Basic First Aid

Presenter: Waqas Ali

ISO Trainer
 Index
1. What is First Aid
2. Role & Responsibility of First Aider
3. First Aid kit
4. Laws & Regulations UAE
5. CPR
6. AED (automated external defibrillator)
7. Chowking
8. Bleeding and Wound care
 First Aid Training Course

Introduction to First Aid

o What is first aid and why is it important?

First aid is emergency care given immediately to an

injured person. The purpose of first aid is to minimize
injury and future disability. In serious cases, first aid may
be necessary to keep the victim alive.
o Roles and responsibilities of a first aider

o First aid kit contents and maintenance

o
o

o
 o First aid laws and regulations in UAE12

1. First Aid Room Guidelines of the Dubai Healthcare City, DHCR/PP/HSE/003/01

issued on 19/4/2018 https://www.dhcc.ae/gallery/First%20Aid%20Policy.pdf

2. Highfield International Limited, 2016 4. Federal Law No. (13) of 2020 Concerning
Public Health

3. Federal Law by Decree No. (33) of 2021 Regulating Labour Relations 6. Victoria,
Australia: Victoria’s new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/compliance-code-first-aid-workplace

5. Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

Ministerial Resolution No. 1/400 dated 01-02-1428 A. H

• Basic Life Support (BLS)

o How to assess a casualty and call for help

Listen for sounds of breathing and see if you can feel their
breath on your cheek. Watch to see if their chest moves. Do
this for 10 seconds. If they are unresponsive and not
breathing, you need to call 998 for emergency help and start
CPR straight away.

o How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on adults,

children and infants

What is CPR?
CPR (short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a first aid technique that can be used if
someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

• CPR is a skill that everyone can learn — you don’t need to be a health
professional to do it.
• Try to stay calm if you need to do CPR.
• Performing CPR may save a person’s life.
• If you know CPR, you might save the life of a family member or friend.
 Start CPR as soon as possible
CPR involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth (rescue breaths) that help
circulate blood and oxygen in the body. This can help keep the brain and vital organs
alive.

You should start CPR if a person:

• is unconscious
• is not responding to you
• is not breathing, or is breathing abnormally

Follow these steps before starting CPR. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABCD” — DRS
ABCD — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN

Letter Representing What to do
D Danger Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put
yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze
R Response
their shoulder.
S Send for If there is no response, phone (998) or ask another person to call. Do not
help leave the patient.
Check their mouth and throat is clear. Remove any obvious blockages in
A Airway the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food or loose teeth, then gently
tilt their head back and lift their chin.
B Breathing Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after
10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery
position and stay with them.
If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are
C CPR the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as
possible after calling for help.
D Defibrillation Attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient if one is
available and there is someone else who is able to bring it. Do not get
one yourself if that would mean leaving the patient alone.
Carry out chest compressions:

1. Place the patient on their back and kneel beside them.

2. Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the
centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of the first
hand and interlock your fingers.
3. Position yourself above the patient’s chest.
4. Using your body weight (not just your arms) and keeping your arms
straight, press straight down on their chest by one third of the chest
depth.
5. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.
Give mouth-to-mouth:

1. Open the person’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of
the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
3. Open the person’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
4. Take a breath and place your lips over the patient's mouth, ensuring a
good seal.
5. Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest
to rise.
6. Following the breath, look at the patient’s chest and watch for the chest to
fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head
tilt and chin lift position.
7. If their chest does not rise, check the mouth again and remove any
obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted and chin lifted to open the
airway. Check that yours and the patient’s mouth are sealed together and
the nose is closed so that air cannot easily escape. Take another breath
and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of

30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120
compressions per minute).
Keep going with 30 compressions then 2 breaths until:

• the person recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing or

talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
• it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
• the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring so, if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between
doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective
compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still
save a life.

Video

o How to use an automated external defibrillator

(AED)

Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)

Using an AED can also save someone’s life. You do not need to be trained to use
an AED since the AED will guide you with voice prompts on how to use it safely.

