1. 1
FIRST AID
What is first-aid?
• First-aid is the first attention given to an injured person before
seeing a medical professional. ( First-aid is not a substitute for
attention by a doctor or a trained nurse).
How to respond to an accident
• Remain calm when approaching an injured person. The injured
person will probably be frightened by the situation he is in, or may
be in pain. He will benefit from someone taking control of the
situation.
• Reassuring the injured person will reduce the feeling of panic,
helplessness or embarrassment they may be experiencing.
• Keep the casualty, if conscious, informed of the actions you are
taking in a quiet, confident manner. Do not move the person but
keep them warm by covering him with a blanket, or a coat if
necessary. By keeping him warm you are minimizing the risk of
shock, which can often cause the condition of the injured person
to deteriorate.
• Do not give the injured anything to drink. A drink may make him
feel worse and may cause nausea.
• Stay by the casualty if you can, to reassure him and ensure he
does not cause further injury to himself.
2. 2
FIRST AID CONTD.
Burns and scalds
• If possible, immerse in cold
water or place under running
cold water to cool the burn or
scald until the burn subsides,
then apply a sterilized dressing.
• If serious send promptly for an
ambulance or a doctor.
Serious injuries (bleeding)
• Stop the bleeding at once and
promptly send the casualty to a
doctor or a hospital.
• Apply direct pressure to control
bleeding by using a pad of
sterilized dressing(s) and
bandage firmly, if need be
finally apply a triangular
bandage. It will sometimes be
possible to stop arterial bleeding
by pressing the artery with the
finger or thumb against the
underlying bone. If bleeding
cannot be controlled by direct
pressure, a rubber bandage or a
pressure bandage may be applied
to a limb between the wound and
the heart for no longer than 15
minutes at a time, pending
medical attention. It is very
important that this time is not
exceeded.
• Another method of control
bleeding is to elevate the wound.
Fig.4.: Showing pressure points
on the human body.
3. 3
FIRST AID CONTD.
Minor wounds and scratches
• All wounds and scratches, even minor ones, should receive
immediate attention. Delay will increase the risk of infection. Cover
the wound as soon as possible with sterilized dressing or
adhesive wound dressing.
• If it is necessary to clean the skin around the wound, avoid
washing the actual wound because this can wash germs into it.
Warn the casualty that this is the first dressing and further
dressings may be needed; if an injury becomes inflamed, hurts or
festers, he or she should get medical attention.
Fractures
• Unless the casualty continues to be in danger, do not attempt to
move a casualty with broken bones or injured joints until the
injured parts have been secured with triangular bandages so that
they cannot move. An injured leg may be tied to the uninjured
one, and the injured arm tied to the body, padding between with
cotton wool.
Fig.4.: Showing how to secure an
injured with broken limbs
4. 4
FIRST-AID CONTD
Fainting
• Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to inadequate
supply of oxygen to the brain and is a mild form of shock. Fainting
may be caused by the sight of blood, exhaustion, weakness, heat,
or strong emotions such as fright, joy etc.
The signs and symptoms of fainting may be any or all of the following:
• The victim may feel weak and dizzy, and may see spots.
• The face becomes pale and the lips blue in both light and dark
skinned people.
• The forehead is covered with cold respiration.
• The pulse is rapid and weak.
• The breathing is shallow.
The first aid for fainting is as follows:
• If a person feels faint , the initial response might be sitting with the
head between the knees.
• Have the victim lie down with the head lower than the feet.
• If the victim is unconscious for any length of time, something may
be seriously wrong. Arrange for transportation to a medical
facility. Treat the victim for physical shock.
• Maintain an open airway.
• Do not give stimulants.
5. 5
FIRST AID CONTD.
Choking
• The visible signs of choking are serious fits of coughing, being
unable to speak and violent attempts to breathe.
• Try to remove any obstruction from the mouth then encourage
the casualty to cough. If the obstruction is not removed, bend
the casualty over until the head is approximately lower than the
lungs and give a short sharp slap on the casualty’s back
between the shoulder blades. Repeat several times; this should
free it. If this does not work, an alternative method known as
’abdominal thrust’ can be used.
Abdominal thrust procedure:
1. Stand behind the casualty and put one arm round the front of
the abdomen so that your fist is positioned between the navel
and the breast bone.
2. Hold the fist with your other hand from the other side.
3. Pull upwards and inwards in a quick thrusting action.
Fig.4.: Showing a sign of
choking
Fig.4.: Showing how to apply the
abdominal thrust
6. 6
FIRST AID CONTD.
4. Repeat several times; keep checking until the obstruction is
removed by coughing it up or it is visible in the mouth from where
it can be removed.
5. If this does not work try back slapping again. If still unsuccessful
and the casualty loses consciousness carry out mouth to mouth
resuscitation.
Eye injuries
• If something is in the eye, wherever possible eye wash apparatus
should be used. This consist of a plastic bottle with clean water,
with a tube attached to direct the water into the eye. By irrigating
the eye using a constant flow of water, most loose foreign bodies
will be removed from the eye.
