First Aid in Kenya

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First aid as the name suggests is given to a casualty involved in one mishap or another. There are many situations that call for emergency care. These may be  burns, fractures, snake bites, physical workout injuries etc. In order to perform first aid in Kenya effectively you need a well stocked first aid kit.

First Aid Kits in Kenya

Due to one reason or another it may be not be possible to have a fully stocked first aid kit. Such situations will definitely require some improvisation here and there. Emergencies find even the most prepared individuals off guard once in a while. The following items may come in hand in case of an emergency.

• Bandages, these are the most important items for first aid in Kenya.
• Triangular bandages, strips of various sizes and safety pins.
• Gauze, sterile pads, dressing for burns and cooling gel.
• Elastic bandages for care of fractures and sprains.
• Cotton balls together with cotton tipped swabs and triangular bandages.
• Roller bandages that are breathable, absorbent and elastic.
• Two pairs of disposable gloves, either synthetic or latex.
• Eye pad, sterile finger splint and adhesive tape and thermometer.
• Antibiotic ointment, towelettes or antiseptic solution.
• Instant ice packs, petroleum jelly or any other lubricant.
• Tweezers, scissors, a needle and a suction devices for flushing out  wounds.
• Soaps, hand sanitizer, syringe, spoon, and a medical cup.
• Sterile eye washing solution, and goggles for eye protection.
• Plastic bags for disposing contaminated or used materials.

First Aid for Concussion in Kenya

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  First Aid in Kenya

  Let the person stop any activity and lay motionless.

• Wrap ice in a piece of cloth and apply to a swollen area.
• Painkillers should aid in pain relief.
• Be on the watch out for symptoms such as vomiting, partial vision in one or both eyes, confusion or inability to get up, numbness on either side of the body and seizure
• Check on broken skin, apply pressure for 5 to 10 minutes particularly when  persistent bleeding occurs from injury to the scalp.
• If the person falls unconscious, vomits after injury, looses memory, gets stiffness or pain  in the neck or experiences increasing drowsiness, then seek medical attention.
• If the condition is not so serious, then the person should  fully recover in 7 to 10 days.
• Normal activities should should not be resumed without the doctors advice.
• Always consult with your health care provider on the suitable time to resume work or sporting activity.
• As long as any symptoms of the head injury persist, you should continue resting.

First Aid for Broken Ankle in Kenya

• Secure the safety of the victim,
  

  First Aid in Kenya

• Ensure the victim is breathing by clearing the airways.
• Asses the victim for additional injuries and control the bleeding.
• Any broken skin should be covered by sterilized gauze or dressing.
• If necessary, the wound should be rinsed in a saline solution. In case of an open wound, stitching by medical staff will be required.
• The broken ankle may require splinting. Have the victim remain motionless as you splint the broken ankle.
• Always ensure adequate blood circulation, sensation and motion.
• Use a pillow or cardboard as a splint.
• Avoid any movement in the shin and foot area that results in pressure on the ankles, desist from wrapping the ankle too tightly.
• An ice pack when used properly will reduce inflammation. To avoid frost bite avoid applying the ice directly on the skin, wrap the ice in a towel or sheet.
• If you suspect that the victim has a neck back or head injury, do not move them unnecessarily unless it is for their safety or the rescuer’s.

First Aid in Kenya for Choking

If the victim carries on coughing violently and does not turn bluish. then do not take immediate action. Find out from the person if he is choking. If the victim can give a verbal response, then the airway’s obstruction is partial.

Do not abandon the person, instead encourage them to cough until the foreign object clears from the throat. Do not give the person water to drink, this may cover the little space left for passage of air. If the victim can only answer by nodding or non-verbally, then the persons airways may be completed obstructed and emergency help will be needed.

First aid in Kenya for a choking individual who begins to turn blue varies according to the age of the individual. Children above one year and adults should be given the Heimlich maneuver or abdominal thrusts. The abdominal thrusts create an artificial cough that may be strong enough to clear the airways instantly.

The sudden upward abdominal thrust forces the diaphragm upward, shrinking the chest cavity. The resultant compression of the lungs forces air outwards. The outward rush of air clears away the foreign object from the throat.

Performing the Abdominal Thrusts

Stand behind the person and let him lean slightly forward. Clench a fist with one hand, wrap your hands around the person. Tuck your fist into the other hand just below the ribs at the dividing line.

With a quick inward and upward jerking motion, move your hand in an attempt to help the person cough out the foreign object. Repeat the maneuver until the foreign body is ejected. Persist with the procedure until the victim recovers or becomes unconscious.

In case the victim falls unconscious, lay him gently on the floor on their back and continue making attempts to clear their airway. Kneel beside the victim and place the heel of your hand in the middle of their abdomen below the ribs.

Place your other hand firmly on top. Use both hands and press five to ten times. If the airways clears and still and no response from the person is observed, commence CPR.

For infants of one year or less abdominal thrusts will not be effective because of the babies minute size. Pick up the baby instead and slap her back five times. Ensure the babies head is tilted downwards to for gravity to assist in clearing the airway. Follow through the five slaps with five thrusts carefully supporting the baby’s head.

Administer CPR if the baby turns blue or becomes unresponsive. If  you see someone choking and you are unsure of what to do, then call 911 or any emergency service  immediately. Using the above techniques you could possibly stop the choking before help arrives.

On the arrival of the medical staff it is important for the choking victim to be evaluated. If the foreign body is still lodged in the victims throat, the emergency medical team should be able to take over. The person will need to be taken to the hospital to receive further personalized treatment.