Aim of VAD 57

Malaysian Red Crescent Voluntary Aid Detachment 57 (MRC VAD 57) is a detachment unit of Malaysian Red Crescent, which is an international well known Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) who provides first aid and safety services at Curtin Sarawak. This unit is registered under Malaysian Red Crescent Miri Chapter and work under Curtin Sarawak Staff and Student Affairs Department. 

The members of the Unit VAD 57 will be assisting Health Officer and Security Guard when there is first aid emergency . In addition, the unit will organise FIRST AID TRAINING and also provide FIRST AID DUTIES for events in Curtin Sarawak. Plus this unit will be organising activities that are related to humanity such as community service, training, or even fund raising events to help whoever needs our help.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle Cramps is a sudden contraction of muscle that may feel extremely painful. Cramps are common among healthy people, especially during or after energetic exercise. Older age people will suffer more even just light exercise or during rest/sleep.

Cramps are caused by inadequate blood supply to the muscles. Cramp will mostly happen after eating, since most of blood is supply to the digestive system rather than muscles. Moreover, low blood level of electrolytes, such as potassium occasionally cause muscle cramps.

First Aid Treatment:

Cramps usually will relive on their own without treatment. Make sure always calm down and relax by having slow deep breathing through mouth.

To speed the healing process, we can:-

1. Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle.

2. Apply an ice massage to the cramped muscle.

3. If leg cramps, fully straightening the leg and bending over and grabbing the end of the toes, the cramp will eventually relieve.

4. Application of muscle pain relief cream.

5. Drink beverages contain potassium, such as water with salt.

Preventions:-

• Do stretching and warm up before and after exercises.

• Do not smoking and consuming caffeine before.

• Consume foods and beverages high in potassium.

* Isotonic drink(100plus) helpful also.

References: M. H. Beers, A.J. Fletcher, T V. Jones, R. Porter, J. L. Kaplan. 2003. The Merck Manual of Medical Information 2th home edition. Merck & Co., Inc. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/legpainandinjuries/a/muscle_spasms.htm

Fainting

Fainting is sudden loss of consciousness. It is symptom of not enough of oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain. It may occur if the heart cannot pump sufficiently and then decrease of blood flow to the brain. Usually you will see the victim may turn pale, weak and starting unconscious. This may occur on younger as well as older people.

Fainting usually is not so serious if it is caused only because of fatigue, stress, dehydration, excessive sweating, and wrong standing or sitting posture. Lying flat will automatically restore consciousness after fainting. This is partly because the victim is lying down and blood can smoothly flow without the need to against gravity.

In first aid, what should the witnesses do is:-

1. Raise the victim legs to speed up recovery by increasing blood flow to the brain.
2. Fan the victim.
3. Always remember check the patient heart beats rate for in case.
4. Put the casualty in recovery position if you are leaving the casualty alone to find help.
5. Give a glass of sugar drink after the victims awake.

References: M. H. Beers, A.J. Fletcher, T V. Jones, R. Porter, J. L. Kaplan. 2003. The Merck Manual of Medical Information 2th home edition. Merck & Co., Inc.

Ref. 4 - Chemical Poison In Lab

Every the first time we attend the experimental lab especially chemistry lab, lab instructor always briefs us about the lab rules and emergency safety equipments. Every lab users should always obey the rules for safety purpose.

Accidentally during the experiment, you get:-

First Aid Treatment:

Poison on the Skin
1. Remove contaminated clothing.
2. Avoid contact with the chemical again.
3. Wash the skin with cool running tap water for 15-20 minutes.
4. If your whole body gets poison, quickly get to the Laboratory Emergency Shower (available in Curtin lab) and give yourself an emergency shower.
5. Witness should inform instructor quickly.


Poison in the Eye
1. Holds your eyelids open
2. flood the eye with water from a cup, jug or slowly running tap water for 10-20 minutes.
3. Uses laboratory Emergency Eyewash if available.
4. Witness should inform instructor quickly.

Inhaled Poison
1. Get the person to have fresh air as quickly as possible if safe to do so.
*If you could not bear with the smell in the lab, ask permission from instructor to go out to have some fresh air.

References:
http://www.parasolemt.com.au/manual.php?subpage=poisoning

Ref. 3 - Nosebleeds or epistaxis

        Most common caused by nose picking and injury. Some people may get them more often. The cold and dry weather will likely cause nosebleeds. People who make take aspirin or other drug s that interfere with the blood’s ability to clot commonly and develop nosebleeds. If prevention or treatment not been done and continues longer than 10 minutes, it will considerer as serious as losing great amount of blood(1 litres/hour in adults) and than causing shock.

First Aid Treatment:
       Important step to treat nosebleeds including elevating the patient's head 45 degrees, avoiding picking up nose upside down to let the blood flow back to nose. Make sure the patient breathe through his month.

       After that, firmly compress the sides of the nose together and not let go 10 minutes. Release the compress for a while and repeat the step again until the bleeding stop. Place ice packs or cold towel on the nose to increase effectiveness.

        Monitor vital signs and skin color of the patient. If the bleeding does not stop, bring the patient to the doctor.

         Eat lots of fruits and vegetables build a stronger resistant to infections.

References:
M. H. Beers, A.J. Fletcher, T V. Jones, R. Porter, J. L. Kaplan. 2003. The Merck Manual of Medical Information 2th home edition. Merck & Co., Inc.

Ref. 2 - Recovery Postion

Recovery position is the comfort posture and open airway management technique to assist unconscious(still breathing) casualty before leaving him alone to find help or help others.

Below is video of showing how to put casualty in recover position:-

DO NOT do recovery position if spinal or neck injury is indicated, unless you want to drain the vomit from the airway.

Ref. 1 - Small Cut or Scrape

Let starts with the simple circumstances that commonly happen among the students. For example, you may too actively involve in any kind of sports and often you may get scrape on your knee or other part of your skin due to fall down, or you were cutting carrots for dinner and you've sliced your thumb, or perhaps even a piece of paper will sharp enough too cut you skin.

First Aid Treatment:
1. The first thing is to make sure that your wound is clean. Infection can develop when a wound is contaminated with dirt and bacteria.
2. Run over tap water and little bit of soap or diluted dettol. You don't have to use a lot of friction unless there's a lot of dirt in the wound.
3. Application of agents, such as alcohol, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide are not recommended. These agents can damage tissue and decrease the recover rate.
4. Once it's clean, make sure that the bleeding is stopped. If not, apply direct pressure to the spot by using clean and dry cloth until the bleeding totally stops.
5. Apply right size adhesive bandage on the wound after clean and dry.
6. Actually do not necessarily need to use an antibiotic ointment or antiseptic cream for small wound. Your body does a great job of healing itself.
7. Make sure to change that bandage daily for hygiene purpose.

References:
M. H. Beers, A.J. Fletcher, T V. Jones, R. Porter, J. L. Kaplan. 2003. The Merck Manual of Medical Information 2th home edition. Merck & Co., Inc.