PERFORM BASIC FIRST AID
PROCEDURES
Unit Code: D1.HRS.CL1.12
D1.HOT.CL1.12
D2.TCC.CL1.15
Slide 1
Perform basic first aid procedures
This unit comprises three Elements:

1. Assess the situation

2. Apply basic first aid techniques

3. Communicate details of the incident.
Slide 2
Assessment
Assessment for this unit may include:

Oral questions

Written questions

Work projects

Workplace observation of practical skills

Practical exercises

Formal report from employer/supervisor.
Slide 3
Assess the situation
Performance Criteria for this Element are:

Identify physical hazards to own &
others’ health and safety

Minimise immediate risk to self &
health and safety of the casualty by
controlling hazard/s in accordance
with accepted practice

Assess casualty’s vital signs & physical condition in
accordance with accepted practice.
Slide 4
Identify physical hazards
First aid can be defined as:

Any care given to an injured or ill person (called a
'casualty') before professional medical assistance
(ambulance, paramedics, nurse, or doctor) arrives on
the scene to take control of the situation.
Slide 5
Identify physical hazards
When providing first aid always:
Protect yourself and others at all times against injury or
harm
 Casualty must be protected against further harm or
injury
 Arrange for professional help to be called
 Wear protective gloves.

Slide 6
Identify physical hazards
Assess all first aid situations to identify hazards to self &
others:

Workplace and incident-specific
hazards

Hazards sometimes associated with
casualty management

Bodily fluids – always wear protective
gloves

Risk of further injury to the casualty.
Slide 7
Identify physical hazards
Ways to identify hazards :

Use common sense

Use your sense of sight

Use your sense of hearing

Use your sense of touch

Use your sense of smell.
Slide 8
Minimise immediate risk

Take action to address identified risk

Do not move casualty unless they are in
immediate danger of more harm

Ask bystanders to move to safety, if
necessary

Call fire brigade if there is fire, smoke or
escaping gas

Contact electricity supply company if there
is hazard from electricity. Get a staff member to turn
power off.
Slide 9
Minimise immediate risk
What might you do

If there is a fire near the casualty?

If the casualty’s situation is being made worse by rain
or sunshine?

If gas is leaking from a damaged appliance?

If unstable items are nearby and posing a risk of falling
on the casualty?

If the casualty is in a position where they are likely to
be run over by vehicles?
Slide 10
Minimise immediate risk
Always protect the neck when moving casualty:

Keep the casualty still

Kneel behind the head and place
your hands on either side to support
it

Put rolled up towels, blankets, or clothing on each side
of the casualty’s head to keep it from moving.
Slide 11
Minimise immediate risk
Be prepared to ask others for help:

Other staff

Members of the public

Passers by & bystanders

Customers/guests

Management

Friends and/or family of the casualty.
Slide 12
Minimize immediate risk

The ‘Fireman’s Carry’ should be used to move
unconscious people or casualties who are
unable to walk

DO NOT USE the Fireman’s Carry if the
casualty has an injured:
• Arm
• Ribs
• Leg
• Back.
Slide 13
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
DRABC is an acronym to describe the procedures used by
first aiders when providing first aid:





D for Danger – Assess the situation
R for Response – Check consciousness, check on vital
signs
A for Airway – Open airway
B for Breathing – Check respiration rates
C for Circulation – Give chest compressions.
Slide 14
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘D’ stands for ‘Danger’.
‘D’ means you must:

Assess the situation

Check for danger.
Slide 15
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘R’ = ‘Response’ from the casualty:

Try to get a response from the casualty –
do not shake them

Get a history

Identify how the casualty feels

Check the physical condition of the
casualty

Be alert to possibility of shock.
Slide 16
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘A’ = ‘Airway’:

Check airway is free of obstructions

If casualty is not breathing, open airway

Remove visible obstructions from mouth & nose

Obstructions prevent breathing impede provision of
rescue breathing.
Slide 17
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘B’ = ‘Breathing:

Check breathing by looking, listening &
feeling for breathing for up to 10 seconds

If casualty is not breathing, administer
rescue breathing/mouth-to-mouth resuscitation/EAR

If casualty is breathing then monitor them.
Slide 18
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
One ‘vital sign’ is respiration rate:

Watch chest/stomach rise & fall for 15 seconds
counting how many times the chest/stomach rises

Multiply figure by four

Record findings.
Slide 19
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
Respiration rates:

Normal range in an adult when resting is 12 to 20
respirations per minute

Below 12 respirations per minute is ‘slow’

