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Review
History
Battle of Solferino (bloodiest battle)
Henry Dunant (Swiss businessman) was travelling in Northern Italy when he witnessed the
bloody aftermath of the battle
Little medical support for injured soldiers, French army had fewer doctors than
veterinarians, transportation was non-existent
Helped to organize people from nearby villages to bring water, food and aid to the
wounded, regardless of nationality
→ Women who helped the people in this battle were considered the first first-aiders
Dunant persuaded French troops to release a few captured Austrian doctors, just to serve
the wounded and the dying
1862: A Memory of Solferino
Published by Dunant, which he advocated for the
establishment of national relief organizations
Two main themes:
1. To create in each country, an organization of
trained volunteers ready to assist the wounded
in war. (ICRC - International Committee of the
Red Cross)
2. TO promote an international agreement
protecting the wounded soldiers on the
battlefield and those who care for them. (IHL:
International Humanitarian Law, under Geneva
Convention)
1863: International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC)
Dunant was part of a Swissbased committee that put
together a plan for
national relief
associations.
"International Committee
for the Relief of Military
WOunded"
"The Committee of Five" → 5
leaders of the
organization, including
Dunant
"International Committee of
the Red Cross"
What does ICRC do?
Assists and protects victims of armed conflicts
Guardian of the International Humanitarian Law
Recognizes National Societies (ex. Philippine Red
Cross)
The ICRC responds quickly and efffevtively to help
people affected by armed conflict. We also respond
to disasters in conflict zones, because the
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National Societies
1. National Red Cross & Red
Crescent Societies
→ Assists victims in
disaster
→ Promotes humanitarian
activities for the most
vulnerable.
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effects of a disaster are compounded if a country
is already at war.
2. International Federation
Red Cross & Red Crescent
Societies
International Humanitarian Law
A set of Rules which seek, for humanitarian
reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict
Geneva conventions of 1949, the Law of War or the
Law of Armed Conflict.
→ Coordinate international
assistance for victims of
natural disasters
(donations)
→ Supports activities and
development of national
societies
Seven Fundamental Principles
HUMANITY - "We serve people but not systems"
The Red Cross endeavors to prevent + alleviate human
suffering wherever it may be found.
Promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation +
lasting peace amongst all people
IMPARTIALITY - "We care for the victims without
discrimination"
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race,
religious beliefs, class or political opinions
Endeavors to relieve suffering of individuals, being guided
solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most
urgent cases of distress.
NEUTRALITY - "In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of
all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage
at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious
or ideological nature."
The Red Cross must not take sides or be regarded as doing so,
either in its speech or in its actions, at any time or in any
place.
INDEPENDENCE - "We bow to need but not to kings"
The Red Cross is independent. The national societies must
always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at
all times to act in accordance with the Red Cross
Principles
VOLUNTARY SERVICE - "We
work around the clock, but
not for personal gain"
The Red Cross is a
voluntary relief
movement not prompted in
any manner by desire for
gain.
UNITY - "We have many
talents but a single idea"
There can be only one
Red Cross society in any
country.
It must be open to all,
and carry its
humanitarian work
throughout its
territory.
UNIVERSALITY - "We respect
nations but our work knows
no bound"
The Red Cross is a
worldwide institution in
which all societies have
equal status + share
equal responsibilities
and duties in helping
each other.
Emblem
The Red Cross is being used by Christian countries, while some Islamic countries use
the Red Crescent.
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The Red Cross & Crescent symbols have the same meaning - to help lessen human suffering
brought by armed conflicts and natural disasters.
The emblem has two purposes: indicative (serves as an identity) in times of peace, and
protective in times of war.
Philippine Red Cross
The Philippine Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that begun in 1899 as the
Philippine Women’s Red Cross led by Mrs. Hilaria del Rosario de Aguinaldo as
President. The organization continued to exist during the American and Japanese
periods.
March 22, 1947 - Pres. Manuel Roxas signed Philippine Red Cross Chapter, Republic Act.
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March 29, 1947 - Mrs. Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first PRC Chairman, received a cable
from Geneva indicating that the ICRC approved to recognize the PRC.
