First Aid

Is the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly become ill. It includes

self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or is delayed.

The first step in any emergency is the recognition of the problem and providing help. When in

doubt or when someone is seriously injured or ill, you should always activate the emergency

response system by calling your own locality’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) number.

Remain on the line until additional help arrives, or until the EMS operator tells you to hang up.

Emergency system dispatchers can guide you through the steps of performing cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR), using an automated external defibrillator (AED), or delivering basic care

until additional help arrives.

Whether you are at home, work, or school, know where the first aid kit and the AED are kept and

be familiar with their contents. Know how to activate the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in

your area. Be aware of any policies in the workplace regarding medical emergencies.

Definition of terms

1 .Emergency - is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or

environment.

2. Injury - is a general term that refers to any damage to the human body.

3. Self-aid - is any care given to oneself.

4. First Aider - refers to a person who gives first aid.

5. Hemorrhage - is a escape of large quantities of blood from the blood vessels that may cause

shock.

6. Shock - is a state of condition when there is not enough or adequate blood supplies to the vital

tissues and organs.

7. Dressing - is a sterile pad or a compressed sponge that is applied directly to cover the wound.

8. Bandage - is a piece of material that is used to support a dressing, splint, or an injured part of a

person’s body.

9. Fracture - refers to a break in the continuity of a bone.

10. Venom - is a poison secreted by some animals and injected into the body of victims through

bites.
11. Heat Injuries - are environmental injuries that may result when a person is exposed to

extreme heat, such as from the sun or from high temperature.

12. Heat Cramps - are muscle spasms caused by low levels of salt and water in the body.

13. Heat Exhaustion - is caused by loss of water through sweating as caused by inadequate fluid

replacement, it may cause heat stroke.

14. Heat Stroke - is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated promptly and correctly. It

occurs when a person experiences an abnormally elevated body temperature caused by failure of

the body cooling mechanism when the environmental temperature is too high or there is

dehydration.

15. Cold injuries - are most likely to occur when an unprepared individual is exposed to very low

temperature and blood circulation to the extremities become inadequate.

16. Burn - is a type on injuries to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or

radiation.

Characteristics of First Aider

1. Observant - the first aider should notice all signs and symptoms of the illness.

2. Resourceful - the first aider should make the best use of things at hand.

3. Gentle - the first aider should not cause pain to the victim/patient.

4. Tactful - the first aider should not alarm the victim/patient.

5. Sympathetic - the first aider should be comforting on the feeling and pain experienced by the

victim/patient.

6. Cheerful - the first aider should have a happy expression that inspires confidence.

Objectives of First aid

1. To alleviate suffering.

2. To prevent further injury, damage or danger.

3. To prolong life.

Importance of First Aid

1. To save life.

2. To prevent permanent disability.

3. To reduce prolonged hospitalization.

Basic life Saving Steps

1. Check for blood circulation (pulse).

2. Check for breathing.

3. Check for bleeding.

4. Check for shock.

Purpose of First aid training

1. To prevent accident.

2. To train people to do the right thing at the right time.

3. To prevent added injury or danger.

4. To provide proper transportation if necessary.

5. To give First Aid for large numbers of persons caught in a natural disaster.

General direction for first Aiding

1. Don’t Panic - The first aider must remain calm so that he or she has a clear mind during the

emergency situation.

2. Ensure the safety of the area - in an emergency situation, the first aider must first make sure

that the area is safe for him/her and the victim. She/he should transport the victim to a safer place

if necessary.

3. Check for vital functioning - the first aider should assess and monitor pulse and breathing of

the victim.

4. Check for injuries - the first aider must conduct careful physical examination of the victim to

prevent further injury. In cases of multiple injuries, the first aider should know which problem to

treat first.

5. Give the needed first aid urgently - the first aider must be capable of applying necessary and

appropriate steps to attain the objectives of first aiding.

6. Keeps the victim lying down - the victim should be examined in a lying position in order to

immobilize the body.

7. Keep the victim warm- this would help the victim recover faster by increasing the circulation

of blood throughout the body. The victim may be provided with a jacket, a blanket or a body heat
transfer by embracing the victim.

8. Do not give fluids to an unconscious or partly conscious person. This must be noted by every

person not only the first aider and rescuers. the water may enter the windpipe and block the

airway passage. Do not attempt to arouse an unconscious person by shaking him because it might

cause further injuries.

9. Following injury, do not lift a grasping person by the belt - this may aggravate injuries of the

back or internal organs.

10. Reassure the victim - the first aider should explain to the victim the first aid to be done and

how it will help him/her reduce the feelings of anxiety.

11. Be reluctant to make statements -the first aider should be reluctant to give statements to the

victim and bystanders about the injuries. it is not included within the first aiders tasks to

diagnose, evaluate and predict illnesses and injuries, but only to provide needed immediate care.

Basic Equipment for First Aid

1. Spine Board

2. Short board/ Kendrick extrication device

3. Sets of splints

4. Poles

5. Blankets

Suggested contents of First Aid Kit

1. Rubbing alcohol

2. Povidone Iodine / betadine

3. Cotton

4. Gauge pads

5. Tongue Depressor

6. Penlight

7. Band Aid

8. Gloves

9. Scissors
10. Forceps

11. Triangular bandage

12. Elastic Roller Bandage

13. Occlusive dressing

14. Plaster

First aid measures for selected situations

1. Shock - is a condition resulting from a depressed state of many vital body functions.

Cause of shock:

a. Significant loss of blood

b. Heart failure

c. Dehydration

d. Severe and painful blows to the body