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• Injury


  Harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. Injuries range from minor to life-threatening.
• First aid


  Immediate and temporary care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill. Includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or delayed.
• The two main objectives of first aid are to alleviate suffering and to prevent added/further injury or danger.
• Cramps


  Sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more muscles. Can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle.
• Cramps


  • Sudden, sharp pain, hard lump of muscle tissue beneath the skin, uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle, can last for varying periods of time and generally resolves by itself, exact cause unknown but risk factors may include poor physical condition, mineral and electrolyte imbalances and tight, inflexible muscles
• First aid for cramps

  1. Stretch and massage the cramped muscle

  2. Apply heat or cold

  3. Use an icepack for severe cramp

  4. Take medication (see doctor)

  5. Further treatment (see doctor if regular cramping or cramps last longer than a few minutes)
• Preventive strategies for cramps

  • Increase physical fitness
  • Incorporate regular stretching
  • Warm up and cool down thoroughly
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Ensure adequate nutrition
  • Get regular massage
  • Wear properly fitted shoes
• Dislocation


  When the two bones that come together to form a joint become separated, the joint is described as dislocated.
• Dislocated joint is an emergency that requires medical treatment.
• First aid for dislocations

  1. Call emergency services

  2. Advise casualty to stay still and support dislocated joint in most comfortable position

  3. Do not try to put dislocated bone back in socket

  4. Stop the joint from moving (use sling, bandages, padding)

  5. Treat for shock if necessary

  6. Monitor circulation and loosen bandages if needed
• Fracture


  Break in the bone that can occur from either a quick, one-time injury (acute fracture) or from repeated stress over time (stress fracture).
• Symptoms of a stress fracture include pain at the site that worsens with weight bearing activities, tenderness, and swelling.
• First aid for fractures

  1. Apply RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

  2. Keep limb in position found and splint with rigid object

  3. Cover open fracture with clean gauze, apply pressure to control bleeding

  4. Get medical attention immediately

  5. Do not give anything to eat or drink
• Preventive strategies for injuries

  • Don't be a "weekend warrior", get into shape gradually
  • Warm up and cool down properly
  • Use proper equipment and technique
  • Use common sense in everyday life to prevent falls and injuries
  • Older adults should exercise to keep muscles strong
• Heat exhaustion


  Response to heat characterized by fatigue, weakness and collapse due to inadequate intake of water to compensate for loss of fluids during sweating.
• First aid for heat exhaustion

  1. Have victim lie down with feet elevated

  2. Keep victim cool

  3. Give electrolyte beverages to sip

  4. Monitor for signs of shock

  5. Give first aid for seizures or unconsciousness if needed
• Preventive strategies for heat exhaustion


  • Wear loose, lightweight clothing
  • Protect against sunburn
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Take precautions with certain medications
  • Never leave anyone in a parked car
  • Take it easy during hottest parts of day
  • Get acclimated
  • Be cautious if at increased risk
• Knee injuries


  Result from blow, twist, improper landing, or running too hard/much without proper warm-up. Range from mild (tendinitis, patellofemoral syndrome, IT band syndrome, bursitis) to severe (ACL, meniscus, PCL, MCL, LCL injuries).
• The knee is the most commonly injured joint, with over 5.5 million people visiting orthopedic surgeons for knee problems each year.
• First aid for knee injuries


  1. Stop activity immediately

  2. Rest the joint

  3. Apply ice packs

  4. Bandage and elevate the knee

  5. Do not apply heat or massage the joint
• Sprain


  Stretch or tear of a ligament, the band of connective tissue joining the ends of bones in a joint. Can range from minor (first degree) to severe (third degree).
• Ankles, knees, and wrists are parts of the body vulnerable to sprains.
• First aid for sprains


  1. Remove any clothing/jewelry around the joint

  2. Apply cold compress

  3. Elevate the affected joint

  4. Physician may recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
• Strain


  Twist, pull or tear of a muscle or tendon. Acute, non-contact injury from over-stretching or over-contraction.
• First aid for strains


  1. Apply ice right away to reduce swelling

  2. Use ice for first 3 days, then heat or ice may help

  3. Rest the pulled muscle for at least a day, keep elevated if possible
• Signs and symptoms of sprains and bruising

  • Swelling and bruising
• First Aid for sprains


  1. Remove any clothing or jewelry around the joint

  2. Apply cold compress at once

  3. Elevate the affected joint

  4. Victim's physician may recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
• Strain


  A twist, pull or tear of a muscle or tendon—a cord of tissue connecting muscle to the bone
• Strain


  • Acute, non-contact injury that results from over stretching or over contraction
  • Symptoms include pain, muscle spasm, and loss of strength
• First Aid for strains


  1. Apply ice right away to reduce swelling

  2. Use ice for the first 3 days, then either heat or ice may be helpful

  3. Rest the pulled muscle for at least a day

  4. Slowly increase activity by gently stretching the injured muscle
• Unintentional injuries occur fast and unexpectedly, often when away from home
• Knowing basic first aid procedures can help lessen the impact of injuries and potentially save lives
• Six types of first aid for unintentional injuries

  • For bleeding
  • For burns
  • For head, neck, and suspected spinal cord injuries
  • For poisoning
  • For choking
  • For loss of consciousness
• First aid for bleeding


  1. Cover the wound

  2. Apply direct pressure until bleeding stops

  3. Apply a bandage over the dressing, and continue to apply pressure

  4. Do not attempt to remove anything that is lodged deeply within the wound
• First aid for burns


  1. Remove the source of the burn

  2. Use water to cool the burn site

  3. Cover the site loosely with sterile dressing
• First aid for head, neck, and suspected spinal cord injuries


  1. Do not move the victim

  2. Stabilize their head in whatever position they are in by providing support with your hands on either side of their head
• First aid for poisoning


  1. If the person is conscious, determine how they were poisoned

  2. If the person is unconscious or suspected or suffering food poisoning, call the emergency hotline or go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room
• First aid for choking


  1. Hold the person by the waist and administer 5 blows from behind with the palm of your hand between their shoulder blades

  2. Using your fist with the thumb side just above the abdomen, give five quick thrusts

  3. Continue until the object is dislodged, or until help arrives
• First aid for loss of consciousness


  1. Check for responsiveness by tapping the shoulder of the victim

  2. If they are face down, turn them face up, being careful to keep the head, neck, and back in a straight line

  3. Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway

  4. Check for bleeding and other injuries and administer CPR as necessary
• Different types of lifts and carries

  • Ankle pull
  • Shoulder pull
  • Blanket pull
  • One-person lift
  • Firefighter carry
  • Pack-strap carry
  • Human crutch/two-person drag
  • Four-handed seat
  • Two-handed seat
  • Chair carry
  • Improvised stretcher
  • Blanket stretcher
  • Three-person carry or stretcher lift