GROUP 1

FIRST AID

First Aid is an immediate and temporary care given to a victim of an accident or sudden illness before the
services of a physician is obtained.

- the initial assistance or care of a suddenly sick or injured person. It is the care administered by a person as
soon as possible after an accident or illness. It is this prompt care and attention prior to the arrival of the
ambulance that sometimes means the difference between life and death, or between a full or partial
recovery.

OBJECTIVES OF FIRST AID

Everybody should know how to administer first aid as it is one of the most critical and useful skills we can ever
have. However, not all of us would endeavor to have first aid certification and most would probably think that they
dont need to be certified. After all, common situations like a child falling down would just entail a mother cleaning
up the wound and applying a band-aid. But these are just the very basic first aid techniques that everyone knows
how to do.

Health institutions have pointed out three objectives for administering first aid to save a life, to minimize injuries
and to hasten healing.

The basic goal for giving first aid is to save a life. There are situations when a doctor or a health personnel is not
around. Every second counts in these circumstances and it might be up to you to help save someones life.

Air is the basic element that we need to stay alive. When someone is chocking or is unconscious, its hard for them
to breathe freely. In these situations, the person administering first aid will use different techniques to clear the air
passage. Some of these techniques are applying pressure on the abdomen or hitting the patients back to remove the
cause of air obstruction. If the patient still cant breathe even after the airways cleared, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation or CPR is then performed. The emergency responder gives mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and massages
the patients chest to help blood flow return to normal.

Minimizing or preventing more injuries to happen is the second goal of providing first aid. This can be as simple as
moving the patient away from the area or covering a victim with a blanket. Bandaging a wound or trying to control
bleeding by applying pressure on a wound is actually another simple act thats already a form of first aid.

Lastly, starting the healing process is one of the objectives of administering first aid. One common example of this
goal is treating an injury by putting a band-aid on a small scratch. People with first aid training know what to do in
different situations, from a minor cut to a bone fracture, and they know how critical it is to provide treatment until
the medical personnel arrive.

At this point in our history, it makes sense for everyone to learn first aid skills so we can help each other. These
courses are easy to learn and are offered by numerous medical institutions. All we need to do is take advantage of
them.
CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLE OF FIRST AID

1. Immediate action - Quick action is necessary to preserve life and limb. A casualty who is not breathing
effectively, or is bleeding heavily, requires immediate assistance. If quick effective first aid is provided,
then the casualty has a much better chance of a good recovery.

2. Calling for medical assistance - you are attending to a casualty, get a bystander to telephone for help. If
you are on your own you may have to leave the casualty momentarily to make a call. The specific
circumstance surrounding the incident will dictate whether you call for help, or whether you send a
bystander.

There are 3 important things to remember when calling for help:

1. State which emergency service you want, eg. Ambulance, Coastguard, Rescue, Fire, or Police.
2. Stay on the line until connected with the emergency service operator as they will need to talk to
you before sending assistance.
3. Give as much information as you can about the emergency, including:
exact address or location
any landmarks
distance from town or landmark
callers name
phone number from where the call is being made
what happened eg. car accident
number and condition of the casualties

You would also tell the operator your name and the phone number from which you are calling. You could
also send someone outside to meet the ambulance.

3. Medical alert devices - Some individuals suffer from certain medical conditions that may cause them to
present with serious signs and symptoms at any time. As a form of assistance and notification, these people
may wear a form of medical identification, usually a special bracelet, necklace, or carry a wallet card.
These warning devices are referred to as medical alert devices and are commonly known as Medic-alert
and SOS Talisman.

They are imprinted with the persons identity, the relevant medical condition, and other details which may
include allergies, drugs required, or specialised medical contact. Medical conditions that may be notified
vary from specific heart diseases, to diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, and serious allergies.
4. Reassurance and mental health - The psychological value of reassurance is as important as the treatment
that you give. Comfort and reassure the casualty, as in some cases all the casualty needs is emotional
support and reassurance. A calm approach by the first aider, and keeping the casualty informed of what is
happening will also assist in the reassurance process.

5. Your response to an emergency - An emergency of any size can cause unusual stress in people who have
been directly and indirectly affected by it. Every person will react differently and a range of responses to an
emergency is normal, and to be expected. Emotional responses to disasters can appear immediately or
sometimes months later. Understanding what youre feeling and taking positive steps can help you cope
with this disaster. Some common responses to emergencies and disasters are:

Crying for no apparent reason

Difficulty making decisions and sleeping
Disbelief, shock, irritability and anger
Disorientation, apathy and emotional numbing
Excessive drinking or drug use
Fear and anxiety about the future
Feeling powerless, sad and depressed
Flashbacks
Headaches and stomach problems
6. Debriefing - After an incident it is important to put some time aside for yourself. Very often first aiders
become concerned that they did not do a good enough job, and that they were not effective in their role.
When you think about how you handled the incident, the first thing you should keep in mind is that by
stepping forward and doing first aid you have done more for the casualty that anyone else could ever do. As
the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer said, The purpose of life is to serve and show compassion and
the will to help others.