Board of Governers
Major Services
National Blood Services
To save the lives of patients in need of
blood as an expression of the corporate
social responsibility of the PRC and to
provide safe and affordable blood.
Disaster Management Service
To provide relief in times of peace or war
and to carry on measures to minimize the
suffering caused by disasters.
Safety Service
To conduct an educational campaign to
VISION
The Philippine Red Cross will be the
foremost humanitarian organization in the
Philippines, in services provided and a
number of people served.
MISSION
The Philippine Red Cross brings timely,
effective and compassionate humanitarian
assistance to the most vulnerable without
consideration of nationality, race, creed,
gender, social status or political belief.
ensure the health of the people
Community Health and Nursing Service
To assist the most vulnerable and underserved on health care services
Social Service
To carry out an assistance program that
provides various welfare services to
individuals and families
Red Cross Youth
To educate the youth in the spirit of the
Red Cross and provide to direct their
energy into worthwhile activities
First Aid
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In emergencies, 90% of lives are saved by people like you. You can be a hero by learning and
providing first aid when the time comes.
The lack or total absence of first aid responders was the top violation of firms in terms of
health and safety in the workplace. (PSA, 2019)
FIRST → coming before all others in time or order; earliest
AID → to provide with what is useful or necessary in achieving an end.
First Aid
Goal of First
Immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly take
Aid (3P's)
ill. It includes self-help care and home care if medical assistance is
not available or delayed.
Comprised of relatively simple techniques that can be formed with
rudimentary/simplest equipment
Preserve
life
Carried out by a layperson until professional medical assistance
arrives.
Promote
recovery
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FIRST AIDER
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD FIRST AIDER
Role
(GORTS)
To recognize a medical emergency and make
a decision to help.
Your safety is your highest initial
priority, followed by the safety of the
victim and any bystanders.
Responsibility
Maintain composure
Maintain personal health and safety
Maintain a caring attitude
Maintain up-to-date knowledge and
skills
Without putting yourself in danger,
make the victim's needs your main
concern
Do no further harm
G → gentle
First aid should not cause/inflict pain as
much as possible.
O → observant
He/She should notice all signs; aware of
what is happening and what may happen.
R → resourceful
He/She makes the best use of things at
hand.
T → tactful
He/She should handle the victim with
utmost care and in a calm manner.
S → sympathetic (or empathetic)
He/She should be sensitive to the feelings
of the victim and their family relatives.
GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS
In place to protect first-aiders from financial liability.
these laws assume that a first aider will do their best to
save a life or prevent further injury.
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Prevent
further
injury
IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID
Providing quick medical
treatment until
professional assistance
arrives.
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Require a first-aider to use common sense and a reasonable
level of skill, and to only provide care that is within
their training.
Generally protected from liability as long as:
Helps ensure that the
right methods of
administering medical
assistance are provided.
It affords people with
1. you are reasonably careful
2. you act in "good faith"
3. you do not provide care beyond your skill level
the ability to help
during various emergency
situations.
Knowledge in first aid
also benefits the
individuals themselves.
PRIMARY SURVEY
First Aid Priorities
Philosophy of First Aid
1. Assess a situation quickly and calmly
The primary survey is a quick way to find
out how to treat any life threatening
2. Protect yourself and any casualties
from danger - never put yourself at
risk
conditions a person may have in order of
priority.
Airway → a blocked airway can hamper a
person's ability to breathe.
Breathing → it's crucial to determine
whether someone is breathing or not.
Circulation/Compression → the beating
of the heart that delivers oxygen
throughout the body.
3. Prevent cross-contamination between
yourself and the casualty as best as
possible
4. Comfort and reassure casualties
5. Assess the casualty: identify as bet as
you can the injury or nature of
illness affecting a casualty
6. Give early treatment, and treat the
casualties with the most serious
Updated version:
Danger → around the area
(life-threatening) conditions first.
(triage)
Response
7. Arrange for appropriate help: call 911
for emergency help. Stay with the
casualty until care is available.
