First Aid

First aid is the initial care for a prevention of an illness or injuries it Is usually performed by a qualified first aider to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.

First aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to a casualty for any injury or sudden illness before arrival of an ambulance, doctor, or other qualified personnel

AIM OF FIRST AID

THE KEY AIMS OF FIRST AID CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN THREE KEY POINTS, ALSO KNOWN AS 3p’s OF FIRST AID

·         Preserve life is to save lives

·         Prevent worsening : covers both external factors , such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm , and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the conditions, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous

·         Promote recovery : first  aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury   and in some cases might involve completing a treatment , such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound

RESPONSIBILITIES AS A FIRST AIDER

·         Assess the situation quickly and safely and summon appropriate help.

·         Protect casualties and others at the scene from possible danger

·         To identify, as far as possible, the nature of illness or injury affecting casualty .

·         To give each and casualty early and procreate treatment, treating the most serious condition first

·         To arrange for the casualty’s removal to hospital or into the care of a doctor ;

·         To remain with a casualty until appropriate care is available.

·         To report your observations to those taking care of the casualty , and to give further assistance if required.

PROVISION OF TREATMENT TO CASUALTIES

THE ORDER OF PRIORITY, USUALLY GIVEN BY THE “3 Bs”

·         Breathing

·         Bleeding

·         Bones

FIRST AIDER

THINK!!!

·         Courage and stability

·         Injuries may not require further medical care

·         Performed by a non-expert person

·         Series of simple and in some cases, potentially life –saving techniques

STOP BLEEDING

Pack the opening of the wound with sterile gauze

Apply direct pressure to the wound by pressing with your hand and piece sterile gauze

Maintain steady pressure on the wound for 5 minutes, then release the pressure slowly and check for bleeding

BURNS

Burns can be  :-

THERMAL

CHEMICAL

DEGREE OF BURNS INJURIES

NAMES	APPEARANCE	TEXTURE	EXAMPLE
First Degree	Redness	Dry
Second Degree	Red with clear blister, blanches, with pressure	Moist
Third Degree	Charring	Moist

BURNS TREATMENT (THERMAL)

Extinguish fire on the victim

Stop, drop, and roll

Do not remove material stuck to wound

RULES OF NINES

To approximate the percentage of burned surface area, the body has been divided into eleven parts

Head- right arm- left arm- chest- abdomen- upper back- lower back- right thigh- left thigh-right leg.

PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED WHILE GIVING FIRST AID (D.R.AB)

When you approach a casualty, it is difficult to remember which things to do first; it’s important To do everything in the right order. The following flow charts show you the right order to do things
  .

DANGER

RESPONSE (AVPU)

                                                SHOUT FOR HELP

AIRWAYS

Breathing normally?

                                                                     NO

                                                      Call Ambulance

30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS

2 BREATHS

30 : 2

RECOVERY POSITION                              CALL AMBULANCE

BEWARE – Sample First Aid and Emergency Signs

• EMS
• Location
• Department Location
• Nature of accident and number of people
• Access number
• Safety inspector