Printer Friendly Version

<< previous page

First Aid Information

What to do if you cut yourself

What to do if you burn yourself

What to do for a muscle, bone, or joint injury

When to call emergency medical system

Call your local emergency numbers in these situations

Additional Emergency Numbers

First Aid Kit

What to do if you cut yourself::

For a superficial cut:

1. Wash area well with soap and water.
2. Apply antiseptic ointment and a band-aid if needed
 

For a severely bleeding wound:

1. Cover wound with a dressing and apply pressure.
2. If any extremity is involved, elevate above the level of the heart.
3. Cover dressing with a roller bandage.
4. If bleeding does not stop after fifteen minutes, apply additional dressing. Squeeze artery against bone if the wound is on an extremity (inside of upper arms or upper thigh in the groin area.) CALL CAMPUS POLICE – 458-4242 for 1604 campus, 458-2930 for downtown campus, or 911.
5. Consult your physician about a tetanus booster if it has been more than five years since your last booster.
 

Back to top

What to do if you burn yourself::

1. Stop the burning – put out flames or remove the victim from the source of the
burn.
2. Cool the burned area with large amounts of cool water. Do not use ice or ice
water. You can apply soaked towels, sheets or other wet cloths to a burned face
or other areas that cannot be immersed.
3. Cover the burn with a dry, clean covering – a sterile dressing, if possible.
4. Seek medical attention if burn involves the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals, or covers a large area of the body or is severe.
 

DO NOT:

1. Apply ice to any burn unless it is a very minor one
2. Touch a burn with anything except a clean covering
3. Remove pieces of clothing that stick to the burned area
4. Try to clean a severe burn
5. Break blisters
6. Use any kind of ointment on a severe burn
 

Back to top

What to do for a muscle, bone, or join injury::

If you suspect a serious muscle, bone, or joint injury, you must keep the injured part from moving. Splint ONLY if the victim must be moved or transported by someone other than emergency medical personnel. Boards, folded newspaper, magazines, or commercial splints may be used as rigid splints. Splint only in the position that you find the extremity. Splint the injured area and the joints above and below the injury.

Symptoms of muscle, bone or joint injury:

1. Bruising or swelling
2. Inability to use the affected part normally
3. Deformity
4. The victim feels bones grating, or felt or heard a snap or pop at the time of injury

Begin RICE treatment immediately:

R Rest – Rest the injured area as much as possible.
I Ice – Ice the injured area as soon as possible. Immediately putting ice on the
injury helps to speed recovery because it not only relieves pain but also
slows blood flow, reducing internal bleeding and swelling. Wrap ice pack
in a towel before placing it on the injured area. Apply the ice pack to the
injured area for 10 to 20 minutes. Reapply it every two hours for the next
48 hours, during times that you are not sleeping.
C Compression – Apply a snug elastic bandage (ace wrap) to the injured joint.
Numbness, tingling, or increased pain mean the bandage is too tight.
Remove it and re-wrap. Remove the bandage every 3 to 4 hours, and leave
it off for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
E Elevation – Raise the injured body part above the level of the heart. Place it on a
pillow, folded blanket, stack of newspapers, etc.

Remove rings on affected hand.

Take an over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce inflammation and pain.

Call campus police – 458-4242 for 1604 campus, 458-2930 for downtown campus, or 911 in case of emergency. Seek medical attention if:
1. Pain is severe
2. Bone fragment is sticking out of the wound
3. The victim feels grating in the area, or felt or heard a snap or pop at the time of injury.
4. Skin around the injury turns blue and/or feels cold and numb.
5. The injured body part looks crooked or deformed.
6. Pain continues to get worse.
 

Back to top

When to Call Emergency Medical System:

IF THE VICTIM:

1. Is or becomes unconscious
2. Has trouble breathing
3. Has chest pain or pressure
4. Is bleeding severely
5. Has severe pressure or pain in the abdomen that does not go away
6. Is vomiting or passing blood
7. Has seizures, a severe headache, or slurred speech
8. Appears to have been poisoned
9. Has injuries to the head, neck or back
10. Has possible broken bones
11. Has been burned severely

Back to top

Also Call Your Local Emergency Number In These Situations:

1. Fire or explosion
2. Downed electrical wires.
3. Swiftly moving or rapidly rising water.
4. Presence of poisonous gas.
5. Vehicle collision
6. Victims who cannot be moved easily.

Back to top

Additional Emergency Numbers:

• Poison Control- 1-800-764-7661
• The Rape Crisis Center- 349-7273
• UTSA Student Health Services 1604 Campus- 458-4142
• UTSA Health and Counseling Services Downtown Campus-458-2930
• UTSA 1604 Campus Police-

Back to top

First Aid Kit For The College Student:

• ANTISEPTIC OINTMENT
• BANDAIDS, ASSORTED SIZES
• ROLL OF 2" GAUZE
• 4" X 4" GAUZE PADS
• ADHESIVE TAPE/MEDICAL TAPE
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• ACE BANDAGE
• DISPOSABLE ICE PACK
• TYLENOL
• PEPTO BISMAL
• ANTIHISTAMINE TABLETS
• DECONGESTANT TABLETS
• THROAT LOZENGES
• EYE IRRIGATING SOLUTION
• THERMOMETER
• SCISSORS
• ONE PAIR LATEX GLOVES

Listed above are items for a first aid kit or medicine cabinet. Remember to keep the kit/cabinet inaccessible to children. You may wish to add personal medications to be used by only you. Do not share prescribed medications with a friend. Remember that they were prescribed specifically for you after your physician evaluated YOUR problem. Accordingly, never use someone else's prescription for your illness.

NOTE: the expiration dates on all medications in your kit/cabinet and replace as needed. When you have finished a prescription, discard the container.

You may wish to consider taking an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR course to reinforce your knowledge of how to use your first aid kit properly. These courses are offered at the Health Services periodically.
For information, call 458-4142 (1604 Campus) or 458-2930 (Downtown Campus).

Back to top