Exw Unit Specific 102, Field First Aid

Front 1

State the purpose of First Aid.

Back 1

First aid is paramount in any atmosphere not just on the battle field. By performing basic first aid you tremendously increase the victim’s chance of survival. It could be a matter of life or death. First and foremost the purpose of first aid is to increase life.

Front 2

Discuss the following steps in initial evaluation of a victim:
- Assess the Situation
- Keep patient lying down
- Identify the injuries
- Check for consciousness
- Check for breathing
- Check for pulse
- Check for injuries

Back 2

a. Take a moment to get organized. On your way to an accident scene, use a few seconds to
remember the basic rules of first aid. Remain calm as you take charge of the situation, and act quickly but efficiently.
Decide as soon as possible what has to be done and which one of the patient’s injuries needs attention first.

b. Unless contraindicated, make your preliminary examination in the position and place you find the
victim. Moving the victim before this check could gravely endanger life, especially if the neck, back, or ribs are broken.
Of course, if the situation is such that you or the victim is in danger, you must weigh this threat against the potential damage caused by premature transportation. If you decide to move the victim, do it quickly and gently to a safe location where proper first aid can be administered.
c. Find every injury possible and treat it with first aid in order of precedence. Use all of your resources; if your
patient is conscious ask simple questions. Once you have conducted first aid on all present injuries double check for secondary injuries
that may have gone unnoticed.
d. If the patient is breathing and getting a normal pulse but does not appear to be alive, the victim is
unconscious. It is imperative that you don't move an unconscious victim (until you know exactly what the injuries are) unless absolutely necessary.
e. By observing for airway, breathing, and circulation, the ABCs of basic life support.
Remember, irreversible brain damage can occur within 4 to 6 minutes if breathing has stopped.
f. Use your hands and find the pulse on the neck or on the inside of the wrists.
g. Find all of the injuries and treat with basic first aid until properly relieved by medical professionals.

Front 3

Discuss the possible cause for asphyxiation.

Back 3

Failure of the breathing mechanism may be caused by various factors. They include complete airway obstruction,
insufficient oxygen in the air, inability of the blood to carry oxygen (e.g., carbon monoxide poisoning), paralysis of the breathing center of the brain, and
external compression of the body. Respiratory arrest is usually but not always immediately accompanied by cardiac arrest.

Front 4

Discuss the possible cause for bleeding.

Back 4

Knowing what has caused the wound may give you some idea of the probable size of the wound, its general
nature, the extent to which it is likely to become contaminated with foreign matter, and what special dangers must be guarded against. Of special concern
in wartime setting is the velocity of wound-causing missiles (bullets or shrapnel). A low-velocity missile damages only the tissues it comes into contact with.
On the other hand, a high-velocity missile can do enormous damage by forcing the tissues and body parts away from the track of the missile with a velocity
only slightly less than that of the missile itself. These tissues, especially bone, may become damage-causing missiles themselves, thus accentuating the destructive
effects of the missile.

Front 5

Discuss the possible cause for cardiac arrest.

Back 5

Not breathing (Choking), Shock, Blunt Trauma to the head or chest.

Front 6

Discuss the possible causes for a fracture.

Back 6

Falling, Blunt Trauma to your limbs.

Front 7

Discuss the possible causes for burns.

Back 7

Sunburns, Fires, Scolding Liquid, Chemical Burns.

Front 8

Discuss the possible causes for shock.

Back 8

Shock is the collapse of the cardiovascular system,
characterized by circulatory deficiency and the depression of vital functions. There are several types of shock:
- Hypovolemic shock. Caused by the loss of blood and other body fluids.
- Neurogenic shock. Caused by the failure of the nervous system to control the diameter of blood vessels.
- Cardiogenic shock. Caused by the heart failing to pump blood adequately to all vital parts of the body.
- Septic shock. Caused by the presence of severe infection.
- Anaphylactic shock. Caused by a life-threatening reaction of the body to a substance to which a patient is extremely allergic.

Front 9

Define and discuss a Simple (Closed) fracture.

Back 9

A closed fracture is one in which the injury is entirely internal; the bone is broken but there is no break in the skin.

Front 10

Define and discuss a Compound (Open) fracture.

Back 10

An open fracture is one in which there is an open wound in the tissues and the skin.

Front 11

Define and discuss the symptoms of a fracture.

Back 11

It is not always easy to recognize a fracture. All fractures, whether closed or open, are likely to cause severe pain and shock; but the other symptoms may vary considerably. A broken bone sometimes causes the injured part to be deformed or to assume an unnatural position. Pain, discoloration, and swelling may be localized at the fracture site, and there may be a wobbly movement if the bone is broken clear through. It may be difficult or impossible for the victim to move the injured part; if able to move it, there may be a
grating sensation (crepitus) as the ends of the broken bone rub against each other.