First Aid: A Helpful Reference for Anyone

These pages hold instructions on how to do some common first aid procedures as well as others that may include long-term care.

NOTE - This page is meant to be a reference during role-play. It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any real medical condition. Any risk or liability is your own.

Bandages and Dressings | Burns and Scalds | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | Controlling Bleeding | Delivering a Baby | Miscellaneous Procedures | Shock | Sprains, Strains, and Fractures | Treating Wounds

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Shock

Symptoms of Shock | First Aid Treatment for Shock | Anaphylactic Shock | Fainting

Medically, shock is a term used to describe the effects of inadequate circulation of the blood throughout the body. Shock may result from a variety of causes and can cause irreversable harm.
The collapse of the cardiovascular system may be caused by any of three conditions:

Blood is lost.
Vessels dilate and there is insufficient blood to fill them.
The heart fails to act properly as a pump and circulate the blood.

No matter what the reason for the collapse, the results are the same: an insufficient blood flow to provide adequate nourishment and oxygen to all parts of the body. The body process may slow down, reducing circulation and, without nourishment, organs begin to die, especially the brain.

Symptoms of Shock

The signs and symptoms of shock are both physical and emotional. Shock may be determined by any or all of the following conditions:

Dazed look
Paleness in light skinned individuals and ashen or grayish color in dark skinned individuals
Nausea and vomiting
Thirst
Weak, rapid pulse
Cold, clammy skin
Shallow, irregular, labored breathing
Pupils dilated
Eyes dull and lackluster
Cyanosis, or a bluish tinge to the skin, in the late stages of shock.

Some of the reactions known to take place within the body in cases of shock bear directly on the symptoms presented. The most important reaction that occurs in shock is a decided drop in normal blood flow.
The brain suffers from this decreased blood supply and does not function normally; the victim's powers of reasoning, thinking, and expression are dulled. The victim may exhibit the following:

Weak and helpless feeling
Anxiety
Disorientation or confusion
Unconsciousness, in the late stages of shock.

First Aid Treatment for Shock

While life-threatening, shock is a serious condition which is reversible if recognized quickly and treated effectively. Always maintain an open airway and ensure adequate breathing; control any bleeding.
First aid for the victim of physical shock is as follows:

Keep the victim lying down, if possible. Make sure that the head is at least level with the body. Elevate the lower extremities if the injury will not be aggravated and there are no head or abdominal injuries. It may be necessary to raise the head and shoulders if a person is suffering from a head injury, sunstroke, heart attack, stroke, or shortness of breath due to a chest or throat injury. However, it should be noted that if an accident was severe enough to produce a head injury there may also be spinal damage. If in doubt, keep the victim flat.
Provide the victim plenty of fresh air.
Loosen any tight clothing (neck, chest, and waist) in order to make breathing and circulation easier.
Handle the victim as gently as possible and minimize movement.
Keep the victim warm and dry by wrapping in blankets, clothing or other available material. These coverings should be placed under as well as over the victim to reduce the loss of body heat. Keep the victim warm enough to be comfortable. The objective is to maintain as near normal body temperature as possible--not to add heat.
Do not give the victim anything by mouth.
The victim's emotional well-being is just as important as his or her physical well-being. Keep calm and reassure the victim. Never talk to the victim about his or her injuries. Keeo onlookers away from the victim as their conversation regarding the victim's injuries may be upsetting.

Anaphylactic Shock

Various technical terms describe different types of shock. At least one of these, anaphylactic shock, is given special emphasis because it is a life-threatening emergency which requires rapid treatment.
Anaphylactic shock is a sensitivity reaction. It occurs when a person contacts something to which he or she is extremely allergic.
A person can contact substances that can cause anaphylactic shock by eating fish or shellfish, berries, or oral drugs. Insect stings or injected drugs can cause a violent reaction, as well as inhaled substances such as dust or pollen.
Sensitivity can occur within a few seconds after contact with the substance. Death can result within minutes of contact; therefore, it is important that the first aider recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock. They are as follows:

Itching or burning skin
Hives covering a large area
Swelling of the tongue and face
Severe difficulty in breathing
Tightening or pain in the chest
Weak pulse
Dizziness
Convulsion
Coma.

Anaphylactic shock is an emergency that requires medication to counteract the allergic reaction. If the victim carries any medication to counteract the allergy, help the victim take the medicine.
Arrange for transport to a medical facility as quickly as possible because anaphylactic shock can be fatal in less than fifteen minutes. Notify the healers as to what caused the reaction, if known. Maintain an open airway. If necessary, provide artificial ventilation and CPR and treat for physical shock.

Fainting

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain and is a mild form of shock. Fainting may be caused by the sight of blood, exhaustion, weakness, heat, or strong emotions such as fright, joy, etc.
The signs and symptoms of fainting may be any or all of the following:

The victim may feel weak and dizzy, and may see spots.
The face becomes pale and the lips blue in both light and dark skinned people.
The forehead is covered with cold perspiration.
The pulse is rapid and weak.
The breathing is shallow.

The first aid for fainting is as follows:

If a person feels faint, the initial response might be sitting with the head between the knees.
Have the victim lie down with the head lower than the feet.
If the victim is unconscious for any length of time, something may be seriously wrong. Arrange for transportation to a medical facility.
Treat the victim for physical shock.
Maintain an open airway.
Do not give stimulants.

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For more detail relating to the healing of humans, here is a neat site that might help you. The golden fire lizard will show you the way!

Sources for these pages were:

Radcliffe, J. The New International Webster's Pocket Medical & First Aid Dictionary of the English Language. USA: Trident Press International, 1997.

Yahoo! Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia. June 2004.

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright ©
Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2001, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author.

Special thanks to Nerissa and Avonelle, who helped in the compilation of this resource.