International Humanitarian Law
DEFINITION
a set of rules which
seek, for humanitarian
reasons, to limit the
effects of armed
conflicts
it protects persons who
are not or are no
longer participating in
the hostilities
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ORIGIN
rooted in the rules of
ancient civilizations
and religions.
APPLICATION AND COVERAGE
applies only to armed
conflict.
universal codification
does not cover
international tensions
of the IHL began in
the 19th century.
or disturbances, such
as acts of violence.
States have agree to a
series of practical
rules.
law applies only once a
conflict has begun, and
then equally to both
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it also restricts the
means and methods of
warfare.
Balance between
humanitarian concerns
and the military
requirements of
States.
sides regardless of who
started the fighting.
examples
In May 2017, a group of
extremists acting in
the name of ISIS seized
Marawi. It took the
military five months to
regain control of the
city. Amnesty
International
documented serious
violations of the IHL
by all parties to the
conflict, some of which
amount to war crimes.
Armed conflicts such as
the Battle of Marawi
are covered by the
International
Humanitarian Law.
More or less 40 bodies
have been recovered
from Resorts World
Manila when a lone
gunman opened fire for
a couple of hours. Most
of the dead casualties
suffocated in thick
smoke after the gunman
set fire to the casino
tables. Later that
night, the gunman set
himself on fire. This
isolated incident is
not covered by the
International
Humanitarian Law.
INTERNATIONAL ARMED
CONFLICTS
NON-INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICTS
those in which at least two
states/countries are
restricted to the territory of a single state, involving
either regular armed forces fighting groups of armed
dissidents, or armed groups fighting each other.
involved.
more limited range of rules.
subject to a wide range of
rules.
example: battle of Marawi
example:
Israeli=Palestinian
Conflict
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COVERAGE
1. The protection of those who are not, or no longer, taking part in fighting.
2. Restrictions on the means of warfare (weapons and methods of warfare, military
tactics).
PROTECTION
protects those who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medical and religious
military personnel.
protects those who have ceased to take part, such as the wounded, shipwrecked, and sick
combatants and prisoners of war.
must be protected and treated humanely in all circumstances, with no adverse
distinction.
it is forbidden to kill or wound an enemy who surrenders or is unable t fight; the sick
and the wounded must be collected and cared for by the party in whose power they find
themselves.
medical personnel, supplies, hospitals and ambulances must all be protected.
detailed rules governing he conditions of detention for prisoners of war and the way in
which civilians are to be treated under the authority of an enemy power
→ food
→ shelter
→ medical care
→ right to exchange messages with their families
sets clearly recognizable symbols which can be used to identify protected people,
places and objects
the IHL has banned the use of many weapons (exploding bullets, chemical and biological
weapons, blinding laser weapons and anti-personnel mines).
IS THE IHL ACTUALLY COMPLIED WITH?
increasing number of war victims - civilians.
most of the time, the IHL has been and is continuously being violated by many
the lack of awareness is a top reason for its violations.
the IHL has made a difference in protecting civilians, prisoners, the sick and the
wounded, and in restricting the use of barbaric weapons.
implementation is a matter of great difficulty.
striving for effective compliance remains as urgent as ever.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW?
raise awareness and educate others about the law.
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Primary and Secondary Survey
Primary Survey
first stage in any first aid assessment
assessment of situation and needs.
quickly identify whether there is immediate threat to the casualty's life
allows you to consider serious health complications in order of priority
firstly assessing those that will cause fatality the quickest
DANGER
RESPONSE
→ assess the situation for any
danger to ensure that it is safe for
you to approach the casualty
are there sources of danger in
the area?
if none, you may proceed to
the next step of primary
survey
if there are still sources of
danger, make the area safe
first before approaching the
casualty.
→ if you are unable to make the area
safe...
1. do not approach the casualty
→ check whether casualty is responsive
(1) ask verbally, (2) ask to look, (3) ask to
raise their hand
is casualty responding?
if yes, you may attend to nay injuries
they have
if no, tap their arm or gently shake their
shoulder
if there is still no response from the
casualty, move on to next step of primary
survey and call emergency services for help.
if casualty is not responsive, check
that casualty's airway is open and
clear
2. call for emergency medical
assistance instead
AIRWAY
→ if the casualty is unresponsive:
put your hand on their forehead and
gently tilt their head back,
lifting the chin. do a visual check
of their airway for any
obstructions.
