MAPEH FIRST AIDS REVIEWER

• First aid is immediate and temporary care given to a person who suddenly becomes ill or injured, including self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or is delayed
• First aid can mean life and death in extreme cases, but first aiders must know the limits of the first aid they can give because improper first aid can actually do more harm than good in some instances
• Roles of First Aid:

  • It is a bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician
  • It is not intended to compete with or take the place of the services of the physician
  • It ends when the services of the physician begin
• Objectives of First Aid:

  • To save lives
  • To prolong life
  • To alleviate suffering
  • To prevent further injury
• Characteristics of a good first aider:

  1. Gentle – Does not cause pain and panic

  2. Observant - Notices all signs

  3. Resourceful - Makes the best use of things at hand

  4. Tactful - Does not frighten the victim

  5. Sympathetic - Comforts and reassures the victim
• Principles of First Aid (Do's):

  • Stay calm
  • Reassure and comfort the victim
  • Check for a medical bracelet indicating a condition, such as epilepsy or diabetes
  • Loosen any tight clothing
  • Keep the victim covered to reduce shock
• Principles of First Aid (Don'ts):

  • Don't give food and drink to an unconscious person
  • Don't move an injured person unless you need to place him/her in the recovery position
• Vital signs are measures of various physiological statistics taken to assess basic body functions, including recording body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate
• CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a lifesaving technique useful in emergencies like heart attacks or near drowning where breathing or heart beat has stopped
• CPR advised by the American Heart Association:

  • Untrained individuals should provide hands-only CPR
  • Trained and confident individuals should start CPR with 30 chest compressions before checking the airway and giving rescue breath
  • Trained but not confident individuals should do chest compressions at a rate of about 100 per minute
• Circulation: Restore blood circulation with chest compressions:

  1. Put the person on their back on a firm surface

  2. Kneel next to the person's neck and shoulders

  3. Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person's chest, between the nipples

  4. Use your upper body weight to push straight down on the chest at least 2 inches at a rate of about 100 compressions per minute

  5. Continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over
• Airway - clear the airway:

  • If trained in CPR and performed 30 chest compressions, open the person's airway using the head tilt, chin lift maneuver
  • Check for normal breathing, then begin mouth-to-mouth breathing if necessary
• Breathing - breath for the person:

  1. Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing

  2. With the airway open, pinch the nostrils shut for mouth-to-mouth breathing and cover the person's mouth with yours to make a seal
• Attachment is a strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver

  
• Schaffer and Emerson's 1964 study on attachment:

  • Aim: identify stages of attachment / find a pattern in the development of an attachment between infants and parents
  • Participants: 60 babies from Glasgow
  • Procedure: analysed interactions between infants and carers
  • Findings: babies of parents/carers with 'sensitive responsiveness' were more likely to have formed an attachment
• Freud's superego is the moral component of the psyche, representing internalized societal values and standards
• Normal breaths for adults and older children: 12 – 20 breaths per minute

  
• Normal breaths for infants: 40 breaths per minute
• Skin color reflects blood circulation and oxygen saturation:

  • Mucous around mouth, inner eyelids, and nail beds indicates poor blood circulation
  • Healthy skin is warm and pink due to normal blood flow
• Head to toe examination steps:

  1. Check head and neck for lacerations or contusions

  2. Look for blood in the victim's hair

  3. Check for fluid in the victim's nose and ears to detect a skull fracture
• Top 10 things to do in an emergency:

  1. Shout for help

  2. Survey the scene

  3. Assess the situation

  4. Determine if hospital visit is needed

  5. Start CPR if certified

  6. Stop bleeding

  7. Treat shock symptoms

  8. Look for medical alert tags

  9. Seek trained medical help

  10. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious victim
• Carrying and transporting an injured person:

  • Factors to consider: weight, height, conscious/unconscious status, environment, special needs
  • Methods: fireman's carry, piggyback, pack strap carry, shoulder drag, fireman's drag, blanket drag, chair or seat carry, hammock carry, bearer alongside carry, six-man lift and carry
• Dressings and bandaging:

  • Dressing: sterile cloth to cover wounds
  • Techniques: wash hands, unwrap dressing close to wound, place over wound, secure with bandage or tape
  • Cold compress: reduces swelling and pain
  • Hot compress: promotes blood circulation
  • Bandages: apply pressure, cover wounds, provide support for broken bones, sprains, and strains