First Aid

Duties of a First Aider.

Course Objective

• “To ensure you leave here with an awareness of the basics of First Aid and improved confidence to help if someone is in need of assistance.

Objectives of First Aid

• Preserve life.• Prevent further injury/condition deteriorating.• Promote recovery.• Follow the principle of doing no further harm..

Preserve Life

• D• R• S

• A

• B

• C

Danger.Response.Shout for help!!

Airway.Breathing.Circulation• Control bleeding..

A First Aider Should

• Stay calm.• Take charge.• Ensure safety-self and casualty.• Reassure and listen to the casualty.• Make good use of bystanders..

Airway

• Clear and Open

Breathing

• Look listen and feel for a maximum of 10 seconds for normal breathing..

Circulation

• If normal breathing is present circulation is also present.

• Check for and control major bleeding

Signs

– Bleeding.– Bruising.– Swelling.– Deformity.– Vomit.– Noisy breathing.– Alcohol..

The Recovery PositionUsed for an unconscious casualty who is breathing.• It:-

– Prevents the tongue from blocking the throat.– Aids drainage

Passing on Information

• Should include:-– Casualties name-address.– History of what has happened.– Description of injuries.– Unusual behaviour.– Treatments given.– Record of breathing, pulse and level of

consciousness..

Basic Life Support

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R)

• 100 - 120 Per minute.• 5 cm.• 30 Compressions• 2 Ventilations.• Note, if done 100% correctly this only provides a maximum of 30% normal cardiac

output..

Final Thoughts

• If you start C.P.R the patient may, or may not, be successfully resuscitated. If you do not start their chance of survival will diminish by 20% per minute.

• Don’t let your C.P.R skills get rusty-a friends life may depend on them..

Assessing the Level of Consciousness

• A -• V -

• P -

• U -

ALERT

VOICE

PAIN

UNRESPONSIVE

Bleeding

• External.– Arterial Bright red and spurts.– Venous Dark red and can pool.– Capillary Oozing.

• Internal.– Possibly bruising-not always visible.– Suspect when the signs and symptoms of shock

develop..

Types of Wound

• A

• G

• C

• L

• I

• P

Abrasion.

Gunshot.

Contusion.

Laceration.

Incision.

Puncture..

Abrasion

Gunshot

Contusion

Laceration

Incision

Puncture

Arresting External Bleeding• A.B.C’s.• Sit casualty down.• Quickly examine the

wound-gloves!.• Apply direct pressure

and elevate.• Apply a sterile

dressing-max of two.• Rest and reassure.• Treat for shock..

Pressure Points

• A site where an artery crosses a bone.

• Used if direct pressure does not control the bleeding.

• Apply pressure for a maximum of 10 minutes before slowly releasing..