FIRST AID: An essential guide that we should all know by heart

-
Source: dreamstime.com

First Aid – Noun: help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available.

You can make a huge difference to the outcome of an injury or illness by knowing the correct methods to preserve, and even help to save, a life.

To remember how to administer the correct first aid steps in the presented conditions is difficult so it is paramount to have a certain level of training. Some situations rely on common sense, logic and using initiative to analyse the criteria involved. A knowledge of basic First Aid will give you the confidence you need to be able to provide assistance.

Here is a simple step by step guide created by the Red Cross in case of an emergency. Keep it on you at all times, or better still, learn it by heart. Even better would be to get some training if you can. We run a diploma First Aid Course here at the School of Natural Health Sciences – please see the information at the end of this article.

Five first aid steps to keep closer:


1. Before administering care to an ill or injured person, check the scene and the person. Size up the scene and form an initial impression.

Pause and look at the scene and the person before responding. Answer the following questions:

  • Is the scene safe to enter?
  • What happened?
  • How many people are involved?
  • What is my initial impression about the nature of the person’s illness or injury? Does the person have any life-threatening conditions, such as severe, life-threatening bleeding?
  • Is anyone else available to help?


2. If the person is awake and responsive and there is no severe life-threatening bleeding:

  • Obtain consent: Tell the person your name, describe the type and level of training, state what you think is wrong and what you plan to do, and ask permission to provide care.
  • Tell a bystander to get the AED (automated external defibrillator) and first aid kit: point to a bystander and speak out loud.
  • Use appropriate personal protective equipment: put on gloves, if available.
  • Interview the person: use SAMPLE questions to gather more information about signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent medical history, last food or drink and events leading up to the incident.
  • Conduct a head-to-toe check: check head and neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen, hips, legs and feet, arms and hands for signs of injury.
  • Provide care consistent with knowledge and training according to the conditions you find.


3. If the person appears unresponsive:
Shout to get the person’s attention, using the person’s name if it is known. If there is no response, tap the person’s shoulder (if the person is an adult or child) or the bottom of the person’s foot (if the person is an infant) and shout again, while checking for normal breathing. Check for responsiveness and breathing for no more than 5-10 seconds.


4. If the person is breathing:
  • Send someone to call the designated emergency number and obtain an AED and first aid kit.
  • Proceed with gathering information from bystanders using the SAMPLE questions
  • Conduct a head-to-toe check.
  • Roll the person onto his or her side into a recovery position if there are no obvious signs of injury.


5. If the person is NOT breathing:
  • Send someone to call the designated emergency number and obtain an AED and first aid kit.
  • Ensure that the person is face-up on a firm, flat surface such as the floor or ground.
  • Begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) – starting with compression – or use an AED if one is immediately available, if you are trained in giving CPR and using an AED.
  • Continue administering CPR until the person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, an AED becomes available, or emergency services or trained medical responders arrive on scene.

Note: End CPR if the scene becomes unsafe or you cannot continue due to exhaustion.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHILD SAFETY: OUR HOMES HAVE MORE POISONOUS SUBSTANCES THAN WE REALIZE

-
Image
Source: Max Pixel I had a friend who told me how her last child mistakenly drank Dettol liquid. She immediately went into panic mode (as you would expect of a mother). She had to ensure her child drank some palm oil to neutralize any possible effect(African first aid,lol). But what is the best way to handle such unexpected events. You first have to understand that children knowledgeable enough to distinguish between what is actually healthy and harmful. They copy what adults do yet not knowing the reason we do them or where to draw the line when taking seemingly risky acts. Remember the scene in Home Alone 1, where Macaulay Culkin's character (Kelvin) used his father's shaving cream. He screamed because of the sensation he felt. He (Kelvin) didn't understand that the actual use of the shaving foam. He just wanted to behave like his dad. Without proper supervision, a  child can pick up any liquid and ingest it. What poisons are in our homes that can be harmful t...
Read more

THE TICKING TIME BOMB; HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE HEALTH RISKS OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES?

-
Image
Blood transfusion is usually required to save women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy from shock due to massive internal bleeding. Courtesy wikimedia commons. An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy in which a fertilized egg also known as the  embryo , attaches itself into any other parts of the female genital tract or the abdomen other than the  endometrium  or the inner  lining of the  uterus. While they can be divided into various types, based on location of the ectopic pregnancy in the female genital tract, see  DEFINITION AND TYPES OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES ,  they can also be divided based on presentation at the hospital into ruptured, non ruptured and slow leaking ectopic pregnancies.  Most of the complications of ectopic pregnancies are seen following an unsuspected ruptured ectopic pregnancy.  A ruptured ectopic pregnancy refers to  an ectopic pregnancy that has outstretched its confining structures resulting i...
Read more

GIRL RESUSCITATES HER BROTHER BY PERFORMING CPR (VIDEO)

-
Image
Source: Linda Ikeji's Blog Finally, I found the video of the girl who was videoed performing CPR (Obviously this was her first time performing CPR) on her brother who had collapsed. With her mom and possibly her mom’s friend guiding her on what to do over the phone on CPR procedure. This must have been one of the most terrifying and stressful assignment for her to perform. However,it was a life and death issue. Words cannot describe how she felt doing it or was able to perform this, but she did and saved the day,an avoidable death was prevented. #AFABulouSSister! She performed the hands only procedure, although she did not exactly get it done as recommended, but the outcome was good. Check CPR procedures on my blog. Be equipped with the skill and the kit! You never know when a loved one or a stranger would collapse in your presence, it could end up been a disaster if you don't know what to do. But undergoing a first aid training and practice with a professional ...
Read more