PRINCIPLES

OF
EMERGENCY
CARE
First aid
 INTRODUCTION TO FIRST AID

FIRST AID
Is an immediate care given to a person
who have been injured or suddenly
taken ill.
The immediate, temporary treatment
carried out in cases of emergency,
sudden illness or accident prior to the
arrival of a doctor or the transportation
of the patient to the hospital.
ROLES OF FIRST AID

• Bridge that fills the gap between

the victim and the Physician.
• It is not intended to compete
with nor take the place of the
services of the Physician.
• It ends when medical assistance
begins.
OBJECTIVES:
o To alleviate suffering.
o To prevent added or further
injury of danger.
o To prolong life.
 AIMS OF FIRST AID
 Save life.
 Prevent illness or injuries
becoming worse.
 Relieve pain as far as
possible.
The type of people who are capable of carrying
out the most satisfactory type of first aid are those
who:

1. Have the necessary knowledge.

2. Have sympathy & understanding.
3. Have common sense.
4. Have initiative & a sense of leadership.
5. Have the ability to act quickly, make
decisions & improvise.
6. Appreciate that sometimes the less
interference the better.
Guidelines in giving emergency care

I. GETTING STARTED

Planning of action
Gathering of needed materials
Initial response as follows:
A – Ask for HELP
I – Intervene
D – Do no further HARM
II. EMERGENCY ACTION
PRINCIPLES
Survey the scene.
Is the scene safe?
 What happened?
 How many people are injured?
 Are there bystanders who can help?
 Identify yourself as a trained First
Aider.
Do a Primary Survey of the Victim

First aid requires rapid assessment of victims to

determine whether life-threatening conditions exist.
A – Airway – is the victim conscious or unconscious? Is
it open & unobstructed?
B – Breathing – is the victim breathing? Look, listen &
feel for breathing. Is it shallow or deep? Does he
appear to be choking?
C – Circulation - is the victim’s heart beating? Assess
pulse. Is he severely bleeding? Check skin color &
temperature for additional indications of circulation
problems.
Activate Medical Assistance (AMA) or
Transfer facility

• What happened
• Number of persons injured
• Extent of injury and First Aid given
• The telephone # from where you are calling
• Person who activated medical assistance
must drop the phone last
Do a Secondary Survey of the Victim

Interview the victim

 Introduce yourself
 Get permission to give care
 Ask the victim’s name
 Ask what happened
Check Vital Signs
 determine radial of carotid pulse
 Determine skin appearance, look at the victim’s face
and lips
record skin appearance (temperature, moisture, color)
 Determine breathing
Do the HEAD-to-TOE examination
 HEAD-look & feel for cuts & bruises
 EYES-check & compare pupils:
dilated pupils – bleeding, shock
constricted pupils – heat stroke, drug overdose
unequal pupils – head injury, stroke
 NOSE, EAR & MOUTH – check for fluid or blood
 NECK – feel for injury
 COLLAR BONE – check & compare shoulders
 CHEST/RIBS – check & compare chest
 ABDOBEN – check for tenderness, press abdomen using flat palm
fingers
 HIP BONE – press slowly, inward & upward
 LEG – one at a time
 ARM – one at a time
 SPINAL COLUMN – press gently from cervical region down lumbar
-------------------RECORD ALL ASSESSMENT & TIME--------------------
III. GOLDEN RULES OF EMERGENCY CARE
What to do:
1. Obtain consent, whenever possible
2. Think the worst
3. Call or send for HELP
4. Identify yourself to the victim
5. Provide comfort & emotional support
6. Respect victim’s modesty & physical privacy
7. Care for the most serious injuries first
8. Assist the victim with his or her prescribed
medication
9. Keep on lookers away from the injured person
10. Handle victim to a minimum
11. Loosen all tight clothing
What not to do:
1. Do not harm
 Trying to arouse unconscious victim
 Administering fluids/alcoholic drink
2. Do not let victim see his own injury
3. Do not leave victim except to get HELP
4. Do not assume that the victim’s obvious injuries
are the only ones
5. Do not deny a victim’s physical or emotional coping
limitations
6. Do not make unrealistic promises
7. Do not trust the judgment of a confused victim
8. Do not require the victim to make decision
GENERAL RULES OF FIRST AID
TREATMENT:
1. Remove the patient from danger or remove further
danger from the patient; for example, if a child falls into
fire, he/she must be immediately removed to safer
surroundings before any treatment can be carried out.
2. Treat the most urgent condition first & in order to
precedence these conditions are:
a) Apparent cessation of breathing.
b) Severe hemorrhage.
c) Shock.
3. Unconscious patients should be placed in prone
position or lying on their side, or if this is not possible,
lying in recumbent position with the head turned to the
side.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD
FIRST AIDER
Observant – should notice all signs
Resourceful – should make the best
of things at hand
Gentle – should not cause pain
Tactful – should not alarm the victim
Sympathetic – should be comforting