Importance and principles involved in first aid

First AID is the temporary and prompt help given to a person in case of SUDDEN INJURY or SICKNESS. The aim is that the INJURY/SICKNESS does not AGGRAVATE FURTHER and due to swift action further DETERIORATION is checked, same condition is maintained & recovery promoted till the arrival of Medical Help.

1. 1
“PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID”

2. 2
FIRST AID IS….
A matter of Common Sense
Application of mind
Swift Response

3. 3
FIRST AID IS APPLIED
IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS:
Choking
Airway Obstruction
Bleeding
Epilepsy
Bites and Stings
Burns and Scalds
Poisoning
Fractures
Fainting

4. 4
DEFINITION
First AID is the temporary and prompt help given to a
person in case of SUDDEN INJURY or SICKNESS.
The aim is that the INJURY/SICKNESS does not
AGGRAVATE FURTHER and due to swift action
further DETERIORATION is checked, same condition is
maintained & recovery promoted till the arrival of
Medical Help.

5. 5
SCOPE OF FIRST AID
Four things should be kept in mind:
PREVENT further deterioration
PRESERVE in the same condition
PROMOTE recovery
Arrange for regular Medical AID

6. Principles of first aid
 Preserve life:
 Prevent deterioration:
 Promote recovery:
 Airway
 Breathing
 Stop bleeding
 Treat shock
 Treat other injuries
 Reassure
 Relieve pain
 Handle with care
 Protect from harm
 Circulation

7.  Assess dangers
 Make safe
 Give emergency aid
 Get help
 Clear up
 Look after yourself
Action in an emergency

8. The first person at the
scene of an incident should:
 Make the area safe
 Reassure the casualty and bystanders
 Use bystanders to help
 Prioritise and respond to the
immediate needs of the casualty
 Send for help

9.  Inform next of kin, if possible
 Complete reports to include:
 Details of the incident
As soon as possible:
 Location of the incident
 Date and time of the incident
 Who was involved
 What was done
 Who was notified

10.  If possible, wear disposable gloves,
improvise with polythene bags or
consider whether the casualty can
help, eg apply pressure to bleeding.
 Remember:
 Wash your hands carefully afterwards.
Infection control
 Clean surfaces with bleach diluted 1:10
with water.
 If possible, keep any minor wounds
covered with a plaster.
 Buy and use a resuscitation face shield.
 Dispose of soiled items appropriately.

11.  A – Alert – will talk but may be drowsy.
 V – Responds to Voice – responds to
simple commands, eg ‘open your
eyes’, or may respond to simple
questions.
 P – Responds to Pain – will react
(eg make a noise) to a pinch on the
back of the hand.
 U – Unresponsive – there is no
response at all.
Levels of consciousness

12. Causes of
unconsciousness:
 Fainting
 Imbalance of heat
 Shock
 Heart attack/
angina pectoris
 Stroke
 Head injuries
 Asphyxia/hypoxia/
near drowning
 Asthma
 Anaphylaxis
 Poisoning
 Seizures
 Diabetic emergencies

13.  Primary survey
Check for danger.
Emergency life support
for adults and children
1 Check for response.
Speak loudly and
clearly to the casualty.
Ask questions like ‘are
you all right?’.
If there is no response,
shout for help. Do not
leave the casualty.

14. Emergency life support
for adults and children
2 Open the airway.
3 Check for normal
breathing. Look, listen
and feel.

15. Emergency life support
for adults and children
4 If breathing normally, place in the
recovery position.
CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES

16.  Basic life support
Carry out a primary survey:
Emergency life support
for adults and children
CALL THE
EMERGENCY
SERVICES
For children
It can be more
beneficial to give
five initial breaths
followed by
cycles of 30:2
compressions
and breaths. One-
handed
compressions may
be more suitable.
 Danger
 Response
 Airway
 Breathing
 Circulation

17. Emergency life support
for adults and children
1 If not breathing normally, start CPR with 30
chest compressions.
2 Open the airway.

18. Emergency life support
for adults and children
3 Give two rescue breaths. Continue with
30 compressions
and two rescue
breaths until:
 Qualified help
arrives to take
over.
 The casualty
starts to breathe
normally.
 You become
too exhausted
to continue.

19.  Fluid loss – bleeding, burns, severe
diarrhoea or vomiting
 Cardiac problems – heart attack,
electrocution
 Anaphylaxis – severe allergic
reaction to stings, types of food,
environmental features, poisons
Shock: causes

20.  Pale, cold, clammy skin
Shock: signs and
symptoms
 Weak, dizzy, light-headed
 Nausea or vomiting
 Thirsty
 Yawning
 Anxiety or irrational behaviour
 Rapid, weak pulse
 Rapid, shallow breathing
 Dropping level of consciousness

21.  Treat the cause and prevent the
condition getting worse by:
Shock: treatment
 Correct positioning of the casualty
 Reassurance
 Keeping the casualty fairly warm
 Monitoring breathing if necessary
 Do not give anything to
eat or drink

22.  Direct pressure
Bleeding
 Elevate
 Dress

23. First aid kits
A guide to the contents of a kit:
 1 pair of disposable non-latex protective
gloves
 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive
dressings
 2 sterile eye pads
 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages,
preferably sterile
 6 safety pins
 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm)
individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound
dressings

24. First aid kits
You may like to include:
 recovery shield
 Scissors
 Extra gloves
 Adhesive tape
 Steripods
 Guidance leaflet (a leaflet supplied with the kit or
that you make yourself which includes brief
instructions on emergency treatment)
 Individually wrapped moist cleaning wipes for
the first aider’s hands

25. 25
ORDER OF FIRST AID
Follow the three C’s:
CHECK (the scene and the victim).
CALL to arrange for proper medical care
CARE for the victim

26. 26
METHOD OF FIRST AID
Diagnosis
Treatment
Disposal

27. 27
DIAGNOSIS BASED ON
Evidence from circumstances
around the incident
Symptoms (Patient tells)
Signs (you observe)

28. 28
THE ABC’s OF FIRST AID
A: Airway
B: Breathing
C: Circulation

29. 29
PRIORITIES OF FIRST AID
Check Breathing
Check Blood loss
Treat Shock
Treat Fracture
Look For Simple Injuries
Disposal