BASIC FIRST AID SKIILS
Definition:
First aid is immediate help or treatment of a person following and accident, illness or injury. The first
aider may then give appropriate treatment, advise, refer patient to casualty or summon emergency
medical services.
Principles of first aid:
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Remain Calm
Assess the situation
Stabilize the person
Universal precautions:
It’s important to take precautions before you offer someone first aid i.e.
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Washing hands or using a sanitizer
Wearing proper personal protective equipment(PPE) e.g. gloves
Proper disposal of contaminated items
BLEEDING
SEVERE BLEEDING
This is pulsating bleeding and it indicates a severed artery. Excessive bleeding can be life threatening.
Treatment
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CALL FOR AMBULANCE
Stop bleeding with direct pressure
Elevate wound
Place sterile gauze or clean cloth over injury and press firmly, add gauze as needed but do not
remove gauze already in place.
Secure gauze/clean cloth in place
MODERATE BLEEDING
Treatment
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Cleanse with water
Bandage with sterile gauze/clean cloth or sterile strip bandage
NOSEBLEEDING
Causes:
Can be caused by Specific injury or may occur spontaneously with no apparent cause
Treatment
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Place victim in sitting position with head slightly forward
Stop bleeding by squeezing nostrils shut with thumb and finger
Release pressure every several minutes to see if bleeding has stopped
Place an icepack on the forehead and repeat until bleeding has stopped
BURNS
SEVERE BURNS
Symptoms are;
Blistering, skin broken, white or charred surface, burns covering face, hands, feet, genitals or more than
15% of body.
Treatment
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Call for ambulance
Monitor breathing
Cover burn with cling film or clean dry bandage
Do not break blisters
MINOR BURNS
Symptoms are:
Unbroken skin, blistering, burns cover small area of body.
Treatment
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Soak or hold under running water until pain is relieved (at least 20 minutes)
Apply burn cream if available
Chemical burns
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Remove affected clothing
Flush liquid chemical burn with water for 10-20 mins
If burn is from dry chemical, dust off chemical then flush with water
Electrical burns
Turn power source off
Treat as above for minor or severe burns
INSECT BITES AND STINGS
Emergency allergic reaction
Symptoms are;
Swelling of throat, breathing difficulty, dizziness, nausea, red and watery eyes, hives (skin rash),
sweating, wheezing (abnormal breath sound)
Treatment:
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If victim has history of reaction, administer prescribed medication as soon as possible. Use epi
Pen if available
Administer an antihistamine e.g cetirizine or piriton
Seek emergency medical attention
Less serious allergic reaction:
Local swelling, redness, pain or itching
Treatment:
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If stinger is visible, scrape from surface of skin
Apply cool water or ice pack
Apply antihistamine cream if available
SPRAINS
This is injury to a ligament or its attachment. Sprains only occur at the joints. If in doubt treat as if
fractured.
Symptoms are;
Local pain, swelling, deformity, discoloration, inability to move part
Treatment:
“RICE”
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Rest. Remove victim from activity
Ice. Apply ice pack or other cold immediately
Compress by wrapping injury firmly
Elevate injured part
x-rays are recommended for severe sprains to rule out fractures.
Pain can be managed by use of painkillers
FRACTURES
A broken bone is called a fracture.
When there is a fracture, there is accompanying soft tissue injury either to the muscle, ligament or
tendon
Symptoms:
Possible swelling, deformity, tenderness, pain, numbness, inability to move injured part.
Treatment:
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Immobilize with splint
Do not manipulate suspected fracture
Transport to hospital for x rays and medical treatment
Manage pain with painkillers