ELECTRICAL INJURIES

ELECTRICAL INJURIES ONE

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EFFECTS OF HEAT AND COLD

EFFECTS OF HEAT AND COLD

The human body is designed to work beat at, or close to, at temperature of 370C. To maintain this temperature, the body possesses mechanisms that generate and conserve heat when the environment is cold, and conversely, that lose heat when it is hot. These mechanisms are controlled by a special centre in the brain. In addition, man controls his environment to some degree through the clothing, and air conditioning. These make it easier for the body to perform well in a wide range of temperature. In spite of all this, excessive heat or cold can cause injury and, in extreme case, serious or even fatal conditions. The dangers of extreme temperatures

The danger of extreme temperatures

The harmful effects of extreme heat or cold can be localized, as in the case of suborn, frostbite, or trench foot; or generalized, or with heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hypothermia. The generalized effects of extremes of temperature tend to be more marked in the very young and the very old, whose temperature regulation systems can respectively , be under developed or impaired. THE FIRST 

AIDER SHOULD:

• Remove normal body temperature, if the condition hot or cold surroundings

• Restore normal body temperature, if the condition was rapid in onset ( for example: heatstroke), reverse it rapidly; if it has developed slowly (for example: hypothermia of slow onset affecting an elderly people), the casualty’s body temperature must be brought gradually back to normal.

• Obtain appropriate medical attention.

THE PRACTICE OF FIRST AID

 THE PRACTICE OF FIRST AID

When giving first aid treatment to any casualty it is important to work to a plan. First Aiders are trained in routines that can be applied to many situations. The initial priorities ensuring safety and following the ABE of resuscitation have been covered in the previous two chapters. Only when the casualty is out of danger, you begin to treat illness or injury.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In most situation that require first aid, there will be no life-threatening danger. You will simply be assisting a conscious casualty, whose recovery from some minor injury or illness is not in doubt . However, in every case, your aim is to discover what is wrong with the casualty, and to give prompt, correct treatment in a logical order. This chapter will help you to carry out these tasks.

THE FIRST AIDER SHOULD 

Preserve life

• Pay strict attention to safety. 

• Follow the ABC of resuscitation.

• Look for and control any major bleeding

Limit the effects of the condition

 • Make a diagnosis of the illness or injury, if possible, by means of a thorough examination.

 • Treat casualty in a sensible order of priority. • Teat multiple injuries in a sensible order of priority. Remember the possibility of hidden secondary illnesses or condition.

Promote The Casualty’s recovery 

• Relieve any casualty, pain, and discomfort

• Arrange for appropriate medical attention

ASSESSING THE CASUALTY

ASSESSING THE CASUALTY

A quick assessment of a collapsed casualty will indicate the most urgent priority and dictated your action. The charts below show you how to use this assessment to make an instant, and possibly life-saying, decision about the course of action you should take. The upper chart tells you what steps to take to assess the situation, and the casualty’s condition. For guidance on dealing with danger, turn to the chapter Action at an Emergency. Step by step guides to assessing the casualty are given overleaf.

The lower chart tells you how best to act on your findings. For example, in the worst possible situation, your assessment will have told you that an unconscious casualty is not breathing, nor does be or she have a pulse(the casualty will be in “cardiac arrest”. The cart shows you that in this situation, the sequence of action that will give the casualty the greatest chance of survival is to first telephone for an ambulance, or get someone else to do so, then start and continue artificial ventilation and chest compression.

Telephoneing For Help