→ if casualty is responsive:
check if anything is blocking their airway that
could cause them to choke
encourage them to remove an obvious blockage
themselves with the use of their hands or by
coughing.
if they are unable to dislodge the blockage
themselves and are severely choking, you need
to help them remove it.
a. to do so, you must not put your fingers into
their mouth. instead, you should give
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choking adults and children a combination
of back slaps and abdominal thrusts
carefully remove any visible
obstructions. do not put your
fingers in their mouth if you
b. for infants under one year old, give a
combination of back blows and chest thrusts
cannot see anything.
move on to next stage of primary
survey immediately
move on to next stage of primary survey
BREATHING
→ check whether casualty is breathing normally
how to check?
look for chest movements
listen to breathing sounds
feel air
check for breathing for 10 seconds and confirm that the
breathing is rhythmic and normal.
is casually breathing normally?
yes - move on to final step of primary survey
no - make sure emergency services have been called,
stay with casualty
if you have had first aid training and are confident, start
to give CPR with rescue breaths.
if you haven't had practical training, give hands-only CPR
without rescue breaths.
CIRCULATION
→ you should only move
on to the final step of
the primary survey if
the casualty starts to
breathe independently
→ check the casualty for
any signs of severe
bleeding
is the casualty
bleeding?
if yes, put them
into recovery
position
if no,
is the bleeding
heavy/severe?
if the bleeding is
severe, control and
reduce the bleeding
if the bleeding is
heavy, reassure
them that help is
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coming and stay
with them
Secondary Survey
Find out about the casualty's history,
signs and symptoms.
→ observations
During the conversation...
A - any allergies they have
→ conversation
M - any medication they take regularly or
have been prescribed
→ physical examination
P - previous medical history
Find out:
L - when they last ate something
1. What has happened? - what happened and
how
E - what happened leading up to the event
that caused their injury or illness
2. What symptoms do they have? - identify
where they can feel pain and how
severe it is
check the casualty from head to toe to
check for any injuries or symptoms of
potential health issues
3. What can you see? - secondary
illnesses (discoloration)
this enables you to treat any minor
injuries, and help keep casualty
reassured and comfortable while waiting
for emergency assistance.
Table of Contents
1. PREPARING YOURSELF IN EMERGENCIES
when responding to an emergency, you should recognize the emotional and physical needs of
all involved, including your own
a calm, considerate response from you that produces trust and respect from those around
you is fundamental to your being able to give or receive information from a casualty or
witness.
talk to a casualty in a kind, considerate, gentle but firm manner. you will inspire
confidence in your actions and this will generate trust between you and the casualty.
BE CALM in your first approach to providing first aid. consider what situations might
challenge you, and how you would deal with them.
STAY IN CONTROL. in an emergency situation, the body responds by releasing hormones that
may trigger a fight, flight or freeze response
pause and take a few slow breaths. consider who else might help you feel calmer and
remind yourself of the first aid priorities.
2. PROTECTION FROM INFECTION
take steps to avoid cross-contamination-transmitting germs or infection to a casualty or
contracting infection from a casualty.
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taking measures such as washing your hands and wearing disposable gloves will provide
sufficient protection for you and the casualty.
1. take care not to prick yourself with any needle found on or near a casualty, or cut
yourself on glass.
→ if you accidentally prick or cut your skin, or splash your eye, wash the area
thoroughly and seek medical attention immediately.
2. if you are providing first aid on a regular basis, it is advisable to seek guidance on
additional personal protection, such as immunization.
3. if you think that you have been exposed to an infection while giving first aid, seek
medical advice as soon as possible
4. dispose of all wastes safely.
5. do not touch a wound or any part of a dressing that will come in contact with a wound
with your bare hands.
