What is First Aid?

• First aid is the immediate help given to someone who has been injured or suddenly become ill.
• It’s the care provided before an ambulance, doctor, or other qualified medical professional can take over.
• It’s temporary assistance provided until professional medical help is available or until the person recovers without further medical intervention.
• Many minor injuries and illnesses only require first aid.
• First aid includes assessing the person for immediate life-threatening issues and taking appropriate action to keep them alive and stable until they can receive more advanced care.
• This might happen at the scene or during transport to a medical facility.

An easy way to remember key actions in an emergency:

1. Rapid Arrival: Get to the person quickly.
2. Thoughtful Action: Respond intelligently and appropriately.
3. Documentation and Reporting: Keep records and provide information to others.
4. Safety First: Take precautions for your own safety and the casualty’s.
5. Act Promptly: Time is crucial.
6. Stay Alert: Be observant of the situation.
7. Initiate Care: Begin necessary interventions.
8. Make Decisions: Choose the right course of action.

Who is a First Aider?

A first aider is someone who is trained and capable of providing this initial assistance.

Who is a Casualty?

A casualty is anyone who has suffered an injury or sudden illness.

Who are Bystanders/Onlookers?

These are individuals present at the scene of the accident or emergency.

Aims of First Aid

1. To preserve life.
2. To encourage recovery.
3. To stop the condition from getting worse.
4. To reduce pain and anxiety.
5. To ensure the person is as comfortable as possible.
6. To facilitate timely access to appropriate medical care.
7. To arrange for safe and prompt transport to a medical facility if needed.

Scope of First Aid

• Assessment: Determining the nature of the problem to guide effective treatment. This involves gathering information about what happened and observing signs (like bleeding) and symptoms (like pain).
• Intervention: Deciding on and providing the most suitable care until professional help arrives. This might involve addressing the immediate cause of the issue and keeping the person comfortable.
• Arrangement for Further Care: Organizing the transfer of the casualty to a safe place, their home, or a hospital. This involves using the quickest and safest method and informing relatives if necessary.
• Priorities of Treatment in an Emergency

A first aider should:

• Observe carefully.
• Think logically.
• Act decisively and quickly.

Other important priorities:

• Quickly and calmly evaluate the situation.
• Protect yourself and the casualty from immediate danger. Never put yourself in harm’s way.
• Minimize the risk of infection between yourself and the casualty.
• Provide comfort and reassurance to the casualty at all times.
• Assess the casualty to identify their injuries or the nature of their illness.
• Prioritize treatment for the most serious and life-threatening conditions first.
• Arrange for appropriate assistance, such as calling for emergency services or organizing transportation to a hospital or their home.

Qualities of an Effective First Aider

• Observant: Pays close attention to details and uses all senses.
• Tactful: Deals with the casualty, onlookers, and medical professionals with sensitivity.
• Self-Controlled: Remains calm and avoids panic in stressful situations.
• Resourceful: Makes use of available materials and resources to provide care.
• Knowledgeable: Possesses a good understanding of first aid principles and emergency procedures.
• Skilled: Proficient in performing essential first aid techniques like checking vital signs, controlling bleeding, and providing CPR.
• Empathetic: Shows understanding and compassion towards the casualty.
• Decisive: Able to make quick and effective decisions.
• Clear Communicator: Provides clear instructions and advice.
• Up-to-date: Keeps their knowledge and skills current.

Objectives of First Aid

• To save lives.
• To prevent further harm or worsening of the condition.
• To minimize complications from injuries or illness.
• To make the casualty comfortable and conserve their energy.
• To ensure the injured person receives professional medical attention as soon as possible.

Basic Objectives of Psychological First Aid

• To establish a compassionate and non-intrusive connection.
• To enhance safety, provide comfort, and calm distressed individuals.
• To help individuals identify their immediate needs and gather relevant information.
• To offer practical assistance and information to address immediate concerns.
• To connect individuals with their social support networks and community resources.
• To support healthy coping mechanisms, acknowledge strengths, and empower recovery.
• To provide information to help individuals understand and cope with the psychological impact of difficult events.
• To ensure continuity of care by clarifying the availability of support and linking individuals with appropriate resources.

Key Guidelines of First Aid

1. Act quickly and efficiently without unnecessary commotion.
2. Provide rescue breaths immediately if the person has stopped breathing.
3. Control any bleeding.
4. Prevent or treat for shock by minimizing movement and handling the person gently.
5. Avoid doing too much; focus on the essentials for saving life and preventing deterioration.
6. Reassure the casualty and others to reduce anxiety.
7. Keep crowds away to ensure fresh air.
8. Avoid removing clothing unnecessarily.
9. Arrange for prompt transfer to medical care.

Principles of Action in an Emergency

• Move the casualty to a safe location.
• Loosen any tight clothing around the neck and waist to aid breathing.
• Reassure the person.

Assess for critical issues:

• Check for breathing; if absent, begin artificial respiration.
• Check for circulation; if absent, start chest compressions.
• Check for severe bleeding; if present, apply pressure to stop it.
• Look for signs of shock and treat accordingly.
• Relieve pain.
• Avoid unnecessary handling of the casualty.
• Arrange for safe transport to a hospital.

General Rules of First Aid

• Get to the scene quickly to help save lives.
• Call for assistance and organize bystanders to help.
• Remain calm, systematic, and quick.
• Remove the casualty from danger or remove the danger from the casualty.

