MEANING OF FIRST AID:

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First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person suffering from either a minor or serious illness or injury,^[1] with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery.

It includes initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help being available, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for 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 someone with basic medical training.

AIMS OF FIRST AID:

The primary goal of first aid is to prevent death or serious injury from worsening. The key aims of first aid can be summarized with the acronym of 'the three Ps':

Preserve life:: The overriding aim of all medical care which includes first aid, is to save lives and minimize the threat of death

Prevent further harm: Prevention of further harm includes addressing both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.

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.

It is important to note that first aid is not medical treatment and cannot be compared with what a trained medical professional provides. First aid involves making common sense decisions in best interest of an injured person.

10 Basic First Aid Training Tips & Procedures for Any Emergency

Here are 10 first aid “must-knows” that you can use to treat a broad array of injuries:

PROCEDURE:

1. The “Three P’s”

The “Three P’s” are the primary goals of first aid. They are:

Preserve life
Prevent further injury
Promote recovery

2. Check the Scene for Danger

Before you provide help to an injured person, it’s important that you check the scene for danger. You don’t want to get yourself injured, too. This isn’t a cowardly precaution. The fact of the matter is this: if you get injured, you won’t be able to help someone else who’s injured. So before you rush to help someone, take a moment to analyze the area and spot anything that could injure you.

3. Treating Cuts and Scrapes

Blood is a vital component of our bodies. When someone is bleeding, you want to prevent as much blood from leaving their body as possible. Try and find a clean cloth or bandage. Then:

Apply gentle pressure for 20 to 30 minutes.
Clean the wound by gently running clean water over it. Avoid using soap on an open wound.
Apply antibiotic to the wound, like Neosporin.
Cover the wound with a bandage.

If someone has a nosebleed, have the person lean forward. Press a cloth against the nostrils until the blood flow stops.

The body is usually very quick at patching up small cuts and scrapes. But deeper wounds may require medical attention. With deep wounds:

Apply pressure.
Don’t apply ointments. Cover the area with loose cloth to prevent contaminants from infecting the wound.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

4. Treating Sprains

Sprains are usually an unalarming injury, and most of the time they’ll heal on their own. But there are steps you can take to ease the swelling. Swelling is caused by blood flow to an injured area. You can reduce swelling by applying ice. Ice restricts the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow.

Keep the injured limb elevated.
Apply ice to the injured area. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth or put ice in a plastic bag.
Keep the injured area compressed. Put it in a brace or tightly wrap it. Don’t wrap it so tight that it’ll cut off circulation.
Ice for a while. Then compress. Repeat at intervals.

Make sure the injured person avoids putting weight on the injured limb.

5. Treating Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially when the person is doing strenuous activities or hasn’t had enough water. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

Cool, moist skin
Heavy sweating
Dizziness
Weak pulse
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Headaches

To treat someone with heat exhaustion:

Get the person to a shaded area that’s out of the sun.
If there are no shaded areas available, keep the person covered by any available materials that can block sunlight.
Give the person water and keep them hydrated.
Place a cool cloth on their forehead to lower their body temperature.

6. Treating Hypothermia

Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It begins to occurs when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Symptoms of hypothermia include:

Shivering
Slurred speech or mumbling
Week pulse
Weak coordination
Confusion
Red, cold skin
Loss of consciousness

To treat hypothermia:

Be gentle with the afflicted person. Don’t rub their body and don’t move their body in too jarring of a way; this could trigger cardiac arrest.
Move the person out of the cold, and remove any wet clothing.
Cover the person with blankets and use heat packs. Don’t apply heat directly to the skin because this could cause major skin damage.
Give the person warm fluids.

If you set the person on the ground, be aware that the ground may also be a cold source. Place warm materials on the ground that the person is going to lay on.

7. Treating Burns

Before you apply treatment to burns, you need to identify the burn type and the severity of the burn. There are four kinds of burns:

First-degree burn: Only the outer layers of skin are burnt. The skin is red and swollen, and looks similar to a sunburn.
Second-degree burn: Some of the inner layer of skin is burnt. Look for blistering skin and swelling. This is usually a very painful type of burn.
Third-degree burn: All of the inner layer of skin is burnt. The wound has a whitish or blackened color. Some third-degree burns are so deep, there might not be any pain because the nerve endings are destroyed.
Fourth-degree burn: A burn that has penetrated all tissues up to the tendons and bones.

