First Aid

Julia Clendenin, B.S.
Reviewers: Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) and Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM
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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1.5 hour(s)

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - Supervision/Administration, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, and Safety: 1.5 hour(s)

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This is a general overview of first aid, which covers CPR and AED, back blows and abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver), responses for bleeding injuries, responses for thermal and chemical burns, and more. Please note: this course does not provide First Aid, CPR, AED, or Stop the Bleed certification. You must attend in-person training with associated certifications, such as those offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Your facility and other organizations may offer such courses.

Objectives

  • Describe the appropriate first aid procedures to various medical emergencies.
  • Provide an overview of CPR and AED procedures.
  • Detail the appropriate first aid response for choking.
  • Outline the appropriate first aid responses to bleeding injuries.
  • Describe the appropriate first aid responses for thermal and chemical burns.
  • Cover other illnesses and injuries and the appropriate first aid responses to each.

Course Outline

  • Introduction
    • Introduction & Disclaimer
    • Barriers to Action and Good Samaritan Laws
    • Recognizing and Responding to an Emergency
    • Emergency Contact Procedures
    • True or False: To remove barriers to action, the Good Samaritan Laws protect rescuers from being sued for unintentional injury while performing life-saving procedures.
  • CPR
    • CPR
    • CPR for Trained Rescuers
    • CPR for Untrained Rescuers
    • Unresponsive but Breathing Victims
    • True or False: CPR by trained rescuers involves 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths per cycle.
  • AED
    • Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
    • AED Command Prompts
    • True or False: The rescuer and anyone else should not be touching the victim while the AED administers a shock.
  • Choking
    • Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts
    • Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts Details
    • Modifications to Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts
    • After Saving a Choking Victim
    • True or False: To perform an abdominal thrust, the rescuer should make a fist, cover the fist with the other hand, place them just above the navel, and proceed with inward and upward thrusts.
  • Bleeding
    • Exposure to Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials
    • Bleeding Aid for Major Injuries
    • Bleeding Aid for Minor Scrapes and Cuts
    • True or False: If you see blood seeping through the dressing, you should remove the dressing and put a new one on the wound.
  • Burns
    • Thermal Burns
      • Classification of Thermal Burns
      • First- and Second-Degree Burn Treatment
      • Third-Degree Burn Treatment
      • True or False: Popping blisters on a second-degree burn is good. It will reduce pressure and relax the skin.
    • Chemical Burns
      • Chemical Burns of the Skin
      • Chemical Burns of the Eye
      • Other Burns
      • True or False: If a victim splashes chemicals in their eyes, they should flush their eyes with an eyewash station or other method of getting water into the eyes for at least 15 minutes.
    • Other Illnesses and Injuries
      • More Emergencies
      • Fainting
      • Concussions
      • Allergic Reactions
      • Angina & Heart Attacks
      • Stroke
      • Asthma Attacks
      • Seizures
      • Impaled Object
      • Fractures and Broken Bones
      • Frostbite
      • True or False: When a person has fainted, it is appropriate to lay the victim down on their back and raise the legs 6–12 inches.
    • Conclusion
      • Purpose of this Course
    • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Julia Clendenin is a content writer and Marketing Director for MediaLab, Inc. She graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.S. in Literature, Media, and Communication.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose. 
Reviewer Information:
Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years of experience as a certified Medical Technologist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia.
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at MediaLab by Vastian. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.