BASICS OF FIRST AID

FIRST AID

First aid is the immediate treatment given to the victim of trauma or sudden illness before medical help is made available.

First aid helps,

             

• To preserve life
• To prevent further injury and deterioration of the condition of the patient
• To relieve pain.
• To make medical care available at the earliest.

The main principles of first aid are,

Ø  Reach the site as early as possible.

Ø  Do not waste time asking unnecessary questions.

Ø  Find out the cause of injury.

Ø  Separate the causative agent from the victim

Ø  Find out whether the patient is dead or alive, conscious or unconscious.

Ø  Determine the priority of first aid.

Ø  Arrange for medical aid

Ø  If the patient is conscious, reassure him.

Accidents may occur in any place like home, school, office, road or anywhere. It may occur as a result of natural calamities, burns, shock, insect or snake bites, ingestion of poison, drowning etc.

Before starting the first aid we must obtain some basic information like

o   When did it occur?

o   How did it occur?

o   Is there any head injury?

o   Did the patient become unconscious?

The history can be obtained from the patient himself or from the relatives or other people around.

The priority of the assessment should be as follows

o   Airway

o   Breathing

o   Circulation.

By assessing above mentioned golden criteria you can assess the seriousness of the situation. Look for pallor, cyanosis, bleeding, fractures and burns. Keep the victim away from the exposure.