First Aid Essentials

MODULE 1 - HOW TO PERFORM BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

Welcome to your EduCare First Aid Essentials training.

Introduction

Welcome to the first module of your EduCare course on First Aid Essentials.

The purpose of the course is to give you a practical guide on how to handle an incident that may require first aid. Our
aim is not to teach you how to be a first aider; there are plenty of in-depth training courses for that; but rather, we
aim to give you the confidence to react to an incident when someone urgently needs your help, and remember,
professional assistance is usually speedily available if required.

Many people say they would be worried about getting involved in an incident in case they got it wrong and made the
situation worse, but even a little knowledge can be a really big help. The main thing is not to panic and if it looks like
a life threatening incident that you don't know how to handle, call an ambulance. Let’s face it, if the most you can
provide is comfort and reassurance that help is on the way, that in itself is worth a great deal to someone in distress.

In this first module, we will look at how to take charge of a life threatening incident and provide basic life support.

Different types of incidents

An incident could be any situation where a person may require first aid. Incidents can range from someone having a
nose bleed, a sprain or strain to a more serious burn or knife cut, right through to someone having a stroke, heart
attack or being hit by a car in a collision. Whatever has happened, always remember that your own safety and that
of others comes first, so under no circumstances should you put that at risk.

Individuals may not be forthcoming with some medical issues – necklaces and bracelets should be looked for as they
may be a MedicAlert. Individuals with pre-existing conditions may be carrying the solution – “has this happened
before?” and “do you have any medication with you?” are useful questions when someone is frightened.

Let's look at the different types of incidents which typically fall into three categories:

Life threatening

Is it life threatening or do you consider it to be? Road accidents, choking, heart attacks, strokes, shock; for example,
severe bleeding/blood loss, crush injuries, and stab wounds would fall into this category.

Serious to life threatening

These are serious incidents and could include burns and scalds, falls that could result in broken bones and deeper
wounds.

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in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

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without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.
Non-urgent

These are non-urgent, day-to-day incidents that befall most of us at some time. Think of insect bites, nose bleeds,
sunburn and minor knife cuts; for example, when peeling or chopping vegetables.

How to handle a life threatening incident

The first thing to say about these incidents is that they are very rare indeed. The second is that the vast majority of
people would not know what to do if they were faced with one. It’s a sad fact that if someone collapsed with a heart
attack in the street, many people would walk on by for fear of getting involved or a concern that the person may be
drunk and/or abusive. Others would be fearful of getting sued if they got it wrong.

Here is what you should do for any life threatening incident - that is any emergency whatsoever where a person is
unconscious and not breathing normally (you may hear occasional gasps, but this is not normal breathing).

Stop and assess the situation

Use your common sense to assess the situation and if you feel it's too much to handle, get professional assistance.
When you call the emergency services, the operator will be able to give you advice and if necessary, they will send
out an ambulance.

In the meantime, if you feel you can help, firstly, ask yourself whether it is safe for you to get involved. The primary
rule of first aid is never to become the casualty yourself - that means do not put yourself or others in danger. You
must only offer help if it is safe to do so.

Once you have decided that it is safe to assist, consider the following.

• The nature of the incident?

• How many people are involved?
• Where is the incident (for example on a street)?
• Are there any objects around that could cause danger (for example, cars driving past or glass on the floor)?
• How old is the person or people involved?
• What seems to have happened?
• Who else is on the scene (how many people are standing around)?

Your first actions

The first thing to do is judge whether the person is responsive or not. For example, tap them gently and ask if they
can hear you. If they respond, leave them in the position you find them provided there is no further danger. Keep
them warm and keep talking to them. Try to find out what is wrong and get help if they need it, but be sure to
reassess them regularly.

If they are unresponsive shout out to the people around you to ask if there is anyone with any medical or first aid
experience present. Also ask if there is an AED (automated external defibrillator) around which will be useful if the
person has had a cardiac arrest. If someone brings an AED, they will also have been trained to use it.

If there is no one with any medical or first aid experience, click the forward button to see what you can do to help.