6. do not breathe, cough or sneeze over a wound while treating a casualty.
if you can, wash your hands before you touch a casualty. if this is not possible, was
them as soon as possible afterwards.
hand-washing steps using the who technique
using protective gloves: disposable gloves should be used to treat only one casualty. put
them on just before you approach a casualty, and remove them as soon as the treatment is
completed and before you do anything else.
putting on sterile gloves
removing sterile gloves
3. DEALING WITH A CASUALTY
casualties are often frightened because of what is happening to them. your role is to
stay calm and take charge of the situation.
establish trust with your casualty by introducing yourself. find out what the person
likes to be called, and use his name when you talk to him.
crouch/kneel down so that you are at the same height as the casualty. explain what is
happening and why. you will inspire trust if you say what you are doing before you do it.
building trust: treat the casualty with dignity and respect at all times. if possible,
give him choices, for example; whether he would prefer to sit or lie down and/or who he
would like to have with him.
→ if possible, gain his/her consent before you treat him/her by asking if he/she agrees
with whatever you are going to do.
diversity and communication: consider the age and appearance of your casualty when you
talk to him, since different people need different responses. respect people's wishes.
→ communication can be difficult if a person speaks a different language or cannot hear
you. use simple language or signs or write questions down. ask if anyone speaks the same
language as the casualty, or knows the person, or saw the incident and can describe what
happened.
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listening carefully: use your eyes and ears to be aware of how a casualty responds.
listen by showing verbal and nonverbal listening skills.
→ make eye contact, but look away now and then so as not to stare.
→ use a calm, confident voice that is loud enough to be heard, but do not shout.
→ do not speak too quickly.
→ keep instructions simple.
→ use affirming nods and "mmms" to show you are listening when the casualty speaks.
→ check that the casualty understands what you mean.
→ use simple hand gestures and movements.
→ do not interrupt the casualty, but always acknowledge what you are told.
4. MONITORING VITAL SIGNS
vital signs include the measurement of:
temperature
the normal body temperature varies depending on:
→ gender
→ recent activity
→ food and fluid consumption
→ time of day
→ stage of menstrual cycle (in women)
normal body temperature: 36.5C - 37.2C
methods of taking body temperature:
→ orally
→ rectally — most accurate method
→ axillary — reflects the body's core temperature
→ by ear
body temperature may be abnormal due to...
→ fever (high temperature): BT rises about one degree or more over the normal
temperature.
→ hypothermia (low temperature): a drop in BT below 35C.
respiratory rate
the number of breaths you take each minute.
involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times
your chest rises.
normal respiration rate: 12-20 breaths/minute
pulse rate
a measurement of the heart rate; the number of times the heart beats per minute.
it indicates heart rhythm and the strength of the pulse.
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normal pulse rate for healthy adults: 60-100 bpm
the pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury and
emotions
females ages 12 and older → faster PR
athletes → lower PR
blood pressure
the force of blood pushing against the artery walls during contraction and
relaxation of the heart.
each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries.
heart contracts → BP rises; heart relaxes → BP falls
two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure:
example: 120/80 (mm Hg)
→ higher number: systolic pressure
→ lower number: diastolic pressure
HIGH BP — directly increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
Arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood; this causes
the heart to work harder to circulate the blood.
categorized as...
→ normal BP = systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80
→ elevated BP = systolic of 120-129 and diastolic less than 80
→ stage 1 high BP = systolic is 130-139 and diastolic between 80-89
→ stage 2 high BP = systolic is 140 or higher and diastolic is 90 or higher
blood oxygen saturation
indicate the oxygen levels present in the blood that flows through the arteries of
the body
measured using a pulse oximeter
normal oxygen level = 95% - 100%
blood oxygen levels below 90% — considered low (hypoxemia)
the brain gets affected when the SpO2 level drops below 80-85%
cyanosis develops when the SpO2 level drops below 67%
can identify the existence of an acute medical problem.
→ acute: generally develop suddenly and last a short time
→ chronic: develop slowly and may worsen over an extended period of time
are a means of rapidly quantifying the magnitude of an illness and how well the body is
coping with the resultant physiological stress.
a marker of chronic disease states → more deranged vital signs, the more sick a person
is.
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