Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace

Signs and Symptoms Stroke treatment is time sensitive! Stroke victims who get to the emergency room as soon as possible are less likely to have long-term impairment. • Signs and symptoms of poisoning are wideranging and variable, and they can copy those of common illnesses. First Aid • If signs and symptoms appear serious, Assess, Alert, and Attend the ABCs. • Do not induce vomiting, or give water, milk, activated charcoal, or syrup of ipecac to the victim unless you are advised to do so by poison control. • Have all medicine bottles, containers, or samples of poisoning substance available for EMS. • If you think the substance may be dangerous to you or others inform the EMS operator. Skin Contact • Quickly remove victim’s contaminated clothing. • Rinse the skin with large amounts of tap water. • Contact Poison Control or alert EMS. Inhaled Poison • Make sure it is safe for to help. If so, get the victim to fresh air right away. • Alert EMS. Poisoning Comparison of household items and poisons. Poisoning is defined as any substance that causes injury, illness, or death when swallowed, contacted by skin, or inhaled. Common poisons that are swallowed include prescription, illegal, and over-the-counter drugs; alcohol; household cleaning products; make-up; pesticides; paints solvents; contaminated foods; and poisonous plants. Many poisons can often be mistaken for common household items. Common poisons that can be absorbed through the skin include corrosives, such as Alkalis, acids, and hydrocarbons; and poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, oak, sumac. Common poisons that can be inhaled include natural gas; carbon monoxide; and harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or chemical vapors. Sudden Illness Poisoning Facts: Of the 2,395,582 human exposures to poison reported in the U.S. in 2003, the majority occurred at home (92.6%.) The rest occurred in the workplace, including schools, health care facilities, restaurants, and other types of food service operations. Although most poisoning exposures are accidental, the vast majority of poisoning deaths (79%) were the result of intentional actions, primarily suicide, and drug abuse (or misuse.)53 Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace 37 This training guide is provided online for individual use only. Reprinting for classroom distribution is prohibited. If you suspect a stroke, ask the victim to: 1. Smile. 2. Raise both arms. 3. Speak a simple sentence. • If the victim has any trouble with any of these tasks, they may be having a stroke.52 Swallowed Poison • Call the National Poison Help Number at 1-800-222-1222 to talk to a poison expert. Follow the treatment recommendations given.

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

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.