Additionally, there are two kinds of burn severities: a minor burn and a major burn.

Minor burn: First-degree burns and mild second-degree burns.
Major burn: Moderate second-degree burns to fourth-degree burns.

Minor burns don’t usually need extensive treatment, but you could:

Run cool water over the afflicted area (avoid icy or very cold water).
Don’t break any blisters.
Apply moisturizer over the area, like aloe vera.
Keep the burned person out of sunlight.
Have the burned person take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.

Major burns are very serious injuries that require medical assistance. To help someone who has suffered from a major burn:

Do not apply ointments.
Cover wound with loose materials to prevent contaminants from infecting it.

8. Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions occur when your body is hypersensitive to a foreign substance. Bee stings, certain foods, or drug ingredients can cause allergic reactions. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can be caused by all of those mention allergens.

The best way to treat an allergic reaction is to use an EpiPen. EpiPen, or “epinephrine autoinjector,” is a small and ergonomic needle that’s used to inject epinephrine (adrenaline) into someone suffering greatly from an allergic reaction. The epinephrine usually subdues the effects of the allergic reaction.

If someone is suffering from an allergic reaction:

Keep the person calm. Ask if they use an EpiPen and have one with them.
Have the person lie on their back. Keep their feet elevated 12 inches.
Make sure the person’s clothing is loose so they’re able to breathe.
Avoid giving them food, drink, or medicine.
If appropriate, use an EpiPen. Learn how to inject an EpiPen in someone having a reaction.
Wait 5-15 minutes after using an EpiPen. If the allergic reaction isn’t subdued, a second dose may be required.

9. Treating Fractures

Sometimes it’s very easy to tell if someone has suffered a fractured bone. But sometimes it’s not. If you suspect someone of having a fracture:

Don’t try to straighten a fractured limb.
Use a splint or padding to stabilize the area and keep it from moving.
Apply a cold pack to the area. Don’t apply it directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth or put it in a plastic bag.
Keep the area elevated, if possible.
Give the person an anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen.

10. Performing CPR

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is used to restore breathing and blood circulation to an unresponsive person. CPR is an incredibly important procedure that can save lives. But learning CPR is an intensive procedure that requires some training, which is usually in the form of a day-long class. The American Red Cross offers CPR certification classes across the nation. Go to Redcross.org for more information.

Prepare Yourself with the Right gear

The methods listed above are not very difficult to do and they don’t require medical training—but they can save someone’s life or prevent an injured person from sustaining serious injuries or infections. Make sure that your stash of survival gear includes a first aid kit, and be sure to refill your first aid kit every year as its supplies dwindle or expire.

The essential first aid kit should include:

Adhesive tape
Anesthetic spray (Bactine) or lotion (Calamine, Campho-Phenique) - for itching rashes and insect bites
4" x 4" sterile gauze pads - for covering and cleaning wounds, as a soft eye patch
2", 3", and 4" Ace bandages - for wrapping sprained or strained joints, for wrapping gauze on to wounds, for wrapping on splints
Adhesive bandages (all sizes)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) - oral antihistamine for allergic reactions, itching rashes. Avoid topical antihistamine creams because they may worsen the rash in some people.
Exam gloves - for infection protection, and can be made into ice packs if filled with water and frozen
Polysporin antibiotic cream - to apply to simple wounds
Nonadhesive pads (Telfa) - for covering wounds and burns
Pocket mask for CPR
Resealable oven bag - as a container for contaminated articles, can become an ice pack
Safety pins (large and small) - for splinter removal and for securing triangular bandage sling
Scissors
Triangular bandage - as a sling, towel, tourniquet
Tweezers - for splinter or stinger or tick removal
In case of a medical or trauma related emergency, a list of family member's medical history, medications, doctors, insurance company, and contact persons should be readily available.

IMAGES OF FIRST AID KIT:

Adhesive tape

Anesthetic spray or lotion

Sterile gauze pad

Ace bandages

Adhesive bandage

Diphenhydramine (benadryl)

Exam gloves

Polysporin antibiotic cream

Non adhesive pads

Pocket mask for CPR

Resealable oven bag

Safety pins

Scissors

Tweezers

Triangular bandage

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First Aid meaning, aims, procedure, training tips, first aid kit images.