Kathleen Handal - Docs First Aid Guide

By

Kathleen A. Handal, M.D.

ER Doc

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"Invaluable e-book ... valuable resources that make a contribution to improving family health and safety ... concise guide takes out all of the guess work, telling the reader exactly what to do and what not to do when first aid situations arise."

Sari Fine Shepphird, Ph.D. Psychologist & Author

We recently purchased these manuals in French, English, and Spanish as a quick, first aid guide for our company's international project sites. We operate in well over 40 countries and Dr. Handal's "Doc's First Aid Guide," is an easy-to-read, compact, and comprehensive guide to a myriad of ailments and health issues that may arise no matter where you may be located. We feel that this manual will better equip our personnel to deal with daily first aid issues that may come to pass and we highly recommend this guide to others.

Becca, Abt Associates

"Key is on the cover-Read it before you need it ... Helps decide what you can do at home and when you need to seek more advanced help."

Claire Merrick

"Very valuable and accessible contribution to the education needed for first aid responses."

Delores Rogers

"Replaces that old heavy reference book."

Stephanie Herold

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Published by DocHandal, LLC at Smashwords.

Copyright 2009, by Kathleen A. Handal, M.D.

UPDATED 1/2018

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in part or in whole by any process without written permission from the author, Kathleen A. Handal, M.D. Thank you respecting the work of this author.

ISBN-13: 978-0-615-32737-2

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

DocHandal, LLC publishes first aid and safety materials in a variety of electronic formats. Discounts for bulk orders and customized editions may be available from the publisher.

Visit http://www.DocHandal.com for more information.

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DISCLAIMER: This is a guide until medical assistance is obtained. The author does not represent that every acceptable first aid/medical procedure is contained herein or those abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require additional procedures. This material is not designed to take the place of first aid training by qualified instructors or evaluation by a physician. DocHandal recommends formal first aid & CPR training for everyone.

The information within this guide is a compilation of general medical first aid reflecting the current knowledge and accepted emergency practice in the United States at the time this guide was published (October 2016). The reader is urged to stay informed of changes in emergency care procedures.

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Kathleen Handal, MD is a nationally and internationally known emergency medicine Doc. She authored The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook which was written for the lay audience.

Doc believes physicians have a responsibility to teach and share medical common sense. Her website, www.Dochandal.com, serves as a base for her many consumer education endeavors. A frequent host and co-host on talk-radio health shows, she has also appeared on CNN and the Today Show. Her Medical Emergencies in the Workplace video won a bronze medal in the International Cindy Competition and was a Telly Award finalist. She has co-authored a series of medical textbooks.

As part of her dedication to public education, she wrote, directed, and produced " Trauma Run ", a nationally distributed video for grades 2-6. The video, produced in Spanish and English, teaches children how to respond to a medical emergency when no adults are available.

In Your ER Guide she gives valuable insight into how an emergency room operates, so youll know how to get the best care possible. Its like having Doc Handal at your side when you need her the most.

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Many thanks to Brian Coonce, Barbara O'Neill-Maguire, BSN, RN, OCN, Anita Kaul, Barbi Neary, RRT and all my ER patients over the years for their many and varied contributions, not the least of which was patience and trust.

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CONTENTS

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The steps a rescuer takes during the first few minutes of a medical emergency are critical - they can mean the difference between temporary or permanent disability or between life and death. That's why first aid knowledge and training are so important. They prepare you to intervene calmly and effectively in a medical emergency. Everyone has a chance to be a life saver.

In this book you'll find easy-to-follow instructions on how to help in the more common medical emergencies. You'll learn what to do and what not to do if you're the first one on the scene. So familiarize yourself with this material before an incident occurs. And keep in mind that reading this information is no substitute for formal instruction and practice. Not every possible medical emergency situation is presented in this guide.

Before you become a rescuer, be aware of your own sensitivities and physical limitations. If you are not cut out for hands-on help at the scene of a medical emergency, you can still help. The fact that you know how to get help and can communicate effectively will make a difference.

It's also important to exercise compassion and understanding for the victim's situation. Your job is to stay calm and to reassure the victim without making false promises. Always remember to give the victim as much privacy as possible, including asking observers to act as a screen by facing out from the situation. Again, thinking ahead about this and the role you might play will make a difference in ensuring the effectiveness of your assistance.

READ THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU NEED IT!

In this book you will see how to:

Size up the situation

Set priorities

Check and maintain Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABCs), the actions of CPR and the Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Administer first aid for specific emergencies

Create an Emergency Info Sheet

Put together a First Aid Kit, using Doc Handal's First Aid Kit Checklist

Note: Any word in blue text within this book can be referenced from the Table of Contents.

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First aid is serious. Dedicate some time to learning how to help. Any time you spend doing this is time well spent. Make sure you have a first aid kit at home, in your car and at work. Familiarize yourself with its contents. Replace and update supplies as needed. You want to be ready to act quickly and correctly in a medical emergency.

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Your first step in a medical emergency must be to look around and ask yourself "Is the scene safe for me?" before attempting a rescue. Too often well-intentioned rescuers become victims themselves when they risk their safety to help others. Don't think that rushing in will make you a hero. If the area is unsafe, go for help or put on the personal protective equipment (PPE) that will permit you to assist safely.

Keep in mind that blood and some body fluids may contain infectious matter so ALWAYS take Universal Precautions , like wearing gloves or a CPR barrier mask, to protect you. Barrier devices should be kept in your First Aid Kit.