Above 20 respirations per minute is ‘rapid’

Slower than 12 – or faster than 20 respirations per
minute – may indicate a problem affecting the
casualty's ability to get oxygen.
Slide 20
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘C’ = check ‘Circulation’:

This will indicate if heart is beating

No pulse = no heartbeat & no
circulation

If you cannot detect a pulse, begin chest
compressions

If casualty is not breathing and there is no pulse,
administer CPR.
Slide 21
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
‘Pulse rate’ vital sign:

Normal adult pulse rate at rest is 60 to 80 beats per
minute – average is 72 beats per minute

A resting pulse rate of more than 80
beats per minute is higher than normal

Causes of high pulse rate can be shock, bleeding,
heat, dehydration, fever, pain or exercise.
Slide 22
Assess vital signs & physical
condition of casualty
Try to obtain history, signs & symptoms from the casualty
to help make a more informed diagnosis – this will better
indicate the first aid needing to be given.
While waiting for professional help to arrive:

Provide whatever first aid is needed

Monitor the casualty & record observations

Reassure them everything is OK and they will be fine.
Slide 23
Summary – Element 1
When assessing the situation when providing basic first
aid to casualties:

Protect yourself and others against injury

Protect the casualty against further injury

Look for physical & other hazards when you arrive on
scene

Take action to guard against identified hazards
(Continued)
Slide 24
Summary – Element 1

Never simply rush in and start providing first aid –
assess the situation first: every time

Never move a casualty until they have been assessed
unless there is a risk of further or worse injury to them

Be prepared to ask bystander and others for help

Call emergency services immediately
(Continued)
Slide 25
Summary – Element 1

Implement DRABC

Check if casualty is conscious or not

Check to determine if the casualty is breathing or not

Check to determine if the casualty has a pulse or not

Apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, cardiac
compressions or CPR as required
(Continued)
Slide 26
Summary – Element 1

Observe vital signs & physical condition of
casualty & record observations

Maintain ongoing monitoring of casualty when
providing first aid.
Slide 27
Apply basic first aid techniques
Performance Criteria for this Element are:

Provide first aid management in accordance with
established first aid procedures and available
resources and equipment

Monitor casualty’s condition and respond to the
casualty’s condition in accordance with accepted
first aid principles and enterprise guidelines
(Continued)
Slide 28
Apply basic first aid techniques

Seek first aid assistance from others in a timely
manner as appropriate

Record accidents and injuries in accordance with
enterprise procedures.
Slide 29
Provide first aid management
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation/EAR:

Should be given when diagnosis reveals the patient is
not breathing

If the casualty is breathing,
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not
required – manage bleeding & other
injuries

Place breathing casualty into ‘Recovery Position’.
Slide 30
Provide first aid management
To place breathing casualty into Recovery Position:

Kneel beside casualty

Place furthest arm at right angles
to the body

Place nearest arm across chest

Lift nearest leg at knee so it is fully bent

Roll patient away & on to the side while supporting
head/neck & keeping the leg at right angles.
Slide 31
Provide first aid management
CPR (Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation):

Is necessary when casualty has no pulse and is not
breathing

Ensure professional help has been called for

30 compressions (at rate of 100/minute), then 2 breaths

CPR may be provided by two people – one gives
compressions; the other gives breaths.
Slide 32
Provide first aid management
Managing bleeding:

‘Bleeding’ is loss of blood

Wear disposable gloves when treating bleeding

Apply bandage to clean wounds

If object is stuck in the wound stabilise it; do not press
on it or try to move or remove it.
Slide 33
Provide first aid management
Responding to a casualty with clothes on fire:

Cover with fire blanket

Roll on ground until flames go out
OR

Tell casualty to drop and roll to put flames out.
Slide 34
Provide first aid management
Treatment of burns:

Place burn under cold running water for 10 minutes

Cut/lift away clothing covering the burned area

Leave clothing that sticks to burned area

Remove jewellery from burned limb

Apply a sterile dressing

Raise the limb to reduce swelling
(Continued)
Slide 35
Provide first aid management

If burned area is large, use cleanest material available
to cover the burned area

Do not clean burned area before applying dressing

Do not apply ointments or medications

Do not break any blisters

Be alert to shock setting in.
Slide 36
Provide first aid management
Electrocution:

Do not touch electrical wire or casualty

Find electricity source & turn it off

If you cannot turn off electricity:
• Protect self by standing on dry & non-conductive item
• Push casualty away, or push source of the electricity
away from the casualty, with non-conductive pole

