Introduction to First Aid & Basic Life Support

First Aid

-is immediate help to provide to a sick or injured person until professional

medical help arrives or become available.

Basic Life Support

-are emergency procedure that consist of recognizing respiratory or cardiac

arrest or both and the proper application of CPR to maintain life until a victim
recovers or advanced life support is available.

Objective of First Aid

Preserve life.
Prevent further harm and complications.
Seek immediate medical help.
Provide reassurance.

Legal Concerns

Consent
Duty to act
Standard of care
Negligence
Abandonment
Confidentiality

Health Hazards and Risks

Common Transmittable Diseases

Herpes
Meningitis
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis
Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS)

Prevention & Protection

Universal Precautions are a set of strategies developed to prevent transmission of

blood borne pathogens. Bode Substance Isolation (BSI) are precautions taken to
isolate or prevent risk of exposure from body secretions and any other type of
bloody substance such as urine, vomit, feces, sweat or sputum. Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing, equipment and supplies that keep you from
directly contacting infected materials.

Emergency Action Principles

Scene Sized-up

I. Scene safety
II. Knowing what happened
Cause of injury
Nature of illness
III. Role of bystanders
IV. Number of casualties
V. Asking permission or permit

Primary Assessment

I. Assessing Responsiveness

A patients response level can be summarized in the AVPU mnemonic as

follows:

A-alert
V-responsive to voice
P-responsive to pain
U-unresponsive/unconscious
II. Active Medical Help
Ask someone to call for local emergency number and get an
Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
III. Airway

An open airway allows air to enter the lungs for the person to breathe.
If the airway is blocked, the person cannot breathe.

IV. Breathing

While maintaining an open airway, quickly check an unconscious

person for breathing by doing the LLF technique for no more than 10
seconds.

V. Circulation
Pulse
Check for definitive pule at carotid area for adult or child, while
brachial for infant (Applicable for Professional Rescuers and Health
Care Providers)
Bleeding
 Quickly look for severe bleeding by looking over the persons body
from head to toe for signal such as blood-soaked clothing or blood
spurting out of a wound.
Shock

If left untreated, shock can lead to death. Always look for the
signals of shock whenever you are giving care.

Skin color, temperature, and moisture.

Assessment of skin temperature, color, and condition can tell you

more about the patients circulatory system.

Secondary Assessment

If you are determine that an injured or ill person is not an immediately life-
threatening conditions that my need care.

Interviewing- the person and bystanders

Checking the person from head to toe.
Checking for vital signs.

Common Emergencies

Chain of Survival

Adult Chain Survival

1. Early access
2. Early Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation
3. Early Defibrillation
4. Early Advanced Cardiac Life Support
5. Post Cardiac Arrest Care

Pediatric Chain of Survival

1. Early Prevention
2. Early Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
3. Early Access
4. Early Pediatric Life Support
5. Post Cardiac Arrest Care

Heart Attack

Also called myocardial infraction occurs when the blood and oxygen supply to
the heart is reduced causing damage to the heart muscle and preventing blood
circulating effectively. It is usually caused by coronary heart disease.
Signs and Symptoms

What to look for:

Chest pain, discomfort or pressure.

Pain maybe associated from discomfort to unbearable crushing sensation in
the chest.
Person may describe it as pressure, squeezing, tightness, aching or heaviness
in the chest.
Some individual may not show signs at all.

What to do:

Have patient stop what he or she is doing and sit or lie him/her down in a
comfortable position. Do not let him/her to move around.
Have someone call the physician or ambulance for help.
If patient is under medical care, assist him/her in taking his/her prescribed
medicine/s.

Cardiac Arrest

Is a condition occurs when the heart stops contracting and no blood circulates
thru the blood vessels and vital organs are deprived of oxygen

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

Is a combination of chest compression and rescue breathing.

Foreign-body Airway Obstructions

Also known as chocking, is a common breathing emergency that occurs when

the persons airway is partially or completely blocked by a foreign object, such as a
piece of food or small toy; by swelling in the mouth or throat; or by fluids, such as
vomit or blood.

Two Types of Obstruction

 1. Anatomical Obstruction. When tongue drops back and obstructs the
throat. Other causes are acute asthma, croup, diphtheria, swelling and
whooping cough.
2. Mechanical Obstruction. When foreign objects lodged in the pharynx or
airways; solid or liquid accumulate in the back of the throat.

Causes

Swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food;

Drinking alcohol
Wearing dentures
Eating while talking excitedly, laughing or eating too fast;
Walking, playing or running with food or objects in the mouth;
In infants and children, chocking occurs while eating or by putting non-
food items such as coins or toys inside the mouth while playing.

Abdominal/Chest Thrust

Is a first aid procedure that is performed on a person who is chocking. This is

done by applying pressure on the upper abdomen or at the chest at the center of
the breastbone from the back so as to remove the chocking object.

Bleeding

Is the loss of blood escaping from the circulatory system.

Techniques to Control Bleeding

Direct pressure
Pressure bandage

Shock

Is a condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-

rich blood to the bodys tissues and vital organs.

First Aid Management

Make the person lie down.

Control the external bleeding.
Legs may be raised to 6 to 12 inches.
Help the person maintain normal body temperature.
Do not give the person anything to eat or to drink.
Reassure the person every so often.

