BASIC FIRST AID

1. BASIC FIRST AID

2. First Aid? Is the immediate assistance or treatment given to someone before the arrival of medical staff/ ambulance

3. Qualities of a first aider: ~ Calm ~ Confident ~ Willing to offer assistance whenever necessary ~ Patience

4. Aims of a first aider: 3 Ps: 3Ps Preserve life Prevent injuries/condition from worsening Promote recovery

5. Preserving life: • Control bleeding • Treat probable cause of shock • Maintain airway in correct position • Perform CPR when needed (no breathing or pulse)

6. Prevent condition from worsening: • Dress wound to prevent infection • Provide comfort to casualty • Place casualty in a comfortable position

7. Promote recovery: • Relieve casualty from anxiety • Encourage confidence and trust • Attempt to relieve pain and discomfort • Handle casualty gently • Protect casualty from cold and wet

8. Emergency Hotlines Ambulance (SCDF): 995 1777 ( Non-emergency) Police number: 999 Fire Brigade: 995

9. 4 levels of consciousness: • Normal status • Drowsiness • Semi – consciousness • Coma

10. Protecting yourself as a first aider Essential to protect yourself from injury and infection • Ensure surroundings are safe • Protection from infection - to prevent “cross infection” ( transmitting germs to a casualty or contracting an infection yourself) - wear gloves or wash hands before doing a dressing.

11. Practice of first aid: • Assess the situation • Make area safe • Give emergency aid - initial assessment – Signs and symptoms - ABC 4) Get help from others if needed

12. Initial Assessment what? • Brief examination of casualty  to perform checks before concluding How? - Observe signs and symptoms

13. Signs and symptoms Signs: Details of a casualty’s condition you may assess using your senses. Look, listen, feel, smell E.G Bleeding, Deformity, Strength or rhythm of pulse, breathing Symptoms: sensations that the casualty experiences E.G Is there pain? What type of pain? Nausea, giddiness, coldness

14. ABC A = Airway • Open airway why? B = Breathing • Check for breathing How?

16. Circulation • Check for pulse Pulse indicates the condition of the Circulation • Full and slow • Rapid and fluttering / weak How to check for pulse? • Carotid pulse • Wrist pulse