Chapter 14 First Aid and Health

CHAPTER 14 FIRST AID AND HEALTH In this chapter, you will learn some guidelines on giving first aid in an emergency. You won’t be an expert or even qualify to administer first aid. You will learn why first aid is important and the results of properly administered first aid. You will also learn the measures you should take for the treatment of shock, bleeding, burns, and fractures; methods of resuscitation; and methods of moving injured persons. Personal hygiene is also important, not only to you, the individual, but to the entire ship’s company. In this chapter, you will receive pointers for maintaining cleanliness of the body, clothing, and bedding. You will also learn the effects of sexually transmitted diseases. FIRST AID—ITS PURPOSE, LIMITATIONS, AND GENERAL RULES Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Recognize the purpose, general rules, and limitations of first aid. First aid is the emergency care you give to sick or injured persons until medical care is available. In addition to knowing what to do for a victim, it’s just as important to know what not to do. Your knowledge of first-aid measures and their proper application may mean the difference between life and death, between rapid recovery and long hospitalization, or between temporary disability and permanent injury. PURPOSE AND LIMITATIONS The objectives of first aid are to save life, prevent further injury, and limit infection. However, first aid isn’t a substitute for proper medical treatment. Keep in mind the objectives of first aid. Everyone in the Navy must know when and how to apply first-aid measures and must be prepared to give assistance to persons injured in battle, collision, fire, and other mishaps. In administering first aid, you have three primary tasks: 1. Maintain breathing 2. Stop bleeding/maintain circulation 3. Prevent or treat for shock The first step, of course, is to determine the victim’s injuries. When you treat a victim, first consideration usually must be given to the most serious injury. In general, the order of treatment is to restore breathing, stop bleeding, and treat for shock. Work quickly, but don’t rush around frantically. Don’t waste time looking for ready-made materials. Do the best you can with whatever is at hand. Send for medical help as soon as possible. GENERAL FIRST-AID RULES Although each case involving injury or sickness presents its own special problems, some general rules apply to practically all situations. Before you go on to learn first-aid treatment for specific types of injuries, learn with the following basic rules: 1. Keep the victim lying down; head level with the body, until you have found out what kind of injury has occurred and how serious it is. However, if the victim shows one of the following difficulties, follow the rule given for that specific problem: a. Vomiting or bleeding about the mouth and semiconsciousness: If the victim is in danger of sucking in blood, vomited matter, or water, place the victim on his or her side or back with the head turned to one side and lower than the feet. 14-1 If you do something once, people call it an accident. If you do it twice, they call it coincidence. But do it a third time and you’ve just proven a natural law. —Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper