Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace

Bruise Signs and Symptoms • Small piece of foreign material imbedded into and just below the skin. First Aid • Using a pair of tweezers, grab the protruding end of the splinter and pull it out along the direction it entered. • If end is not protruding, use a small needle to loosen the splinter in the skin. Once you can grasp the splinter with tweezers, pull it out along the direction it entered. • If a splinter appears deeply embedded or you have only been able to remove a piece of it, the wound should be seen by a healthcare professional.14 Bruise A bruise is caused by broken vessels leaking blood under the skin. Signs and Symptoms • Pain. • Swelling and discoloration. First Aid • Apply ice to the injury to reduce pain, bleeding, and swelling. – To prevent cold from affecting the injury, place a thin towel or cloth between the cold source and the skin. – Limit application to 20 minutes or less. Tetanus is a severe and often fatal infection associated with wounds. A tetanus shot is recommended if the victim does not know when their last tetanus vaccination was, or it has been 10 years since the last known vaccination.15 A tetanus booster is recommended within five years for wounds with a high potential for infection such as very dirty, contaminated wounds, ragged wounds, and puncture wounds. Splinter When to Have a Wound Evaluated by a Healthcare Professional When the wound: • Won’t stop bleeding with firm direct pressure. Is deep or longer than 1⁄2 inch (these may need closing with stitches or skin glue.) Is on the face, especially when close to the eye. Involves injury to underlying structures. Was caused by a dirty or rusty object. Has dirt, stones, or gravel stuck in it. Was caused by an animal or human bite. Is extremely painful. Is infected (warm, red, swollen or draining.) If you are concerned and have questions, you should not hesitate to contact your healthcare professional. • • • • • • • • • Splinter Splinters need to be removed to keep the wound from becoming inflamed, leading to possible infection. Most splinters are removed easily at home or in the workplace. Bleeding, Shock, and Soft Tissue Injuries Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace 15 This training guide is provided online for individual use only. Reprinting for classroom distribution is prohibited.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace

Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace Contents Basic First Aid Emergency Action Steps Severe Bleeding and Shock Major Wounds Minor Wounds Burns Bites and Stings Dental Injuries Eye and Nose Injuries Injuries to Limbs Injuries to the Spine Head Injury Sudden Illness Specific Conditions Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Endnotes About This Program

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