Whilst EduCare Learning Ltd. have made every effort to ensure that the courses and their content have been devised and written by leading experts who have ensured that they reflect best practice
in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

No part of this material may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system
without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.
Turn the person onto their back. Place one hand on the forehead and place two fingers of the other hand on the
bony part of the jaw and perform a head tilt and chin lift. If there is an obstruction use postural drainage by getting
them onto their side to allow it to come out, and under no circumstances should you put your fingers into the
casualty’s mouth.

Ensure their mouth (the airway) is open and listen for normal breathing. You can also do this by looking for chest
movements, feeling for air on your cheek or listening at their mouth for sounds of breathing.

Often; for example, after a heart attack, a person may be barely breathing or taking infrequent, noisy gasps - this is
not normal breathing. Try to determine whether their breathing is normal for no more than 10 seconds.

If they are breathing normally, put them into the recovery position and call an ambulance or better still, remain with
the person and organise two people to do it. That's one to phone and the other to check that the call has been
made.

If you cannot determine whether they are breathing normally or not, act as though they are not breathing normally
and prepare to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Not breathing normally and no signs of life

• Call an ambulance
• Ask a helper to call if possible otherwise call them yourself.
• Stay with the casualty when making the call if possible.
• Activate the speaker function on the phone to aid communication with the ambulance service.

Send someone to get an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available. If you are on your own, do not leave
the casualty, start CPR.

Typically, if there has been an accident and someone is injured and silent, they are the ones to worry about. If a
person is unconscious, they are not breathing normally and the ambulance is still to arrive, the best thing you can do
whilst you wait is to start chest compressions. The person's blood will still have oxygen in it and chest compressions
keep the blood pumping around the body to help to keep them alive.

How to perform chest compressions

Kneel by the side of the casualty and place the heel of one hand in the centre of the casualty’s chest; which is the
lower half of the casualty’s breastbone (sternum).

Place the heel of your other hand on top of the first hand. Interlock the fingers of your hands and ensure that
pressure is not applied over the casualty’s ribs (see photo for the correct position).

Keeping your arms straight press down 5 - 6cm (2 – 2.5inches) then release the pressure without taking your hand
away. Do 30 of them - at a rate of 100 - 120 a minute and keep going until the ambulance arrives.

If there is still no response and you feel able, you could combine chest compressions with rescue breaths. Rescue
breaths will top up the oxygen that is already in the blood. The ongoing cycle of 30 chest compressions combined
with two rescue breaths is known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR for short.

Rescue breaths

Whilst EduCare Learning Ltd. have made every effort to ensure that the courses and their content have been devised and written by leading experts who have ensured that they reflect best practice
in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

No part of this material may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system
without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.
If you can, use a plastic face mask to protect yourself from germs or even a plastic bag with a hole punched in the
middle will do.

• Support the person's chin and tilt the forehead back which will gently open their mouth.

• Pinch the nose to stop air from leaving it.

• Take a full breath and place your mouth over the person's mouth, making a good seal.

• Breathe steadily for 1 second into the person's mouth until you see their chest rise.

• Remove your mouth and watch for their chest falling.

• Give a second breath.

Keep going with CPR (30 compressions and two breaths) until the person starts to breathe normally or professional
help arrives. If they do start to breathe normally and are making normal movements, put them into the recovery
position until help arrives.

Remember if you can't or don't want to perform rescue breaths, just do the chest compressions and keep going until
help arrives. Only stop if the person regains consciousness (coughs, opens their eyes, speaks, moves AND breathes
normally).

CPR for, infants and children

An infant is a child under 1 year. A child is from 1 year to puberty (when boys get Adam's apple and girls get breasts
they are classed as adults).

Cardiorespiratory arrest occurs less frequently in children than in adults.

The following advice is for people who are not trained and are not healthcare professionals, but find themselves with
an infant or child who is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

CPR should be started with 5 initial rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions then 2 rescues breaths. You should
keep repeating 30 to 2 until the ambulance arrives.

Children – one year old and over

• Assess the child’s breathing. You must first open their airway by tilting the child’s head back. Be careful not
to push on the soft tissues under the chin as this may block the airway.

