FIRST AID

• First Aid


  Immediate help provided to a sick or injured persons until professional medical help arrives or become available
• Objective of First Aid

  • To preserve life
  • Prevent further harm and complications
  • Seek immediate medical help
  • Provide reassurance
• Legal Concerns in First Aid

  • Consent
  • Duty to act
  • Standard of care
  • Negligence
  • Abandonment
  • Confidentiality
• Health Hazards and Risks

  • Herpes
  • Meningitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Hepatitis
  • Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Ways Disease can be Transmitted

  • Direct contact
  • Indirect contact
  • Airborne transmission
  • Bites
• Emergency Action Principles

  1. Scene safety

  2. Knowing what happened (cause of injury, nature of illness)

  3. Role of bystanders

  4. Number of casualties

  5. Asking permission or consent
• PRIMARY ASSESSMENT (AVPU)

  A = Alert, V = responsive to Voice, P = responsive to Pain, U = Unresponsive/Unconscious
• Call first or care first?

  • Call first if alone, it is important to know when to call during emergency (cardiac related, time critical)
  • Care first for breathing emergencies
• Primary Assessment


  1. Assessing Responsiveness

  2. Activate Medical Help

  3. Airway

  4. Breathing

  5. Circulation (Bleeding, Shock, Skin color, temperature, and moisture)
• Secondary Assessment


  1. Interviewing

  2. Checking the person head to toe
• Home Remedies for Fever

  Paracetamol, mefenamic acid (500 mg every 4 hours for adults, 15-20 mg per kilo over 4 hours for children)
• Home Remedies for Fever in Children

  • Lukewarm bath
  • Hydration
  • Ample rest
  • Resting in a cool place
• Types of Burns

  • Thermal
  • Electrical
  • Radiation
  • Chemical
• Degree of Burns

  • First degree (skin surface, Reddening of the skin, Hot to touch)
  • Second Degree (partial thickness, Blister formation)
  • Third degree (full thickness, Sloughing of the skin, Exposure of the subcutaneous tissue and muscles)
• Burn Management

  1. Remove the person from the source

  2. Cool the burned area with running water for 20 minutes

  3. Keep the person warm, specially the unburnt areas

  4. Cover the burn area with cling film (do not use bandage)

  5. Do not peel off attached clothing

  6. Do not puncture and peel off blisters

  7. Seek hospital care if burn is severe (20-25% TBSA needs IV fluids, 30-45% TBSA could be fatal)
• Fall Management

  1. Rest

  2. Immobilization

  3. Cold compress

  4. Elevation
• Warning Signs of Choking

  • Sudden episodes of wheezing
  • Gasping for air
  • Irritability
  • Coughing
  • Presence of toys or food in the vicinity
• Choking Management

  1. Infant: Hold by the ankle, head hanging straight down, open the mouth and pull tongue forward

  2. Older Children: Hold child over lap and apply a slap using the heel of the hand between shoulder blades 5x

  3. Adults: Apply the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust), Back blows by bending them forwards and deliver 5 blows between the shoulder blades, Encourage them to cough
• Hypertension Home Management

  1. Bring down blood pressure as quickly as possible (sublingual antihypertensive drug)

  2. Do breathing exercise

  3. Relax

  4. Be comfortable and calm

  5. Sit down

  6. Take a warm bath or shower

  7. Provide oxygen if available

  8. Go to emergency room if BP still high
• SAMPLE approach

  • Signs and symptoms
  • Allergies
  • Medications
  • Past medical history
  • Last intake and output
  • Events leading up to injury / illness
• Triage


  refers to the evaluation and categorization of the sick or wounded when there are insufficient resources for medical care of everyone at once.
• START

  • Simple
  • Triage
  • And
  • Rapid
  • Treatment
• RED TAGS


  needs immediate treatment
• YELLOW TAGS


  those who are requiring observations

  -not in immediate danger of death
• GREEN TAGS


  "walking wounded"

  -waiting patients
• WHITE TAGS


  dismiss

  -minor injuries
• BLACK TAGS


  expectant

  -used for the deceased