In dealing with this, go and get a cup of tea and talk to a family member, friend or colleague. When you go
over how you handled the incident, be realistic about your expectations.

Time must also be allocated to the clean up of the scene and equipment, and to restock your first aid kit.
You should:

take a breath
take a break
 talk about the incident with peers
try to relax as much as possible
clean up the scene
clean any equipment used
restock your first aid kit
replace all items used
look for any soiled unopned items that will need to be replaced
complete any documentation

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FIRST AIDER

The role of a first aider is to give someone this help, while making sure that they and anyone else involved are safe
and that they dont make the situation worse.Gf

1. Assess the situation quickly and calmly:

Safety: Are you or they in any danger? Is it safe for you to go up to them?

Scene: What caused the accident or situation? How many casualties are there?

Situation: Whats happened? How many people are involved and how old are they? What do you think the main
injuries could be?

2. Protect yourself and them from any danger:

Always protect yourself first - never put yourself at risk

Only move them to safety if leaving them would cause them more harm

3. Prevent infection between you and them:

Wash your hands or use alcohol gel

Wear disposable gloves

Dont touch an open wound without gloves on

Dont breathe, cough or sneeze over a wound or a casualty

4. Comfort and reassure:

Stay calm and take charge of the situation

Introduce yourself to them to help gain their trust

Explain whats happening and why

Say what youre going to do before you do it

5. Assess the casualty:

If theres more than one casualty, help those with life-threatening conditions first

6. Give first aid treatment:

 Prioritise the most life-threatening conditions

Then move on to less serious ones

Get help from others if possible

7. Arrange for the right kind of help:

Call 911 for an ambulance if you think its serious

Take or send them to hospital if its a serious condition but is unlikely to get worse

Suggest they see their doctor if theyre concerned about a less serious condition

Advise them to go home to rest, but to seek help if they feel worse

Stay with them until you can leave them in the right care.

SUGGESTED FIRST AID KIT

1. First Aid Manual

Every first aid kit should contain a first aid manual. The manual will help you know how to treat wounds, sprains,
bites, and other common health issues. The guide should be studied before a crisis arises, and everyone with access
to the kit should know the basics of first aid.

2. Bandages

Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes should be part of a first aid kit. Consider purchasing a box of assorted-size
bandages and putting a few of each in the kit. Traditional size bandages are needed more often than the largest and
smallest sizes, so it's a good idea to add a few extra of these, just in case.

3. Gauze Pads

Adhesive bandages aren't always large enough to cover a wound, which is why it's crucial to have gauze pads in a
first aid kit. Gauze pads can be fashioned into a bandage or used to absorb blood. Gauze pads come in many sizes
and each kit should include an assortment.

4. Medical Tape

Medical tape is used to secure gauze pads or wraps when they are being used as a bandage. This tape is designed not
to leave residue behind and usually comes in a long roll.

5. Elastic Bandages

Elastic bandages help keep a sprained joint immobile and reduce swelling. Elastic bandages come with either hook-
and-loop or metal fasteners to keep them in place. These flexible bandages can be wrapped around ankles, knees,
wrists, and elbows until you can get to a doctor. These bandages vary in width from one to six inches.

6. Tweezers

Tweezers are an important tool to have in any first aid kit regardless of how basic your kit is. Tweezers can be used
to remove debris such as glass, dirt, or splinters from a wound. They can also be used to remove stingers left behind
by bees.

7. Alcohol Swabs

Alcohol swabs are used to clean the infected or wounded area before antibiotic ointment or bandages are placed on
the area. Alcohol swabs may also be used in conjunction with anesthetic swabs and can be used to sterilize tweezers
if needed.
 8. Antibiotic Ointment

Antibiotic ointment can be used to treat many types of conditions and will aid in the proper healing of the wound
area. Antibiotic ointment also helps to keep infection out of the wound and should be administered after the injured
area has been thoroughly cleaned.

9. Pain Relievers

Each first aid kit should include a selection of pain relievers. Aspirin-based and non-aspirin pain relievers should be
included in the kit at all times. If there are children in the house, be sure to include pain relievers meant for them.
These will come in handy when treating a deep wound or scrape and can also be used to relieve minor aches and
pains.

10. Instant Cold Pack

To prevent swelling, many health care professionals recommend icing an injury. A one-time, instant-use cold pack
does not become cold until the seal on the packaging is broken and the material inside is activated. Cold packs of
this type are ideal for basic first aid kits because they don't require refrigeration.

11. Face Mask

Face masks are one tool utilized for preventing the spread of disease and others from the spread of airborne
infectious diseases, bodily fluids and particulate matter

12. Medical gloves

Medical gloves are disposable gloves used during medical examinations and procedures that help prevent cross-
contamination between caregivers and patients