It includes initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help being available, such as performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) while awaiting an ambulance, as well as the complete treatment of minor conditions, such as applying a plaster to a cut. First aid is generally performed by the layperson, with many people trained in providing basic levels of first aid, and others willing to do so from acquired knowledge.
There are many situations which may require first aid, and many countries have legislation, regulation, or guidance which specifies a minimum level of first aid provision in certain circumstances. This can include specific training or equipment to be available in the workplace (such as an automated external defibrillator), the provision of specialist first aid cover at public gatherings, or mandatory first aid training within schools. First aid, however, does not necessarily require any particular equipment or prior knowledge, and can involve improvisation with materials available at the time, often by untrained persons.
Most of us might have encountered situations (for example, minor injuries and incidents) that require us being a first aider at that particular point in time. It could be "heart breaking" when you don't even know what to do at the moment. On the other hand most people already have some basic knowledge of first aid and can easily take care of minor incidents around them.
It is necessary for everyone to have this basic knowledge, knowing what to do immediately an injury or minor accident occur before professional help arrives in order to preserve the victim's life or prevent the injury from becoming worse.
Aims Of First Aid.
The aims of first aid can be summarised in three key points, sometimes known as 'the three P's'
Preserve life: the overriding aim of all medical care which includes first aid, is to save lives and minimise the threat of death.
Prevent further harm: also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of further injury.
Promote recovery: first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound.
Certain skills are considered essential to the provision of first aid and are taught ubiquitously. Particularly the "ABC"s of first aid, which focus on critical life-saving intervention, must be rendered before treatment of less serious injuries. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. The same mnemonic is used by all emergency health professionals. Attention must first be brought to the airway to ensure it is clear. Obstruction (choking) is a life-threatening emergency. Following evaluation of the airway, a first aid attendant would determine adequacy of breathing and provide rescue breathing if necessary. Assessment of circulation is now not usually carried out for patients who are not breathing, with first aiders now trained to go straight to chest compressions (and thus providing artificial circulation) but pulse checks may be done on less serious patients.
Conditions that often require first aid.
Note: in as much as you want to render help to the injured person, you have to make sure you do not endanger yourself in anyway. This is by first creating a safe environment for the victim and yourself.
Some common conditions that require first aid management include;
Shock
Bone fracture
Burns, which could be caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation.
Cardiac arrest
Choking
Drowning
Heart attack
Heat stroke (sunstroke or hyperthermia)
Frostbite
Hypothermia
Foreign object in the eye
Foreign object in the nose
Foreign object in the ear
Wounds and bleeding
Hyperglycaemia and Hypoglycaemia
Insect and animal bites and stings
Vomiting and Diarrhoea
Fever
Asthma attack
Joint dislocation
Poisoning
Seizures
Strain and sprains
Toothache
Child birth etc..
The first aid management for each of the listed conditions above would be treated in our subsequent post in order to know what to do when we encounter such situations.
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