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First Aid
Non - Clinical
First aid is the immediate treatment given
to a victim of an accident (or) sudden illness
before medical help is obtained.
Aims of First Aid
1. Preserve life
2. Promote recovery
3. Prevent the condition from getting worse
Principles of First Aid
1. Observe carefully
2. Keep calm and think clearly
3. Act quickly and confidently
Life Saving Measures in various situations
Artificial Respiration
Check if the person is breathing or not by
1. Looking for movement of the chest or
upper abdomen.
2. Listening with your ear close to the
person’s nose or mouth.
3. Feeling with your hand held over his
mouth and nose for warm air.
If breathing is found to be stopped,
Tilt the person’s head well back at once, to
open the air passage from mouth to lungs. At
the same time, lift up the lower jaw.
Loosen the dress, remove false teeth
with your finger (or) and clear the mouth
of any mucous food (or) other obstruction.
If breathing does not begin at once, start
artificial respiration.
Blow your own breath into the lungs,
through his nose or mouth closing the other
with your fingers.
Elevate - raise to a level
A R A V I N D
E Y E
C A R E
S Y S T E M
Repeat this at your own breathing rate
until he breaths normally.
If normal breathing is not revived, start
external cardiac massage.
External Heart Compression
This should be given at the same time as
artificial respiration if there is no heart beat.
It will be easier if there are two persons to
help in giving first aid. If there is no heartbeat,
body colour will be blue (or) pale. Pupils are
dilated and no carotid pulse is felt.
• The patient should be lying on a firm
surface, eg: a floor
• Kneel at the side and feel for the lower
part of the sternum
• Place the heel of the palm over it and the
heel of the other palm over your wrist
with all fingers extended.
• With arms straight, press sternum
backwards towards the spine then
immediately take your hands away.
Repeat the pressure about 60 times per
minute for adults. For children, press with
one hand only.
• When pulse is not restored, continue heart
compression until the patient reaches
hospital.
Bleeding
• Lay the injured person down flat and
elevate the legs or place a pillow under
the body so that the trunk is just slightly
higher than the head. If the wound is in a
limb, elevate the limb.
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• Remove any dirt from the bleeding area
without removing any large chunks that
may have caused the damage.
• Apply pressure on the bleeding area to
stop severe bleeding.
• Place a pad over the wound tightly with
the edges of the wound held together for a
gaping wound.
• Place an icepack on the wounded area.
This will help to constrict blood vessels,
which will help stop bleeding.
• Get the injured person to the emergency
room as quickly as you can.
Unconsciousness
If you cannot determine what caused the
loss of consciousness, give first aid for
general unconsciousness and call emergency
medical services if the person does not revive
promptly (ie, within a couple minutes).
1. Check the person's airway, breathing and
circulation.
2. If you do not think there is a spinal injury,
put the person in the recovery position:
- Position the person lying face up.
- Turn the person's face toward you.
- Take the person's arm that is closest
to you, and place it to his/her side,
tucking it under the buttock.
- Take the person's other arm, and place
it across his/her chest.
- Cross the person's ankles by placing
his/her far leg over the near leg.
- Bend one arm up and one arm down,
to support the upper and lower body.
- Tilt the person's head back to allow
air to move freely in and out of the
mouth.
If you do think there is a possible spinal
injury, leave the person as you found him/her
(as long as breathing continues). If the person
vomits or bleeds out of his/her mouth, roll
his/her entire body at one time to the side.
Keep the person warm until emergency
medical help arrives.
The following should be avoided in the
case of loss of consciousness:
• Do not give an unconscious person
anything by mouth; even if he/she regains
consciousness, do not give anything until
consulting a physician.
• Do not attempt to wake an unconscious
person by slapping or shaking him/her or
by sprinkling cold water on the person.
• Do not put a pillow under the head of an
unconscious person, as this could block
his/her airway.
Shock
Shock that is severe may cause death.
Reduce shock by
1. Reassuring and promoting confidence.
2. Relieving pain and discomfort.
3. Protecting from cold and handling gently
Clothing on fires
Quickly take hold of the nearest thick cloth
such as a carpet. Hold it in front of you and
throw it over the burning person to put out
the flames. If your own clothes catch fire lie
down and roll on the ground. In every case,
the patient must be seen by a doctor as soon
as possible.
Chunk - thick piece; Gaping - wide open; Constrict - become narrow
Compassion Jan - Mar, 2015