Closed Wound
 Is a wound where the outer layer of the skin is intact and damage lies below
the surface.

First Aid Management

Apply an icepack.
Elevate the injured part.
Do not assume that all closed wounds are minor injuries.
Help the person to rest.
Provide comfort and reassure the person.

Open Wound

In an open wound, the outer layer of the skin is broken. The break in the skin
can be s minor as a scrape of the surface layers or as severe as a deep penetration.

First Aid Management

General care for open wounds includes controlling bleeding, preventing infection
and using dressings and bandages correctly.

Minor Open Wounds

Use a barrier between your hand and the wound.

Apply direct pressure.
Wash abrasions and other superficial wounds.

Apply a Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) antiseptic solution or, if available, a

triple antibiotic ointment or cream.

Cover the wound with sterile dressing.

Wash your hands immediately after giving care.

Major Open Wounds

Call the local emergency number.

Put on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Control bleeding by applying direct pressure or employing a pressure
bandage.
Monitor airway and bleeding.
In cases where the injured party is in shock, keep him or her from
experiencing chills or feeling overheated.
Have the person rest comfortably and provide reassurance.
Wash your hand immediately after giving care.

Burns
 Burns are injuries to skin and to the other body tissues that is caused by
heat, chemicals, electricity or radiation.

First Aid Management

-Thermal Burns

Check the scene for safety.

Stop the burning by removing the victim from the source of the burn.
Check for life-threatening conditions.
Cool the burn with large amounts of cold running water.
Cover the burn loosely with sterile dressing.
Prevent infection. Do not break blisters.
Apply a triple antibiotic ointment if the person has no known allergies
or sensitiveness to the medication.
Take steps to minimize shocks.
Comfort and reassure the victim.

Chemical Burns

Remove the chemical from the skin a quickly as possible.

Flush the burn with large amount of cool running water.
If an eye is burned by a chemical, flush the affected eye with water
until advanced medical personnel take over.
If possible have the person remove contaminated clothes to prevent
the spread of infection while you continue to flush the area.

Electrical Burns

Never go near the person until you are sure that he or she is no longer
in contact with the power source.
Turn off the power at its source and be aware of any life threatening
conditions.
Call the local emergency number.
Be aware that electrocution can cause cardiac and respiratory
emergencies.
Care for shock and thermal burns.
Look for entry and exit wounds and give appropriate care.
Remember that anyone suffering from electric shock requires
advanced medical attention.

Radiation Burns

Care for a radiation burn, i.e. sunburn, as you would for any thermal
burn.
 Always cool the burn and protect the area from further damage by
keeping the person away from the burn source.

Head and Spine Injuries

Types

Head injury
Concussion
Spinal injury

First Aid Management

Call the local emergency number.

Minimize movement of the head, neck and back.
Check for life-threatening conditions.
Maintain open airways.
Control any external bleeding with direct pressure unless the bleeding
is located directly over a suspected fracture.
Help victim normal temperature.

Bones, Joints and Muscles

Types

Strain
Sprain
Dislocation
Fracture

First Aid Management

R-Rest
I-Immobilize
C-Cold
E-Elevate

Fainting

Fainting is a partial or complete loss of consciousness resulting from a

temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain.

Causes

An emotionally stressful event.

Pain.
Specific medical conditions such as heart disease.
Standing for long periods of time overexertion.
 Pregnant women and the elderly are more likely than others to faint
when suddenly changing positions.

First Aid Management

Position the victim in his or her back.

Keep the victim in a lying position.
Loosen any restrictive clothing, such as a tie or a buttoned-up collar.
Check for any other life-threatening conditions.
Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink.

Heat-related Emergencies

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after
exposure to high temperature. This may also be a result of inadequate fluid intake
or the insufficient replacement of fluids.

First Aid Management

Remove the patient from the hot environment. Fan the body, place ice
bags, or spray water on the skin.
Start oral rehydration with a beverage containing salt, or make them
drink an Oral Rehydrated Solution.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia. Prolonged exposure to high

temperatures can contribute to failure of the bodys temperature.

First Aid Management

Call or have someone call the local emergency number.

Move the person into a cool place, a shaded area, or an air-conditioned
room.
Cool the patient immediately by immersing him/her in water.
If water immersion is not possible or is delayed, the following actions
can be performed: Douse the patient with copious amount of water,
spray the patient with water, fan the patient, or over the patient with
ice towels or surround the patient with ice bags.
Respond to any life-threatening that may come about.

Special Situations

Emergency Preparedness

-Emergency Evacuation Drill

 A physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility or skill especially by
regular practice.

Three Types of Drill

1. Scheduled Drill
2. Unannounced Drill
3. In-services Drill

Duties and Roles of the First Team

Ensure all members review skill application.

Determined area for establishing medical station.
Ensure all first aid/medical supplies and equipment is available.
Maintains a list of other first responder in nearby institution if need
assistance.
Provides first aid care to injured and ill patient.
Coordinate with other responding unit.

Lifting and Moving

Lifting and carrying are dynamic processes. A patient can be move to the
safety in many different ways, but no one way is best for every situation. The
objective is to move a patient to safety without causing injury to either the patient
or the first aider.

Emergency Move

Is the movement of a patient to safe place before initial assessment and care
is provided, typically because there is some potential danger.

Non-emergency Move

Is the movement of a patient when both the scene and the patient are stable.