· First Aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to someone who is injured or suddenly taken ill
· First Aid is the immediate care of an injured or suddenly sick person. It is the care a person applies as soon as possible after an accident or sudden illness
· This prompt care and attention prior to the arrival of the ambulance can sometimes mean the difference between life and death or between a full or partial recovery
Aims of First Aid
a) Preserve life
This includes the life of the casualty, bystander and rescuer
ABC of resuscitation
b) Protect the casualty from further harm
Ensure the scene is safe
c) Provide pain relief/promote recovery
This could include the use of ice packs or simply applying a sling (a bandage used to suspend or
support an injured part of the body)
d) Provide reassurance
It is important to understand that first aid has its limitations and does not take the place of professional medical treatment
e) Prevent the injury or illness from becoming worse
Ensure the treatment you provide does not make the condition worse
Objectives of First Aid
Ø To preserve life
Ø To alleviate suffering
Ø To promote recovery
Ø To prevent aggravation of the injury or illness
Definition of Terms
First Aider
A person who offers emergency care to the casualty(ies)
Victim/casualty
A person suffering from a sudden injury or trauma or illness and needs first aid
Emergency
An unexpected incidence serious in nature that requires quick action, e.g. poisoning, burns etc.
Scene
An area on incident
Incident
It’s a happening traumatic in nature that require first aid (it could be illness
or injury)
The First Aider Qualities
· Highly trained i.e. have necessary knowledge
· Examined and regularly re-examined
· Have sympathy and understanding
· Are up-to-date in knowledge and skill
· Have initiative and sense of leadership
· Have ability to act quickly, make decisions and improvise
· Appreciate that the less interference the better
Responsibilities of a First Aider
ü To assess the situation quickly and safely and to summon appropriate help
ü To protect casualties and others at the scene from possible danger
ü To identify as far as possible, the injury or nature of illness affecting a casualty
ü To give each casualty early and appropriate treatment, treating the most serious conditions first
ü To arrange how the casualty will get to hospital or to his/her home
ü To remain with the casualty until appropriate care is available
ü To report his/her observations to those taking care of the casualty and to give further assistance if required
ü To prevent cross infection between yourself and the casualty as much as possible
Protecting the casualty
· To prevent/avoid cross-infection when giving first aid you should:
ü Avoid contact with body fluids
ü Wash your hands
ü Wear protective gloves
§ If gloves are unavailable, lifesaving treatment must still be available
First Aid Priorities
Assess the situation
Observe what has happened quickly and calmly
Look for danger to yourself and to the casualty
Make the area safe
Protect the casualty from danger
Beware of your limitations
Assess all casualties and give emergency first aid
Assess each casualty to determine treatment priorities and treat those with life threatening conditions first.
Get help
Quickly ensure that any necessary specialist help has been summoned and is
on the way
Assignment: General Rules of First Aid Treatment
Triaging
· This is sorting and classifying injured patients to determine priority of need
· The most critical are taken care of first
· Direct assistance to casualties is given by the casualty nurse
Basics of first Aid
Basic First Aid refers to the initial process of assessing and addressing the needs of someone who has been injured or is in physiological distress due to chocking, a heart attack, allergic reactions, drugs, alcohol or other medical emergencies
1.Evaluate the situation
Are there things that might put you at risk of harm? Are you or the victim threatened by fire, toxic smoke or gases, an unstable building, live electrical wires or other dangerous scenario? Do not rush into a situation where you could end up as a victim yourself
NB- NEVER CREATE A SECOND VICTIM
2.Remember your A, B, C.
· The A, B, C refer to the three critical things you need to look out for
· Airway-Does the person have an obstructed airway?
· Breathing-Is the person breathing
· Circulation-Does the person show a pulse at major pulse points (wrist, carotid artery and groin)
3.Avoid moving the victim
Avoid moving the victim unless they are in immediate danger. Moving a victim will make the injury worse especially in cases of spinal cord injuries
4.Call emergency services/call for help
· or tell someone else (a specific person if possible) to call for help as soon as possible
· If you are the only person on the scene, try to establish breathing before calling for help and do not leave the victim alone for an extensive amount of time
5.Determine responsiveness
· If a person is unconscious, try to arouse them by gently shaking and speaking to them
6.If the person remains unresponsive, carefully roll them onto their back and open his/her airway
· Keep head and neck aligned
· Carefully roll them onto their back while holding his head
· Open the airway by lifting the chin
7.Look, listen and feel for signs of breathing
· Look for the victim’s chest to rise and fall, listen for sounds of breathing (place your ear near the nose and mouth and feel for breath on your cheek)
· If the victim is not breathing, check for circulation
· If the victim is breathing but unconscious, roll them onto their side, keeping the head and neck aligned with the body. This will help drain the mouth and prevent the tongue or vomit from blocking the airway
8.Check victim’s circulation
· Look at the victim’s color and check for pulse (the carotid artery is a good option, its located on either side of the neck below the jaw bone)
· If the victim does not have pulse, start CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
9.Treat bleeding, shock or other problems as needed
· After you have established that the victim is breathing and has a pulse, your next priority should be to control any bleeding
· Stop bleeding by applying direct pressure
10.Stay with the victim until help arrives
· Be a calming presence for the victim until assistance arrives
If the victim is not breathing
· Follow the following steps to restore breathing in an unconscious victim
· This steps assume you have already performed the chin lift described above
· Check for a clear airway: Remove any obvious blockage
· Cover the victims mouth with your own (kiss of life)
· Pinch the victims nose closed
· Fill victim’s lungs with two slow breaths. If breaths are blocked, reposition the airway. Make sure the head is tilted slightly back and the tongue is not obstructing it.
· If breaths are still blocked, give 5 quick forceful abdominal thrusts. This is the equivalent of Heimlich maneuver in a standing person.
ü Straddle the victim
ü Place a fist just above the belly button and below the breast bone
ü Thrust upward to expel air from the lungs
ü Sweep the mouth to remove any foreign object
ü Try two slow breaths
ü Repeat until you are successful in clearing the object from the windpipe
· With open airway begin rescue breathing. Give one breath every 5 seconds and check that the chest rises every time
· Administer CPR if the victim does not have a pulse until help arrives