Check breathing

Find and dress entry & exit burn wound.
Slide 37
Provide first aid management
Snakebite:

Apply firm crepe or elastic bandage over bite, then rest
of limb

Stop arm or leg from moving

Do not allow the casualty to move

Monitor breathing

Watch for shock.
Slide 38
Provide first aid management
Animal bites:

Clean the bite thoroughly with soap or antiseptic

Wash the bite with water

Cover the bite with a sterile dressing

Immobilise injured arm or leg

Take casualty immediately to a medical facility.
Slide 39
Provide first aid management
Insect bites/stings:

Remove any stingers

Wash bite or sting site

Apply ice or cold compresses

Treat serious reactions the same as snakebite

Monitor breathing

Be alert to allergic reaction

Look for MEDIC ALERT tag or emergency insect bite
treatment kits on the casualty.
Slide 40
Provide first aid management
Anaphylaxis/anaphylactic shock:

Summon professional medical help

Search for rescue medication - EpiPen®
• Inject into outer thigh
• Do not inject intravenously
• Do not inject into buttock

Prepare to administer CPR.
Slide 41
Provide first aid management
Choking:

Use heel of hand to give up to five blows between the
shoulder blades

Check casualty’s mouth quickly after each blow &
remove anything there

Give up to five abdominal thrusts if casualty is still
choking

Check mouth after each abdominal thrust.
Slide 42
Provide first aid management
Treating fractures:

Remove jewellery on injured limb

Dress open wounds or burns before applying
splint or sling

Cover exposed bone with a dressing

Do not try to push bone back under skin

Do not try to straighten or ’put together’ injured limb

Place the fractured arm in a sling or splint.
Slide 43
Provide first aid management
Placing a sling on a fractured arm:

Place sling under injured arm so it is centered,
base of sling is beyond the elbow and top
corner is over the shoulder of the injured side

Position forearm with the hand slightly raised

Bring lower portion of material over injured arm and
over shoulder of the uninjured side

Tie the two corners in a knot on the side of the neck on
the uninjured side

Twist pointed end of sling and tuck it in at elbow.
Slide 44
Provide first aid management
Applying a splint:

Place one splint on each side of the arm
or leg

Aim is to immobilise joints above and below
the fracture

Secure splint above and below fracture site
with little movement to the injured areas

Use chest wall to immobilise a fractured
arm

Use good leg to immobilise the fractured leg if
nothing is available.
Slide 45
Provide first aid management
Treating sprains:

Use RICE
• R = Raise the limb
• I = Ice the area
• C = Compress the area
• E = Elevate the injury.
Slide 46
Provide first aid management
Managing possible head or spinal injuries:

Do not move casualty

Obtain medical help immediately

Keep casualty still – tell them not to move

Support head & neck

Use rolled up towels/blankets to keep head still

Cover to keep warm.
Slide 47
Provide first aid management
Signs of shock:

Sweaty but cool skin, pale color, or bluish skin around
the mouth

Shallow, fast breathing

Rapid pulse that becomes weaker.
Slide 48
Provide first aid management
As shock progresses casualty may:

Display signs of anxiety

Have unusual thirst

Yawn and sigh

Become nauseous.
Slide 49
Provide first aid management
Treat shock by:

Calling an ambulance

Treating major wounds or stop heavy bleeding

Positioning casualty on their back with blanket

Keeping the casualty calm

Reassuring them
(Continued)
Slide 50
Provide first aid management

Splinting fractured legs before elevating them

Raising legs so feet are slightly higher than heart

Not elevating legs if you think casualty has broken back

Placing casualties in Recovery Position

Loosening tight clothing, including boots

Preventing casualty from being too warm or cold.
Slide 51
Monitor casualty’s condition
Things to note or monitor:

Pulse and respiration

Colour of skin

Mention of pain

Requests

How long casualty was unconscious

Comments made relating to cause of the injury.
Slide 52
Monitor casualty’s condition
When monitoring casualty:

Reassure them

Ensure professional medical help is on way

Do not allow smoking

Do not give or allow them alcohol
(Continued)
Slide 53
Monitor casualty’s condition

Do not give food

Avoid giving liquids

Keep crowds and onlookers away

Keep them still

Protect them from natural elements.
Slide 54
Seek assistance from others
Ask for help from:

Other staff

Members of the public

Bystanders and onlookers

Friends and family members of casualty.
Slide 55
Seek assistance from others
When seeking help from others:

Do not be afraid of asking for help

Most people will help if asked

Get them to confirm professional help has been called
for

If one person refuses, ask someone else.
Slide 56
Seek assistance from others
People may be asked to:

Give information about causes of injury

Provide directions to emergency services

Contact friends or relatives of the casualty

Help carry or move the casualty
(Continued)
Slide 57
Seek assistance from others

Help protect casualty

Communicate with emergency services

Record verbal information you give them

Obtain first aid requisites for you.
Slide 58
Seek assistance from others
When seeking assistance:

Do so quickly

Ask questions

Thank them

Give them something to do.
Slide 59
Record accidents and injuries
After an incident there may be a need to complete:

An Incident Report

An Injury Register.
Slide 60
Record accidents and injuries
Enterprise procedures and requirements:

Must be a written report

Must be completed as soon as possible

Must be in an approved form

Must record names of those involved
(Continued)
Slide 61
Record accidents and injuries

Must record date and time

Must identify location of event or incident

Must describe action taken

Must identify causal factors, if known

Report must be forwarded as directed.
Slide 62
Summary – Element 2
When applying basic first aid procedures:

Follow DRABC

Ensure professional medical assistance has been
summoned

Apply rescue breathing if casualty is not breathing

Place conscious casualties into the Recovery Position

Apply CPR where there is no pulse
(Continued)
Slide 63
Summary – Element 2

Wear disposable gloves

Run burns under cold water

Remove jewellery if possible

Do not break burn blisters

Check to determine if casualty has MEDIC ALERT tag

Dress burns or wounds before applying splints

Do not try to straighten broken limbs
(Continued)
Slide 64
Summary – Element 2

Use RICE procedures to treat sprains

Do not move a casualty with suspected neck or spinal
injuries

Take & record the vital signs & physical condition of the
casualty

Be prepared to ask others for help

Complete internal records as required.
Slide 65
Communicate details of the
incident
Performance Criteria for this Element are:

Request appropriate medical assistance using
the most relevant & appropriate communication
mechanism

Convey details of casualty’s condition & first-aid
management activities accurately to emergency
services or relieving personnel

Prepare reports to supervisors in a timely manner,
presenting all relevant facts according to enterprise
guidelines.
Slide 66
Request medical assistance
The importance of obtaining professional medical help:

You are not a professional medical provider

Obtain professional help before rendering first aid

Summoning professional help is ‘best practice’ because
it is best for the casualty.
Slide 67
Request medical assistance
Professional medical help can be obtained by:

Asking someone else to call for help

Yelling out for help

Flagging down a passing vehicle

Activating a ‘Fire’ alarm.
Always summon medical assistance.
If you have to choose, delay rendering first aid until you
have called for assistance.
Slide 68
Request medical assistance
Facilitate the arrival of emergency services or other
help by:

Opening gates

Moving vehicles

Asking others to signpost location of
the casualty.
Slide 69
Convey details of casualty
When speaking with emergency services to summon help:

Be guided by them

Speak clearly and calmly

Never hang up until directed to do so.
Slide 70
Convey details of casualty
Emergency operators will want details regarding:

Exact location of the casualty

Number, age and gender of casualties

Type of injuries and symptoms

Details of first aid already given

Whether situation is life threatening

If you need over the telephone assistance.
Slide 71
Convey details of casualty
When assistance arrives:

Identify self

Allow professionals to talk or ask the questions

Provide accurate information about casualty and
treatment

Add any other relevant information

Follow instructions given to you

Provide local knowledge/information.
Slide 72
Prepare reports
When preparing a formal report:

Refer to notes taken at the time

Refer to previous records

Ensure ‘facts’ are differentiated from ‘beliefs’

Identify causes and action to prevent recurrence

Sign and date the report.
Slide 73
Prepare reports
Enterprise guidelines regarding reports:

Complete as soon as possible

Complete individually

Complete in writing

Forward to designated person by required time

File for future reference.
Slide 74
Summary – Element 3
When communicating details of a first aid incident:

Ensure professional emergency services or medical
authorities have been summoned to all events

Allow telephone operators to ask for information as
opposed to giving them details

Use whatever local facilities or options exist to call for
help
(Continued)
Slide 75
Summary – Element 3

Be proactive in seeking assistance

Facilitate the arrival of emergency services

Convey casualty vital signs and physical conditions to
professionals on their arrival

Complete detailed internal reports to describe the
incident and help prevent a recurrence.
Slide 76