1. Attach the AED and follow the prompts.

2. Continue CPR until the AED is turned on and the pads attached.
3. The AED pads should be placed as instructed and should not be touching
each other.
4. Make sure no-one touches the person while the shock is being delivered.
5. You can use a standard adult AED and pads on children over 8 years old.
Children younger than 8 should ideally have paediatric pads and an AED
with a paediatric capability. If these aren’t available, then use the adult
AED.
6. Do not use an AED on children under 1 year of age.
Video
 o How to deal with choking

Choking: -
Choking happens when an object lodges in the throat or windpipe blocking the flow
of air. In adults, a piece of food is usually to blame. Young children often choke on
small objects. Choking is life-threatening. It cuts off oxygen to the brain. Give first aid
as quickly as possible if you or someone else is choking.
Watch for these signs of choking:

• One or both hands clutched to the throat

• A look of panic, shock or confusion
• Inability to talk
• Strained or noisy breathing
• Squeaky sounds when trying to breathe
• Cough, which may either be weak or forceful
• Skin, lips and nails that change color turning blue or gray
• Loss of consciousness
• Give five back blows. Stand to the side and just behind a choking adult. For
a child, kneel down behind. Place your arm across the person's chest to
support the person's body. Bend the person over at the waist to face the
ground. Strike five separate times between the person's shoulder blades with
the heel of your hand.
• Give five abdominal thrusts. If back blows don't remove the stuck object,
give five abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver.
• Alternate between five blows and five thrusts until the blockage is
dislodged.
 • Bleeding and Wound Care
o How to identify different types of bleeding and wounds

There are three main types of bleeding: arterial, venous, and capillary
bleeding. Arterial bleeding occurs in the arteries, which transport blood
from the heart to the body. Venous bleeding happens in the veins,
which carry blood back to the heart. Capillary bleeding takes place in
the capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels that connect the arteries to
the veins.

o How to control bleeding and prevent infection

Call 998 if:

• Bleeding is severe
• You suspect internal bleeding
• There is an abdominal or chest wound
• Bleeding can't be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure
• Blood spurts out of wound
1. Stop Bleeding
• Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze
until bleeding stops.
• If blood soaks through the material, don’t remove it. Put more cloth or gauze on top of
it and continue to apply pressure.
• If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart, if possible, to help slow
bleeding.
• Wash your hands again after giving first aid and before cleaning and dressing the
wound.
• Do not apply a tourniquet unless the bleeding is severe and not stopped with direct
pressure.

2. Clean Cut or Wound

• Gently clean with soap and warm water. Try to rinse soap out of wound to prevent
irritation. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can damage tissue.

3. Protect the Wound

• Apply antibiotic cream to reduce risk of infection and cover with a sterile bandage.
• Change the bandage daily to keep the wound clean and dry.

4. When to Call a Doctor

• The wound is deep or the edges are jagged or gaping open.
• The wound is on the person’s face.
• The wound has dirt or debris that won’t come out.
• The wound shows signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or a thick discharge,
or if the person runs a fever.
• The area around the wound feels numb.
• Red streaks form around the wound.
• The wound is a result of an animal or human bite.
• The person has a puncture wound or deep cut and hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past
five years, or anyone who hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
o How to apply dressings and bandages
Unfold the dressing pad and lay it directly on top of the wound, keeping it in
place by holding the bandage on each side. Make sure the dressing covers
beyond the edge of the wound. Wrap the short end of the bandage round the
injured part to secure the dressing pad.
 o How to treat burns, scalds and blisters
• A burn is caused by dry heat – by an iron or fire, for example. A scald is
caused by something wet, such as hot water or steam.

A hydrocolloid dressing (a moist dressing) can protect the blister, help

reduce pain and speed up healing.

• cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes – do not use
ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter

clean the burn, being careful not to burst any blisters. cover
the burn with a sterile dressing – usually a pad and a gauze
bandage to hold it in place. offer you pain relief if necessary
– usually paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries

▪ Head and face: skull, two cheek bones and lower jaw bones.

▪ Body: back bone or spine, the ribs and breast bone.

▪ Upper limbs: arm, forearm (long bones), and palm (short bones).

▪ Hip: the pelvis.

