For today's First Aid 101 we will be touching on the basics of First Aid. All of you should know this by now, but take it as a revision. I'll be sharing first aid knowledge with you every alternate weeks so stay tune. Take note, you never know this might come out in future exams. :)
What is First Aid?
Emergency treatment administered to an injured or sick person before professional medical care is available
What is the aim of performing first aid on a casualty?
To Preserve Life
-E.g. maintain an open airway, control breathing , EAR
To Prevent further harm
- Prevent the condition to become worse
- E.g. dress wounds, immobilise any large wounds, burns or fracture
- E.g. dress wounds, immobilise any large wounds, burns or fracture
To Promote recovery
- For some, first aid involves trying to start one's recovery process from the illness /injury.
-E.g. relieve pain an discomfort, protect the casualty from cold and wet
Basically these are our aims when we perform first aid on a casualty.
What does D.R.A.B.C. stands for?
D - Danger
First and foremost, ensure that you or the casualty aren't in any danger. First of all, make the situation safe and then assess the casualty.
R - Response
Check the casuality to see if they are conscious. If you are not sure or the casuality seems unconscious you can check this by shouting:
'Hello', 'Can you hear me?', repeat this while gently shake their shoulders.
A - Airway
To open the airway, put one hand on the casualty's forehead whilst gently tilting their head back. This will move the casualty's tongue away from the back of the mouth insuring they do not choke.
B - Breathing
- Look, feel and listen and for a maximum of 10 seconds to see if the casualty is breathing regularly.
- Look to see if the chest is inflating and deflating while listening for signs of breathingYou can also feel for breath against your cheek.
- If and when the casualty is breathing normally, place them in the recovery position whilst check for other life-threatening conditions such as critical bleeding and treat as necessary.
C - Circulation
- Feel the pulse at the neck (carotid pulse)
- If pulse is present , continue EAR at the rate of 15 breaths per minute. Check breathing anf the pulse after 1 minute, then after every 2 minutes
- If pulse is not present, commence CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- Check breathing and the pulse after 1 minute , then after every2 minutes. If the pulse returns, continue EAR. If breathing returns , turn the casualty to a stable side position. Check for and manage shock, bleeding and other injuries
- Seek medical aid.
That's all for today's First Aid 101, enjoy the rest of your weekends.
VP Anisa
References : Wikipedia , SafeKids.co , Rcass tripod. com , First Aid Manual
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