Injury & Possible Symptoms

First Aid / Treatment & Actions

Bleeding: Minor cuts, scratches and grazes

• Wash and dry your own hands.
• Cover any cuts on your own hands and put on disposable gloves.
• Clean the cut, if dirty, under running water. Pat dry with a sterile dressing or clean lint-free material. If possible, raise affected area above the heart.
• Cover the cut temporarily while you clean the surrounding skin with soap and water and pat the surrounding skin dry. Cover the cut completely with a sterile dressing or plaster.
• If bleeding does not stop, treat for shock and call for help on: 112 on a cellular phone; or 10177 for the National ambulance service; or 082 911 for Netcare; or 084 124 for ER24

Bleeding: Severe bleeding

Step 1/6: Direct pressure

• Protect yourself from infection by wearing disposable gloves and covering any wounds on your hands.
• Apply direct pressure to the wound with a pad (e.g. a clean cloth) or fingers until a sterile dressing is available.

Step 2/6: Elevate

• Raise and support the injured limb. Take particular care if you suspect a bone has been broken.

Step 3/6: Lay the child down and treat for shock
Step 4/6: Call for Help

 National medical emergency numbers:
Hospital 020-2222181/ 020-2222182/020-234459,  

Kenya Red Cross Emergency Hotline 1199

 Step 5/6: Apply sterile dressing

• Bandage the pad or dressing firmly to control bleeding, but not so tightly that it stops the circulation to fingers or toes.
• If blood comes through the dressing do not remove it – bandage another over the original.
• If blood seeps through both dressings, remove them both and replace with a fresh dressing, applying pressure over the site of bleeding.

 Step 6/6: Treat for shock

• Keep on treating child for shock while you wait for the ambulance.

Objects in wounds

Where possible, swab or wash small objects out of the wound with clean water.

If there is a large object embedded:

• Leave it in place.
• Apply pressure on either side of the object.
• Raise and support the wounded limb or part.
• Gently cover the wound and object with a sterile dressing.
• Build up padding around the object until the padding is higher than the object, then bandage over the object without pressing on it.
• Arrange to take or send the casualty to hospital.

Burns and Scalds

Note: DO NOT remove any clothing or material that may be sticking to the burned area.

• If no cold water is available, use another cool liquid such as milk.
• Cool burn with cold water (preferably running water) for at least 20 minutes.
• Remove cooled clothing and cool injury again. Cut around material that is sticking to the burn.
• Do not touch the burn or burst any blisters.
• Cover burn loosely with clean non-fluffy material, plastic bag or kitchen film.
• DO NOT give anything to eat or drink and watch for signs of shock.
• Seek medical attention by calling one of the

 National medical emergency numbers:

National Emergency Numbers 999,

Hospital 020-2222181/ 020-2222182/020-234459

Police Headquarters 0726035455,

Kenya Red Cross Emergency Hotline 1199

Choking

* Breathing is obstructed
* Sudden clutching at the throat
* Face may turn blue
* Trying to cry or speak, but making strange noises or no sounds

A Choking Baby

DO NOT shake a baby or hold them upside down!

• Lay the baby face down with its head low and chin supported by your hand.
• Give 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades. If this does not clear the blockage give up to 5 chest thrusts.

Chest Thrust for a baby:

• Place baby on its back on a firm surface.
• Place two fingers in the CPR compression position.
• Give 5 chest thrusts, sharper but slower than CPR.
• Check in the mouth for the obstruction.
• Call an ambulance if obstruction has not been cleared.
• Repeat steps until help arrives or the obstruction is cleared.
• Monitor breathing and pulse and be prepared to resuscitate.

A Choking Child

• Encourage the child to try to cough up the object if possible.
• Bend child forward and give 5 sharp slaps between the shoulder blades.
• If back blows fail, commence chest thrusts, checking to see airway is clear after each thrust.

Chest thrusts for an older child:

• These can be given either standing, lying or sitting.
• Identify the same point on the sternum as when doing CPR.
• Place one hand on the back for support and one hand on the sternum if child is upright.
• Thrusts should be sharp and delivered at a slower pace than compressions.
• Look in the mouth for the obstruction after each thrust.
• Call an ambulance if the obstruction has not cleared.
• Repeat steps until help arrives or the obstruction is cleared.
• Monitor breathing and pulse and be prepared to resuscitate.

 National medical emergency numbers:

National Emergency Numbers 999,

Hospital 020-2222181/ 020-2222182/020-234459

Police Headquarters 0726035455,

Kenya Red Cross Emergency Hotline 1199

Febrile Convulsion / Seizures

• The child may be flushed and sweating with a hot forehead
• The eyes may roll upwards, be fixed or squinting
• Face may look blue if they are holding their breath
• The back may be arched and stiff
• Fists may be clenched.

Baby or Toddler

• Place the child on their side on the floor or large flat area for safety (to keep their airways open, to prevent injury, and so they don’t swallow any vomit).
• Remove objects nearby that may cause injury.
• After the convulsion has stopped, remove excessive clothing to assist with cooling. DO NOT attempt to cool by sponging or bathing.
• If the seizure lasts for more than five minutes call an ambulance.

 National medical emergency numbers:

National Emergency Numbers 999,

Hospital 020-2222181/ 020-2222182/020-234459

Police Headquarters 0726035455,

Kenya Red Cross Emergency Hotline 1199

Poisoning

• DO NOT try to make your child vomit as this can cause further harm.
• Identify the poison the child has taken. Chemical/ alcohol/ medicine/ plant.
• Call your provincial / regional Poison Information Centre
• Follow their advice.

Snake

• A pair of puncture marks
• Severe pain, redness and swelling around the bite
• Vomiting
• Disturbed vision and increased salivation and sweating
• Breathing difficulties

Snakebites are relatively uncommon in Kenya. However, we have some poisonous species to look out for: adders, cobras, mambas and the East Africa Garter Snake. The type of poison and the effects on the person bitten depend on the species of snake, and the size and general health of the person. A few basic steps in terms of snakebite first aid are always advocated:

• Keep the patient still, calm and quiet in order to prevent the spread of venom
• Wash the bite wound with soap and water (do not cut into, or suck on the bite in an effort to ‘drain’ the venom – this is not like in the movies)
• If the snake has spat venom into the eyes, keep on rinsing them out with clean water for at least 15 minutes
• Immobilise the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart (do not apply any form of tourniquet – once again, we are not in the movies)
• Do not administer any type of pain relief medication (unless otherwise instructed by a qualified medical practitioner), especially not aspirin, as this thins the blood
• Do not allow the patient to eat or drink anything, especially not alcohol-containing products
• Only administer anti-venom under the direction of qualified medical help – it can do more harm than good if used under the wrong circumstances; anti-venom is not usually needed unless the child is under the age of two, or they are a long way from hospital
• Get medical help as soon as possible!
• Call your provincial / regional Poison Information Centre
• Follow their advice