Assess for critical issues:

• • Is the person breathing?
  • Is there severe bleeding?
  • Are there signs of shock?

Address these critical issues before treating other visible injuries.

• • Begin rescue breaths immediately if the person is not breathing.
  • Stop bleeding by applying pressure to the bleeding point.
  • Treat for shock.
  • Avoid unnecessary movement of the casualty.

Important: Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

• • Use available first aid supplies if present. If not, improvise with available resources.
  • Make a sensible assessment of the need for medical treatment.
  • Make written notes about the casualty’s condition and your observations.
  • Inspect the area for hazards and move the casualty to safety.
  • Politely clear the crowd to allow for fresh air.
  • Note the weather and provide appropriate shelter.
  • Reassure the casualty with calm and encouraging words.
  • Arrange for transport to medical care and inform relatives.
  • Do not attempt more than your skill level allows; focus on the essentials.

Do’s and Don’ts in First Aid

• Don’t forget you are not a doctor; avoid overreaching your capabilities.
• Don’t handle the victim unnecessarily, as this could worsen their condition.
• Don’t expose the casualty unnecessarily.
• Don’t open existing bandages or dressings.
• Don’t move a suspected fracture without proper splinting.
• Don’t apply a tourniquet and forget about it.
• Do prioritize casualties based on the severity of their condition.
• Do attend to children and women first when multiple casualties are present.
• Do ensure your own safety before attempting to help.
• Do take precautions when dealing with potentially infectious cases.
• Never declare a casualty dead; that is the role of a medical professional.
• Managing the Casualty

A first aider must:

• Respond quickly to calls for help.
• Approach the casualty calmly and methodically.
• Address life-threatening conditions first before a full assessment.
• Gather first aid supplies if readily available.

Carefully assess the surroundings for:

• • Danger: Hazards like falling debris, electricity, fire, or gas leaks.
  • Weather: Consider the need for shelter from the elements.
  • Shelter: Identify nearby buildings or objects that can provide shelter.
  • Assistance: Manage crowds and direct bystanders effectively.
  • Reassure the casualty with encouraging words.

Step-by-Step Actions for a First Aider

1.Assessment and Diagnosis:

• • Gather information about what happened and the casualty’s medical history.
  • Ask about symptoms (what they feel).
  • Observe for signs (what you can see, hear, or smell).
  • Assess their level of responsiveness.
  •  

2. Address Critical Issues:

• • Perform CPR if necessary (following proper guidelines).
  • Control bleeding.
  • Treat for shock and provide special care for unconscious individuals.

1. Treat Other Injuries:

• • Immobilize fractures.
  • Cover burns with clean dressings and treat for shock.
  • Address eye, nose, and ear injuries.
  • Provide care for multiple minor injuries.

4. Arrange Transportation:

• • Organize safe transfer to medical care.

Responsibilities of a First Aider

• Gain access to the casualty safely and efficiently.
• Assess the scene and the situation.
• Direct others to manage traffic, keep bystanders away, and make necessary calls.
• Ensure engines are turned off at accident scenes.
• Determine if the casualty is conscious, unconscious, alive, or deceased (though you won’t declare death).
• Identify the possible illness or injury.
• Provide immediate and appropriate treatment, prioritizing life-saving measures like restoring breathing and circulation, and stopping bleeding.
• Remember that a casualty may have multiple injuries requiring different levels of urgency.
• Arrange for timely transfer to medical care in a way that minimizes further injury and discomfort.
• Keep a record of the incident, casualty information, and witnesses.
• Once you begin providing care, do not abandon the casualty until relieved by qualified personnel.
• Report your observations to those taking over care.
• Minimize the risk of infection.

Limitations of a First Aider

• First aiders should adhere to the principles and objectives of first aid.
• They should act quickly and attentively.
• They should instill confidence in the casualty and those around them.

The primary life-saving actions involve addressing:

• • Cessation of breathing (requiring artificial respiration).
  • Severe bleeding (requiring direct pressure).
  • Shock (requiring appropriate management).
  • Recognize the signs of these conditions and act accordingly.

Skills Required for a First Aider

• Controlling the scene of an accident.
• Gaining access to the casualty.
• Evaluating the scene for safety and cause of the incident.
• Gathering information from the casualty and bystanders.
• Determining vital signs (pulse, breathing, skin condition).
• Identifying diagnostic signs related to possible injuries or illnesses.
• Performing the ABCs of emergency care:

Airway: Opening the airway.

Breathing: Providing artificial ventilation if needed.

Circulation: Performing CPR if there is no pulse.

• Controlling bleeding using direct pressure, elevation, pressure points, and tourniquets (when appropriate and trained).
• Recognizing and managing shock.
• Diagnosing and caring for fractures, sprains, strains, and dislocations, including basic splinting.
• Diagnosing and caring for soft tissue and internal injuries, including bandaging.
• Recognizing and caring for poisoning, including alcohol and drug abuse.
• Diagnosing and caring for conditions like heart attack, stroke, diabetes emergencies, and seizures.
• Diagnosing and caring for head, neck, spinal, and chest injuries.
• Diagnosing and caring for burns and smoke inhalation.
• Diagnosing and caring for heat and cold-related emergencies (heat exhaustion, heatstroke, hypothermia, frostbite).
• Assisting in childbirth and caring for the newborn.
• Providing psychological first aid to victims of crisis and disasters.
• Performing proper lifting and moving techniques