CHINESE GENERAL HOSPITAL COLLEGES

NSTP-CWTS 2

Module 6 – Basic First Aid

Source: Manila Red Cross

Definition
First aid is the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken
ill. It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or is delayed.

General Directions in Giving First Aid

1. Essentials
a. Plan your action
b. Gather needed materials
c. Instruct bystanders for assistance if available
d. Keep onlookers away
e. Ensure proper room ventilation
f. Keep ill or injured person calm and comfortable
g. Handle the ill or injured person to a minimum
h. Don’t panic
i. Don’t give alcoholic drink
j. Don’t give any food or fluid by mouth to an unconscious person
2. Emergency action principle
a. Survey the scene
i. Is the scene safe?
ii. What happened?
iii. How many are injured or ill?
iv. Who can help?
b. Do primary survey of the ill or injured person
i. Airway – do head-tilt, chin-lift to open the airway and check for airway
obstruction
ii. Breathing – look for chest rise and fall, listen for breath sounds, and feel
for air flow in and out of nose and mouth
iii. Circulation – feel for the pulse or heartbeat and check for bleeding
c. Activate medical assistance or transfer facility
i. Know your local emergency numbers
ii. Arrange for transportation or ambulance
iii. Determine nearest health or hospital institution
d. Do secondary survey of the ill or injured person
i. Interview the ill or injured person if conscious
ii. Assess ill or injured person from head to toe for other injuries or condition
iii. Take the person’s vital signs – body temperature, pulse or heart rate,
respiratory rate, blood pressure

Wound Care
Wound occurs when there is a break in the continuity of the skin or body tissue, either
internal (closed) or external (open).
1. When open wound is small and bleeding is not severe
a. Use a clean cloth or bandage to cover the wound and apply direct pressure for 5-
10 minutes to stop bleeding.
b. When bleeding has stopped, gently wash the site with soap and water and apply
antiseptic and sterile bandage.
c. Advise the injured person to see the physician as needed for follow up care
2. When open wound is big and bleeding is severe
a. Stop bleeding by placing clean thick cloth, padding, or bandage over the wound,
applying direct pressure over the wound, and elevating the injured part above the
heart level
b. Reinforce pressure dressing or bandage as necessary
c. Check circulation to the affected extremity. Assess pulse, color, and feeling of
fingertips and nailbeds.
d. Transport to nearest health facility for follow up care
Page 1 of 2 CGHC NSTP 102 Module 6 (Final Period)
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 3. For closed wounds
a. Examine for fractures or other injuries
b. Immobilize affected area
c. Carefully and immediately transport to the nearest health care facility
d. Monitor for ABC (airway, breathing, circulation)
e. If closed wound is small and localized (e.g., black eye, bruise, or bump), may
apply cold pack to reduce swelling and control bleeding

Nose Bleeding
1. Have person sit and lean head or upper body slightly forward
2. Pinch the soft part of the nostrils for 5-10 minutes and have the person breathe calmly
through the mouth
3. If bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, re-pinch the nostrils or apply nasal pack, and
transfer to the nearest health care facility

Muscle and Skeletal Injuries (Upper and Lower Extremities)

1. Types of injuries
a. Dislocation – bone went out of its joint place
b. Fracture – break in the continuity of the bone
c. Sprain – tearing or overstretching of ligaments, twist around a joint
d. Strain – tearing or overstretching of muscle
e. Cramps – painful spasm or contraction of the muscle
2. For dislocation, fracture, sprain, and strain
a. Rest the affected extremity
b. Immobilize using splints, splint should include support above and below affected
area
c. Cold compress application on the affected extremity
d. Elevate body part slightly using pillows or padded material, joints should be
supported
e. Send to the nearest health care facility
3. For cramps
a. Gently stretch or straighten and massage the cramped muscle
b. Warm compress may help relax tense muscle, while cold compress may help
relieve pain
c. Check hydration status of the person, may need to replenish fluid and
electrolytes

Burns
1. Classification of burns
a. First degree – superficial, skin reddens
b. Second degree – deeper layer, blister may form
c. Third degree – deeper tissues and nerve endings may be damaged
2. For first and second degree burns
a. Remove from source of burn
b. Run the affected area through cool water or apply cold compress
c. Do not puncture or prick blister
d. Loosely cover the burn area with bandage
e. Seek medical consult for further management
3. For third degree burns
a. Remove from source of burn
b. Check for ABC (airway, breathing, circulation)
c. Cut clothing or any constricting jewelry or body accessories surrounding burnt
area
d. Loosely cover the burnt area with cool clean cloth
e. Transport immediately to the hospital

- END -

Page 2 of 2 CGHC NSTP 102 Module 6 (Final Period)

This reading material is a property of CGHC.
No part of it may be owned or reproduced in any form without permission from authorities