• Look to see if their chest is moving, listen for exhaling breath and feel for any sign of breath on your cheek.

• If there is no sign the child is breathing, give an initial 5 rescue breaths by pinching their nose closed and
cover the whole of their mouth with yours and breathe for one second so that the chest rises.

Call an ambulance

• Ask a helper to call if possible, otherwise call them yourself. Stay with the child when making the call if
possible.

Whilst EduCare Learning Ltd. have made every effort to ensure that the courses and their content have been devised and written by leading experts who have ensured that they reflect best practice
in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

No part of this material may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system
without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.
 • Activate the speaker function on the phone to aid communication with the ambulance service.
• Send someone to get an AED if available.
• If you are on your own, perform CPR for 1 minute.
• If there are no signs of life, begin chest compressions by using the heel of one hand in the lower third of the
sternum and pushing down one-third of the depth of their chest (approx. 5 cm or 2 inches).
• If you need to use both hands to achieve the right depth, then do so.
• Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths at a rate of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths
until help arrives.

Infants – one year and below

• First start by placing the infant on a firm surface such as a waist high table or the floor.

• Assess the infant breathing by opening their airway to a neutral position and look to see if their chest is
moving, listen for exhaling breath and feel for any sign of breath on your cheek.

• Do not put the baby’s head too far back as this could compromise their airway.

• If there is no sign the baby is breathing, give an initial 5 rescue breaths by creating a seal with your mouth
over the baby’s nose and mouth.

Call an ambulance

• Ask a helper to call if possible otherwise call them yourself. You may be able to take the infant with you as
you seek help, if you have no phone or any help. (Ensure you continue to perform CPR).
• Activate the speaker function on the phone to aid communication with the ambulance service.
• Send someone to get an AED if available.
• If you are on your own, do CPR for 1 minute.
• If there are no signs of life, begin chest compressions by using two fingers in the lower third of the sternum
and pushing down one - third of the depth of their chest. (Approx.4 cm).
• Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths until
help arrives.

All of this can sound very daunting, but do remember it would be extremely rare to find yourself in a position where
you had to perform CPR on anyone, but it's best to have an idea of what you should do just in case.

Further information

When to call an ambulance:

If the incident is a life threatening, medical emergency, an ambulance should be called. A medical emergency is one
where a person is suffering from:

• chest pain
• difficulty in breathing
• unconsciousness
• severe loss of blood
• severe burns or scalds
• choking
• seizures or concussion
Whilst EduCare Learning Ltd. have made every effort to ensure that the courses and their content have been devised and written by leading experts who have ensured that they reflect best practice
in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

No part of this material may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system
without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.
 • drowning
• severe allergic reactions.

Managing an injury in a group context

Whilst the casualty is the primary focus, others in a group can deteriorate fast. It is important you keep them
engaged as bystanders, and monitor them for signs of reaction to the environment.

In summary

In this first module, we have covered the different categories of incidents that may require first aid treatment. We
looked at how to take charge of an incident and determine whether an injured or ill person is responsive or not.

In the event of them being unresponsive and not breathing normally, we covered how to provide basic life support.
Chest compressions are the most important part of basic life support. Combining 30 chest compressions with 2
rescue breaths is seen as the 'gold standard' of basic life support, but if you are not willing to provide rescue breaths,
chest compressions alone are fine.

Always remember though, if you don't feel confident enough to do anything we've described in this module, call an
ambulance and keep the person company until it arrives. You may not know if the person can hear you as you
provide comfort and reassurance, but your kind words may make all the difference to them. In the next module, we
will cover a range of other life threatening to serious incidents that may require first aid.

You are now ready to complete the corresponding questionnaire. Click ‘Questionnaire 1’ to begin the questions.

Whilst EduCare Learning Ltd. have made every effort to ensure that the courses and their content have been devised and written by leading experts who have ensured that they reflect best practice
in all aspects, EduCare Learning Ltd. exclude their liability of the consequences of any errors, omission or incorrect statements to the fullest extent permitted by law and EduCare Learning Ltd. make
no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of any statements or other content in the course.

No part of this material may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system
without permission in writing by EduCare Learning Ltd.