AY Honors/First Aid, Standard/Answer Key

Template:Honor header If residing in the United States or another country in which Red Cross instruction is given, satisfactorily pass the Red Cross Examination in Standard First Aid and receive your certificate.

In British countries pass the examination in St. John Ambulance and receive certificate for the same.

Or complete the following requirements:

5. Know the proper method of applying a tourniquet and when to apply one.

A tourniquet is a tightly tied band applied around a body part (an arm or a leg) sometimes used in an attempt to stop severe traumatic bleeding. Severe bleeding means the loss of more than 1,000 ml (1 litre) of blood. This flow of blood can soak a paper or cloth handkerchief in a few seconds. In such a situation, the bleeding will cause the death of the casualty in seconds to minutes.

A tourniquet is a last resort method of bleeding control. Other methods that should be applied first and in conjunction, if possible, include:

• direct pressure
• elevation of the limb or wound above the heart
• the use of a pressure point to slow the artery above the injury(s)
• blood-clotting agents or bandages

Even in cases of amputation, most bleeding can be controlled through these alternative methods. The rare exception is when a limb is shattered by massive trauma or when a major blood vessel is torn along its length. Even in these cases, the use of a pressure point above the wound is strongly preferred.

As the tourniquet stops blood flow to the limb, it can cause the death of the limb, forcing the later surgical amputation of the limb just below the level the tourniquet is applied. This is likely to occur when the tourniquet stays in place several hours. In any event, once a tourniquet has been applied, advanced medical care from a doctor or hospital will be required to salvage the limb if not save the life of the patient.

The decision to employ a tourniquet should be made by an emergency medical technician or preferably a doctor if at all possible. But when severe external bleeding cannot be controlled by other means, a tourniquet may be the only way for a first-aider to save the casualty.

Most civilian first aid instruction in the United States no longer teaches the use of the tourniquet for the following reasons:

• the effectiveness of direct pressure, elevation and pressure points (controlling severe bleeding in up to 90% of cases as estimated by US medical sources)
• the increased difficulty of reattaching an amputated limb when a tourniquet has been applied to the victim
• unnecessary use by poorly trained bystanders
• the unavoidable risks to both limb and life even when properly employed
• the rare nature of injuries that require tourniquets, which typically occur in unusual settings such as working with agricultural or industrial machinery and the battlefield

The use of a tourniquet by a layperson in countries where it is considered outside the scope of practice of first aid may result in civil lawsuits and/or criminal charges, especially if the application was later found to have been unnecessary.

9. Know how to properly apply the following bandages:

b. Figure-eight

The figure-eight bandage can also be used on the hand, wrist, elbow, and knee.

11. Know the proper treatment for the following:

e. Animal and insect bites

Animal Bites

Insect Bites

f. Fainting and epilepsy

Fainting

Epilepsy

12. Know the proper procedure to assist a radiation-exposure victim.

In the case of a nuclear accident or terrorist plot, a person might be exposed to radiation. If this happens, a person might be exposed to radiation. First aid is to

• Remove all the victims clothing and discard it.
• Vigorously wash the victim with soap and water for an extended period of time in a shower.
• Get the victim to a medical care facility.
• Report the incident to authorities.

15. Know how to obtain help in an emergency

With the advent of the cell phone, the most effective way of obtaining help in an emergency is by calling 911. Most cell phones are equipped with a GPS module which allows their location to be pin-pointed by a satellite. The cell phone automatically relays this information to the 911 operator.

However, sometimes a cell phone is either not available, or it is not within range of a cell phone antenna tower. If you find yourself facing an emergency in the wilderness, you may have to attempt to signal aircraft. Three ways of doing that are presented here:

References

• http://www.tpub.com/content/medical/10669-c/index.htm
• http://www.tpub.com/content/aviationandaccessories/TM-1-1680-359-10/index.htm TM-1-1680-359-10