• If the object is not removed with the flushing of water use a
sterilised cotton wool moisten with water.
• If the object cannot be removed from the eye, or if the eye hurts or
sore after the object has been removed place an eye pad over the
eye and bandage firmly to keep the eye still then send the
casualty to a doctor or a hospital.
Injury to the eye from a blow.
• Cover the eye with an eye-pad and send the casualty at once for
medical attention. Do not apply an eye ointment.
Chemical in the eye
• If chemical gets into the eye flush the open eye at once with clean
cold water and continue washing the eye for at least 15 minutes. A
good method of washing the eye is to have the casualty submerse
his face into some clean water and blink the eyes. Then cover the
eye with an eye-pad and send the casualty to a doctor or hospital
without delay.
7. 7
FIRST AID CONTD.
Heat burns to the eye.
• If the eye is affected by any heat burn, cover the eye with an
eye-pad and immediately send the casualty to a doctor or a
hospital. Do not apply eye ointment.
Arc-eye (Arc-welding flash to the eye).
• If the eye has flashes from Arc- welding apply cold compresses
to the eyes and bathe them with an astringent lotion, that is
obtainable from a chemist. Do not use any eye drops unless
prescribed by a doctor.
Bandages for eye injuries
• The eye-pad is kept in place by the covering bandage running
under the ear next to the injured eye and above the other ear.
Gasping
• If a person is gasping take him into fresh air; do not let the
casualty walk. If breathing has stopped , give artificial
respiration, get help and send the casualty to a doctor or a
hospital.
• Mild cases should be kept resting and after recovery sent home
by a car.
Artificial respiration
• Electric shock, gasping, drowning or choking may cause
breathing to stop. In any of these cases artificial respiration
must be started without delay. Do not find help if you are alone
only go for help when the patient is breathing.
• Mouth-to-nose respiration is by far the most effective method
of artificial respiration, the mouth-to-mouth should only be
used if the mouth-to-nose is impossible.
8. 8
FIRST AID CONTD.
In recognising the situation you should summon for help and proceed
by:
1. Establish unresponsiveness by gently shake the casualty’s
shoulder and shout “Are you OK”. Another method is to pinch
the casualty. The individuals response or lack of response will
indicate to you if he /sh is just sleeping or unconscious.
• Call for help to assist with the performing of the CPR or to call for
medical help.
• If the victim is found in a crumpled up position and/or face down,
you must roll the victim over; this is done while calling for help.
When rolling over the casualty, take care that broken bones are
not further complicated by improper handling. Roll the casualty
as a unit so that the head, shoulder and torso move
simultaneously with no twisting.
Fig.4.: Casualty is laid flat on the back
with chest slightly above the stomach.
Fig.4.: Showing how to secure the
casualty on his/her back
9. 9
FIRST AID CONTD.
4. Lay the victim on his/her back, if you are
on a slope, have the stomach slightly
lower than the chest.
5. Make a brief inspection of the mouth and
the throat to ensure that those passage
are clear of obvious obstruction, while
using two of your fingers to check for
pulse
6. The most common cause of airway
obstruction in an unconscious victim is
the tongue. Tilt the head and lift the chin
to maneuver an open airway. Turn your
head towards the casualty’s feet with
your cheek close over the casualty’s
mouth for 3 to 5 seconds and look for
rise and fall in the chest. Listen for air
exchange at the mouth and nose.
7. Provide artificial respiration if the victim
is not breathing, give two full breaths by
mouth to mouth or mouth to nose. If you
are going to give the mouth to nose, seal
the mouth, open your mouth wide to
make an air tight seal over the nose as it
is shown in fig.4.: (seal the nose for
mouth to mouth). Allow for lung
deflation between each of the two
ventilation.
Fig.5.3: Mouth to nose
resuscitation
Fig.5.2: Tilting head
backwards
Fig.5.1: Checking the
mouth for obstruction
10. 10
FIRST AID CONTD.
8. Check for pulse by placing your finger tips on the victim’s wind
pipe, and then slide them towards you until you reach the
groove of the neck as it is shown in the diagram. Press gently
on this area. Check the victim’s pulse for at least five seconds
but not more than ten. If you feel the presence of a pulse,
continue administering artificial respiration once every five
seconds until normal breathing is restored, then place the
casualty in the recovery position..
• The recovery position is having the casualty lying face down
one arm supporting the head, the other outstretched and one
knee bent as shown in the diagram above.
• If breathing is not restored, get a trained person to administer
CPR.
Fig.5.5: Casualty is in recovery positionFig.5.4: Checking for pulse.
11. 11
FIRST AID CONTD.
• A well stocked first-aid kit should be located in a central area in a
working environment, where it is easily accessible in the event of
an accident that requires first aid.
• All items in the kit should be replaced immediately after use. It is
also a good practice to have the names, addresses, and telephone
numbers of qualified persons that are local first-aiders, doctors;
hospital/health centre, permanently displayed inside the lid of the
box.
Fig.5.6: A well stocked first-aid kit
