What is first aid?

First Aid is the immediate treatment given to the victim of an accident or sudden illness before medical (doctors) help is obtained.

 Aims of first aid

• To Preserve life
• To Promote recovery
• To prevent worsening of the casualty’s condition.
• After First Aid rush casualties to hospital immediately, if necessary.

Remember first aid are not done usually from a doctor , Therefore, First aider must

• Observe carefully
• Think clearly
• Act quickly
• Be calm, cool, confident and not get excited.

Rules of first aid

• Reach the accident spot quickly to save the life
• Be calm, methodical and quick
• Look for the following in the casualty:-
• Maintain Clear airway
• Check breathing – if stopped, apply artificial respiration.
• Check pulse – if absent, give cardiac compression
• Stop or control bleeding.
• Shock – Check whether there is any kind of shock, light or severe

Do’s & Don’ts during first aid

Do’s

• Attend to the casualty at the earliest.
• Make the casualty comfortable while giving first aid.
• Transport a lower jaw fracture casualty in a sitting position with face downwards.
• Stop bleeding.
• Analyze fracture on the spot.
• Treat for the shock
• If there is a doubt, treat the injured for as fracture.
• Turn the face towards a side, if there is vomiting.
• Casualty with fracture of pelvis, leg or spine must be lifted with a blanket lift only.
• If using a constrictive bandage, take care to loosen it every 10 to 15 seconds intermittently.
• Don’t create panic situations.
• From the spot of accident, victim must be shifted to hospital without wasting time, at the earliest

Don’ts

• You are not a doctor, do not attempt too much and dont take the responsibilities of a qualified medical person/doctor. Never try to set right a dislocated joint.
• Never apply bandages too tight, so as to stop blood circulation.
• Never neglect rat, monkey, insects, dog bites.
• If the casualty is unconscious, don’t induce vomiting.
• For a victim of epileptic fits, never give key bunch, iron article or blunt/sharp materials. »f
• Don’t feed the victim, if you suspect there is an internal injury.

Most important, after first aid, shift the victim/casualty to hospital at the earliest.

To know more about first aid click here

Read more on World health organisation’s tips on  Medical kit and toilet items

K K Pradeep
Tejus crisis and Trauma Foundation

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