Physical Education Notes

Vocabulary:
Conscious – breathing, responding and moving
Circulation – Movement of blood around the body
Respiration – The process of breathing
Response – A casualty’s reply to a first aider; squeezing his/her shoulders to assess
the casualty’s state of consciousness
Pulse – The heartbeat felt with each contraction which can be felt in the arteries
close to the skin at the neck, wrist and groin
Shock – A condition in which the circulatory system is not carrying enough blood to
the tissues. It can be caused by injury, illness or traumatic experience
Unconscious – An abnormal state of lack of response to sensory stimuli resulting from
injury, shock or some bodily disorder
External Cardiac Compressions (ECC) – A technique used in an attempt to revive a
casualty who is unconscious and not breathing, by a combination of rescue breaths
and ECC
Defibrillation – Application of a controlled electric shock to restore heart rhythm to
normal
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) – Rhythmic compression of the heart from the
outside of the body by pressing on the breast bone to provide artificial circulation of
blood
Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) – Can’t be seen or felt but it is the part of sunlight that
causes skin damage, ageing, wrinkling of the skin, eye damaged and skin cancer
Signs of Life – Capable of responding to sensory stimuli and having subjective
experiences
Buoyant – The ability to float
Anaphylaxis – An extreme and generalised allergic reaction
First Aid Principles
- To promoted a safe environment
- To preserve life
- To protect the unconscious
- To prevent worsening of injury or illness
 - To relieve pain and provide reassurance
- To help promote recovery
Responding to A Medical Emergency
- Assess the Situation
- Assess the Casualty
DRSACD
Danger – Check for Danger
Response – Command for victim response
Send for Help – Ask a bystander to send for help
Airway – Clear victim’s airway
Breathing – Check for breathing
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) – Compress the heart to beat again
Defibrillation – Electric shock to jumpstart heart
Treating Bleeding
Pressure – Apply directly over wound site
Elevation – Injury site elevated to reduce blood flow to wound site
Rest – Relax the casualty and reduce the heart rate thereby reducing the blood flow
to injury
Treating Shock
-blood loss -pain
-fluid loss -trauma
-burns -infection
-cold, pale and clammy skin -nausea, vomiting and anxiety
-weak, rapid pulse -thirst or shakiness
-rapid, shallow breathing -blue extremities, when in extreme
stage
-drowsiness and confusion, or
unconsciousness
Asthma - Breathlessness
- Tight chest
- Coughing
 - Wheezing
Sit person down in comfortable position. Give four puffs of puffer such as Ventolin.
Wait four minutes and give another four puffs if no improvement is seen. I still no
improvement then call emergency services.
Burns
- Heat
- Friction
- Chemicals
- Electricity
- Radiation
Flames and Scald – removing casualty or putting out flames, immediately cool area by
applying cold water
Electric Burns – switch off power at source, cool the area with water, apply bandage,
seek urgent medical help
Chemical Burns – flood burn area with running water, remove contaminated clothing,
seek medical help
Stings
- Funnel web or redback spiders
- Poisonous snakes
- Blue ringed octupuses
- Box and irukandji jellyfish

DRSABCD, Keep casualty as still as possible, apply an immobilisation bandage, use

icepacks or hot fluids to manage pain, seek medical aid, monitor breathing and
circulation
Pressure Immobilisation
A pressure immobilisation bandage is used to slow the circulation of venom of
serious bites and stings.
- Wrap the bandage firmly around affected limb starting from extremity
- Use a splint to keep limb still
- Attach splint using another bandage
- Don’t allow casualty to move
- Crepe Bandage
Poisoning
- DRSABCD
- Dial 000
- If person was ingested, do not induce vomiting or give anything by mouth
- If poison was inhaled get the casualty into fresh hair and loosen their clothing
- If person was absorbed remove contaminated clothing and shower the casualty
Overdose
- Call an ambulance immediately
- Check for response, if there is no response go through ABCD procedure
- If casualty breathing put them in to recovery position
Safe Water
Assess your own ability Stride Entry
Assess the environment Compact Jump
Assess an emergency Deep Dive
Slide Entry Shallow Dive
Step in Entry