Road Accidents : The Silent Epidemic

                                    

India the largest democracy of the world has got many problems which can be attributed to population alone , one such problem is the road accident menace , according to a govt survey more than 1.2 lac people die every year due to road accidents which is largest number for any country in the world

The reasons include poor traffic sense , poor road quality and poor approach to nearest hospitals to name a few

According to the survey around 40 to 50 percent of these deaths are due to poor first aid received and delay in reaching the hospital

In japan,where earth quakes are endemic, even a six year old kid knows what are the emergency precautions in case of a earth quake ,because that’s the first thing that’s taught in schools .

In a country like india where accidents are so common we cant afford to be negligent regarding the first aid procedures .In a first hand experience, recently I saw a biker being provided “absolute fatal “ first aid by the surrounding mob ,which made me wonder how many of the common men actually know about the  first aid procedures to be given to accident victims .

Techniques of Basic First Aid which can thousands of life every year

In case of an accident the things to check for can be remembered as ABC

Airway
Breathing
Circulation

Airway

If the casualty appears unresponsive, ask them loudly if they are OK and if they can open their eyes. If they respond, you can leave the casualty in the position they are in until help arrives. While you wait, keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response:
Are they alert?
Do they respond to your voice?
Do they respond to pain?
Is there no response to any stimulus (they're unconscious)?

If there is no response, leave the casualty in the position they are in and open their airway. If this is not possible in the position they are in, gently lay them on their back and open the airway.

You open the airway by placing one hand on the casualty’s forehead and gently tilting the head back, then lifting the tip of the chin using two fingers. This is to move the tongue away from the back of the mouth. Do not push on the floor of the mouth as this will cause the tongue to obstruct the airway.

If you think they may have a spinal injury, place your hands on either side of their face and use your fingertips to gently lift the angle of the jaw to open the airway. Take care not to move the casualty’s neck. This is known as the jaw thrust technique.
Breathing

To check if a person is still breathing:

Look to see if their chest is rising and falling.
Listen over their mouth and nose for breathing.
Feel their breath against your cheek for 10 seconds.

If the person is breathing but unconscious he should be then put to a recovery position

Putting someone in the recovery position will ensure their airway remains clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid will not cause them to choke.

To place someone in the recovery position:

• kneel on the floor on one side of the person
• place the arm nearest you at a right angle to their body with their hand upwards towards the head
• tuck their other hand under the side of their head, so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek
• bend the knee farthest from you to a right angle
• roll the person onto their side carefully by pulling on the bent knee
• the top arm should be supporting the head and the bottom arm will stop you rolling them too far
• open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin, and check that nothing is blocking their airway
• stay with the person and monitor their breathing and pulse continuously until help arrives
• if their injuries allow you to, turn the person onto their other side after 30 minutes

The Link For Graphic Representation is here : Recovery Position Image

If the person is not breathing then do inform this at 108 or any other emergency nunber of the area and start with  CPR 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped. It includes chest compressions and rescue breaths

Chest compressions and rescue breaths keep blood and oxygen circulating in the body.

If someone is not breathing normally and is not moving or responding to you after an accident, call 108 for an ambulance. Then, if you can, start CPR straight away.

Hands-only CPR

If you have not been trained in CPR or are worried about giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger, you can do chest compression-only (or hands-only) CPR.

To carry out a chest compression:

1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.

2. Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands.

3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5–6cm on their chest.

4. Repeat this until an ambulance arrives.

Try to perform chest compressions at 100-120 chest compressions a minute.

CPR with rescue breaths

If you’ve been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths. If you are not completely confident, attempt hands-only CPR instead (see above).

Adults

1. Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the person's chest, then place the other hand on top and press down by 5–6cm at a steady rate, at approximately 100 compressions per minute.

2. After every 30 chest compressions, give two breaths.

3. Tilt the casualty's head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person’s nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth. Check that their chest rises. Give two rescue breaths.

4. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Children over one year old

1. Open the child's airway by placing one hand on the child’s forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.

2. Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.

3. Place the heel of your hand on the centre of their chest and press down by at least one-third of the depth of the chest. Use two hands if you can't press down hard enough with one.

4. After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths.

5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Babies under one year old

1. Open the baby's airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.

2. Place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the infant and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.

3. Place two fingers in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest. Use the heel of one hand if you cannot press deep enough with two fingers.

4. After 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths.

5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Circulation

If the heart stops beating, you can help maintain their circulation by performing chest compressions. This is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when combined with rescue breaths.

If you are not trained or feel unable to give rescue breaths, you can perform compression-only CPR.

Agonal breathing is common in the first few minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating). Agonal breathing is sudden, irregular gasps of breath. This should not be mistaken for normal breathing and CPR should be given straight away.

The link for graphic representation of CPR : CPR 1