing Electric Fan | Flooring Repair | Floral Displays For The Home | Flower Arrangement Center Piece | Flower Arranging | Flower Arranging Tips | Flower Bathroom Decor | Flower Decorating | Flower Drying | Flower Drying Equipment | Food Safety Guidelines | Free Standing Shelving | Fresh Flower Arrangement | Fruit Preparing | Garden Floor Plan Designs | Garden Gravel | Gardening Finishing Touches | Garden Lighting Ideas | Garden {aving | Gilding Equipment | Gilding Techniques | Grass Alternatives | Handsewing | Hanging Doors | Hanging Picture Frames | Picture Hanging | Healthy Diet Plan | Home Appliance Repair | Home Improvement Budget | Home Interior Decorating | Home Ligting | Homemade Christmas Decorations | Home Safety Awareness | Home Safety Checklist | Home Security | House Cleaning Tips | Household Tips for Laundry | Housekeeping Tips | How to Make Bed Linen | How to Make a Wreath | How to Make Icing | Herbs and Spices | How to Decorate a Table | Candle Decorating | Decorating Tip | House Plant Care | How Do I Pick A Good Vacuum Cleaner | How Do You Decorate a China | How to Increase Livable Space | How to Antique Furniture | How to Build a Pergola | How to Decorate Glass Ornaments | How to Decorate Lamp Shades | How to Decorate My Home | How to Dress a Bed | How to Build a Storage Box | How to Choose Ceramic Tile | Lawn and Garden Care | How to Build a Closet | How to Create a Beautiful Outdoor | How to Install Cabinet Hinge | Patio Ideas | Window Dressing | Dried Flower Arranging | Using Herbs | Kitchen Gardening | How to Install Vinyl Floor | Create More Space in the Home | Stain Removal | Home Insulation | How to Fit a Door | How to Fit Dado Rail Upstairs | How to Make Curtain Valences | How to Make Roman Blinds | How to Organize Space | How to Plan a Party | How to Prepare to Paint House | How to Prune Trees | How to Recycle | How to Sew a Box Cushion | How to Use a Paint Brush | How to Use Fresh Ingredient | Hydroculture | Ideas On How To Set Up Contract For Home Improvement | Illness and Child Care | Indoor Plant Display | Installing Crown Moulding | Home and Interior Garden | Ironing Tips | Kitchen Lighting | Kitchen Organize Tips | Landscape Garden Design | Last Day Before Holiday | Lawn Weed Control | Laying a Foam Backed Carpet | Laying a Woven Carpet | Laying Carpet on Stairs | Laying Floor Tiles | Laying Hardwood Flooring | Laying Vinyl Tile | Low Maintenance Plants | Hanging Mirror | How to Make Curtain | Textile Patching | Moving House | Napkin Folds | Outdoor Safety | Paint Effects | Painting Doors | Wallpapering Tips | Paperhanging Tools and Equipment | Party Planning Ideas | Pet Safety | Planning Your Garden | Plant Decoration | Plant Potting | Plaster Wall Repair | Preparing For Paperhanging | Preparing Garden Soil | Preparing Surfaces For Covering | Preparing Wood Floors | Proper Table Setting | Hanging Wallpaper Border | Removing Old Finishes | Repairing Furniture | Household Appliance Repair | Rose Center Piece Flower Arrangement | Save Energy at Home | Sesame Seed Bread | Soft Furnishing | Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Soft Furnishing Sewing | Solid Wood Floor Installation | Stamping Equipment | Stamp Making | Stem Cutting | Stencilling Equipment | Storage Organize | Storage Shelving | Stripping Old Wall Coverings | Table Flower Decorations | Tiling a Wall | Tiling Tools | Tools and Equipment for Furnishings | Type of Houseplant | Using Colour Pattern and Texture | Using Cushions | Wall Decorating Ideas | Wallfixings | Wallpainting Ideas | Wallpapering Ceilings | Wallpapering Corners | Wallpapering Stairwells | Wall Repair | Watering Plants | Well Equipped Kitchen | Window Dressing Ideas | Window Repair | Wood Embellishment | How to Use a Sewing Machine | How to doWall Tiling | How to Install a Door | How to Fit a Curtain Pole | How to Fold a Napkin | How to Make A Round Bolster Cushion | How to Make A Stencil | How to Make Couch Cushion Covers | How to Make a Table Cloth