Copying with an accident

Accident is a unexpected happening and perhaps nobody at the situation would have throught of it and hence nobody had a prior preparation to cope with it. The first aider should always remember that he should act quickly to make the victim comfortable preventing further harm to victim and to itself. Two basic things need to bedone viz.
a) To understand quickly the situation and
b) To understand the victom.
Take care of the following things-
1) Keep yourself calm and avoid any confusion
2) Guard against further danger to the casualty and yourself
3) Don’t be hasty, if there is anyone to ask, find out what has happened.
4) Look around for help and send someone to inform the doctor telling him the exact location of the victim.
FRACTURE-
In an accident the bones may breake ( fracture) or may displace from the joints( dislocation).In such cases the signs and symptoms may vary depending on bones involved and severity of injury.
CLOSED FRACTURE-
A bones is broken but there is no breake in the skin above it.
COMPOUND FRACTURE-
A bone is broken and there is wound leading down to the fracture, or a bone may protrude out through such wound.
COMPLICATED FRACTURE-
A fracture with injury to a vessel or nerve or a vital organ.
GENERAL FIRST AID TREATEMENT-
1) Do not move fracture part unless necessary
2) If there is bleeding wound, cover it with sterile dressing and try to stop haemorrhage.
3) When a fracture is suspected do not give the victim any thing by mouth.
4) If the victim suffers from shock, then treatement for shock may be given.
5) Take the victim to the hospital.
In case of fractures of bones that protect brain (skull bones) spinal cord (vertebral column) and thoracic organs, a special first aid treatement is necessary.
SKULL FRACTURE-
In an accident a severe blow to head may be associated with fracture of skull bones. The signs and symptoms include unconciousness, bleeding from nose, mouth, ears and paralysis of head muscles including eyelids and tongue.
Neck and Spine Fracture-
The spinal cord is a link of nervous tissue between the brain and the rest of body. It passes down through the vertebral column. Injury to the nect and spine may causes sever pain in neck and back regions and paralysis of body part below the injured spot. Treatement-1) Do not move the victim until absolutely necessary 2) If he is to be moved; use firm support for moving 3) Do not permit the victim to rotate his head; while moving take the help of another person to hold victim’s head on line with the spine.4) Arrange for moving the victim ho hospital.
Chest Fracture-
Thoracic cage protects heart and lungs. If a broken rib should pierce a lung; bright red, frothing blood may be cpughed out. A penetrating wound could also produce bleeding from mouth. Treatement-1) If broken rib is suspended gently support the arm on the injured side in sling.2) If there is open wound sucking the air, cover it immediately to keep the air out.3) Lay the victim down and incline towards the injured side.4) Arrange for quick transfer to hospital.
Burns and Scalds-
These are the injured caused due to contact with or too close heat and strong chemicals. Burns are injuries caused by open fire, chemicals, electricity etc. while scalds are injuries caused by moist heat (steam). Both burns and scalds cause similar damage to body tissue and hence the first aid treatement is similar. The severity of burns may vary from minor reddining of affected part (first degree) through blister (second degree). The most serious consequence in burning is the occurrence of shock. Infection due to contamination of burnt area is another serious condition that may follow the burns.