▪ Lower limbs: thigh and Leg (long bones), foot (short bones).
 o How to recognize and manage fractures, sprains, strains and
dislocations

A fracture is a broken bone, the same as a crack or a break. A

bone may be completely fractured or partially fractured in any
number of ways (crosswise, lengthwise, in multiple pieces).
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint.
Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones
together. When a ligament is stretched too far or tears,
the joint will become painful and swell.
• Rest the patient and the injury.
• Apply an icepack (cold compress) wrapped in a wet cloth to the injury for 15
minutes every 2 hours for 24 hours and then for 15 minutes every 4 hours for
24 hours.
• Apply a compression elastic bandage firmly to the injury that extends well
beyond the injury.
A strain is when a muscle is stretched too much and
tears. It is also called a pulled muscle. A strain is a
painful injury. It can be caused by an accident, overusing
a muscle, or using a muscle in the wrong way.

Rest the injured part until it's less painful. Ice: Wrap an
icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the
injured part immediately. Continue for no more than 20
minutes at a time, four to eight times a day.
Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic
compression bandage for at least 2 days.
 How to use splints, slings and immobilization techniques

o
• Medical Emergencies
o How to recognize Heat Stroke and first aid treatment

Heatstroke occurs when your body temperature rises rapidly and you're unable to
cool down. It can be life-threatening by causing damage to your brain and other vital
organs. It may be caused by strenuous activity in the heat or by being in a hot place
for too long.
Heatstroke can occur without any previous heat-related condition, such as heat
exhaustion. Heatstroke signs and symptoms include:

• Fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or greater

• Changes in mental status or behavior, such as confusion, agitation and slurred
speech
• Hot, dry skin or heavy sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Flushed skin
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Headache
• Fainting
• Seizure
• Coma
Seek emergency medical care
If you suspect heatstroke, call 998. Then move the person out of the heat right
away. Cool the person by whatever means available. For example:

• Put the person in a cool tub of water or a cool shower.

• Spray the person with a garden hose.
• Sponge the person with cool water.
• Fan the person while misting with cool water.
• Place ice packs or cool wet towels on the neck, armpits and groin.
• Cover the person with cool damp sheets.
If the person is conscious, offer chilled water, a sports drink containing electrolytes or
other non-alcoholic beverage without caffeine.
Begin CPR if the person loses consciousness and shows no signs of circulation,
such as breathing, coughing or movement.

Snake Bites :-
https://youtu.be/wq-QZ-iPG7o?t=43

• Introduction to First Aid

o This topic covers the definition and purpose of first aid, the duties and
responsibilities of a first aider, the contents and maintenance of a first
aid kit, and the first aid laws and regulations in UAE that apply to
workplaces, schools, public places and vehicles12.
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
o This topic covers the skills and techniques to assess a casualty’s
condition, call for emergency help, perform cardiopulmonary
 resuscitation (CPR) on adults, children and infants, use an automated
external defibrillator (AED) to deliver shocks to the heart, and deal with
choking, drowning and suffocation cases34.
• Bleeding and Wound Care
o This topic covers the identification and management of different types
of bleeding and wounds, such as arterial, venous, capillary, lacerations,
punctures, abrasions and avulsions. It also covers how to control
bleeding using direct pressure, elevation, pressure points and
tourniquets, how to prevent infection using wound cleansing and
closure methods, how to apply dressings and bandages using various
techniques and materials, and how to treat burns, scalds and blisters
using cooling, covering and pain relief methods .
• Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
o This topic covers the recognition and treatment of fractures, sprains,
strains and dislocations involving different parts of the body, such as
the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, skull, spine and jaw. It also covers how to
use splints, slings and immobilization techniques to support and
protect injured bones, muscles and joints, how to treat head, neck and
spinal injuries using manual stabilization and spinal boards, and how to
monitor for signs of complications such as nerve damage or internal
bleeding .
• Medical Emergencies
o This topic covers the recognition and management of common
medical emergencies that may affect a casualty’s vital functions, such
as shock, fainting, seizures, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, asthma,
diabetes, heart attack and stroke. It also covers how to administer
epinephrine auto-injectors for severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
cases .
• Environmental Emergencies
o This topic covers the prevention and treatment of heat-related illnesses
such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke that may result from exposure
to high temperatures or humidity. It also covers the prevention and
treatment of cold-related injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia
that may result from exposure to low temperatures or wind chill. It also
covers how to handle snake bites, insect stings and animal bites using
first aid measures such as washing, immobilizing, elevating and
antivenom administration. It also covers how to cope with poisoning
cases involving ingestion or inhalation of harmful substances using
first aid measures such as inducing vomiting or administering
activated charcoal .