Office of Security, Safety and Risk Management

Medical Emergencies

Call “0” from any campus phone or

740-587-6777 from a cell phone or off-campus phone.

If you suspect a head or spinal injury, DO NOT MOVE the victim unless there is an immediately life-threatening emergency.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Assess the situation:

Is the person conscious or unconscious?
If the person appears unconscious, tap or shake his shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you OK?”
If the person doesn’t respond, follow the steps below and call “0” from a campus phone or 740-587-6777 from a cell phone or off-campus phone. Have someone else call if possible, while you proceed.

Locate an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) if one is immediately available.

Use the AED as outlined on the device.

To perform CPR if you are trained:

Position the person so you can check for signs of life by laying the person flat on their back on a firm surface and extending the neck.
Open the person’s mouth and airway by lifting the chin forward.
Determine whether the person is breathing by simultaneously listening for breath sounds, feeling for air motion on your cheek and ear, and looking for chest motion.
If the person is not breathing, pinch his or her nostrils closed, make a seal around the mouth and breathe into his or her mouth twice. Give one breath every five seconds - 12 breaths each minute - and completely refill your lungs after each breath.
If there are no signs of life - no response, movement, or breathing - begin chest compressions. Place your hands over the lower part of the breastbone, keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands to make the best use of your weight.
Push down 11/2 to 2 inches at a rate of 80 to 100 times a minute. The pushing down and letting up phase of each cycle should be equal in duration. Don’t jab down and relax. After 15 compressions, breathe into the person’s mouth twice.
After every four cycles of 15 compressions and two breaths, recheck for signs of life. Continue the rescue maneuvers as long as there are no signs of life.

To perform CPR on a baby:

Cover the mouth and nose with your mouth.
Give one breath for every five chest compressions.
Compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch at least 100 times a minute, using only two fingers.

To Control Bleeding:

Have the injured person lie down. If possible, position the person’s head slightly lower than the trunk or elevate the legs. This position reduces the risk of fainting by increasing blood flow to the brain. If also possible, elevate the site of bleeding.

Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Don’t remove any large or more deeply embedded objects. Don’t probe the wound or attempt to clean it at this point. Your principal concern is to stop the bleeding.

Apply pressure directly on the wound. Use a sterile bandage, clean cloth, or even a piece of clothing. If nothing else is available, use your hand.

Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops. When it does, bind the wound tightly with a bandage (or even a piece of clean clothing) and adhesive tape.

Chemical Burns:

If a chemical burns the skin, follow these steps:

Remove the cause of the burn by flushing the chemicals off the skin surface with cool, running water for 20 minutes or more. If the burning chemical is a powder-like substance such as lime, brush it off the skin without exposing yourself before flushing.

Remove clothing or jewelry that has been contaminated by the chemical.

Consider using a lotion, such as one containing aloe vera, to prevent drying and to make the skin feel more comfortable.

Wrap the burned area with a dry, sterile dressing or a clean cloth.

Rinse the burn again for several more minutes if the victim complains of increased burning after the initial washing.

Minor chemical burns usually heal without further treatment.

Burns:

To distinguish a minor burn from a serious burn, the first step is to determine the degree and the extent of damage to body tissues. These three classifications will help you determine emergency care:

First-degree

The least serious burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin (epidermis) is burned. The skin is usually red, with swelling and pain sometimes present. The outer layer of skin hasn’t been burned through. Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin, or buttocks or a major joint.

Second-degree

When the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin (dermis) also is burned, the injury is termed second-degree burn. Blisters develop and the skin takes on an intensely reddened, splotchy appearance. Second-degree burns produce severe pain and swelling.

If the second-degree burn is no larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, treat it as a minor burn. If the burned area is larger or if the burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin, or buttocks or over a major joint, get medical help immediately.

For minor burns, including second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, take the following action:

Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cold running water for 15 minutes. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cold water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don’t put ice on the burn.

Consider a lotion. Once a burn is completely cooled, applying an aloe vera lotion, a triple antibiotic ointment, or a moisturizer prevents drying and makes you feel more comfortable.

Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Don’t use fluffy cotton, which may irritate the skin. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain, and protects blistered skin.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

Caution:

Don’t use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause frostbite, further damaging your skin.

Don’t break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If blisters break, wash the area with mild soap and water, then apply an antibiotic ointment and a gauze bandage. Clean and change dressings daily. Antibiotic ointments don’t make the burn heal faster, but they can discourage infection. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment. If it’s a major burn, don’t apply any ointment at all (see below).

Third-degree

The most serious burns are painless and involve all layers of the skin. Fat, muscle and even bone may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear dry and white. Difficulty inhaling and exhaling, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other toxic effects may occur if smoke inhalation accompanies the burn.

For major burns, dial “0” from a campus phone or 740-587-6777 from a cell phone or non campus phone or call for emergency medical assistance. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:

Don’t remove burnt clothing. However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat.

Make sure the burn victim is breathing. If breathing has stopped or you suspect the person’s airway is blocked try to clear the airway and, if necessary, do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist sterile bandage or clean cloth.

For additional first aid information:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/firstaidandselfcare/index.cfm