INDEX

INTRODUCTION
MEDICAL KIT
PRESERVING LIFE
TRAINING
TWO OUT OF THREE PEOPLE COULDNT SAVE A LIFE: A STUDY
CONDITIONS THAT OFTEN REQUIRE FIRST AID
GENERAL REMEDIES FOR EMERGENCIES
TREATING RARER CASES IN FIRST AID SCENARIOS
 FIRST AID

INTRODUCTION
First aid is the provision of initial care for an
illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-
expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured
person until definitive medical treatment can be
accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor
injuries may not require further medical care
past the first aid intervention. It generally
consists of a series of simple and in some cases,
potentially life-saving techniques that an
individual can be trained to perform with
minimal equipment.

While first aid can also be performed on all

animals, the term generally refers to care of human patients.

The practice of first aid fell largely into disuse during the High Middle Ages, and organized societies
were not seen again until in 1859 Jean-Henri Dunant organized local villagers to help victims of the
Battle of Solferino, including the provision of first aid. Four years later, four nations met in Geneva
and formed the organization which has grown into the Red Cross, with a key stated aim of "aid to
sick and wounded soldiers in the field.

The key aims of first aid can be summarized in three key points:

Preserve life: the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives.

Prevent further harm: also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of
further injury, this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of
harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying
pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.

Promote recovery: first aid also involves trying to start

the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in
some cases might involve completing a treatment, such
as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound
MEDICAL KIT
A medical kit can never be complete but what we can do is to prepare a kit for most general mishaps
and accidents. The first aid kit generally must have the following objects for remedial purpose :

Cotton and wound.

Dettol or Savalon.
Band-Aid.
Antiseptic such as Neosporin, Betadin, Boronil.
Fever and pain relief tablets e.g. Paracetamol , saradon.
Boric Powder, Iodex ,
Scissors, Pot. Permanganate crystal, Thermometer, a clean piece of cloth, Disposable gloves
and warm tube
Emergency telephone numbers.

PRESERVING LIFE
In order to stay alive, all persons need to have an open airwaya clear passage where air can move
in through the mouth or nose through the pharynx and down into the lungs, without obstruction.
Conscious people will maintain their own airway automatically, but those who are unconscious (with
a GCS of less than 8) may be unable to maintain a patent airway, as the part of the brain which
automatically controls breathing in normal situations may not be functioning.

If the patient was breathing, a first aider would normally then

place them in the recovery position, with the patient leant over
on their side, which also has the effect of clearing the tongue
from the pharynx. It also avoids a common cause of death in
unconscious patients, which is choking on regurgitated stomach
contents.

The airway can also become blocked through a foreign object

becoming lodged in the pharynx or larynx, commonly called
choking. The first aider will be taught to deal with this through a
combination of back slaps and abdominal thrusts.

Once the airway has been opened, the first aider would assess to
see if the patient is breathing. If there is no breathing, or the
patient is not breathing normally, such as agonal breathing, the
first aider would undertake what is probably the most recognized
first aid procedurecardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, which involves breathing for the patient,
and manually massaging the heart to promote blood flow around the body.
TRAINING
Basic principles, such as knowing to use an adhesive bandage or applying direct pressure on
a bleed, are often acquired passively through life experiences. However, to provide
effective, life-saving first aid interventions requires instruction and practical training. This is
especially true where it relates to potentially fatal illnesses and injuries, such as those that
require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); these procedures may be invasive, and carry a
risk of further injury to the patient and the provider. As with any training, it is more useful if
it occurs before an actual emergency, and in many countries, emergency ambulance
dispatchers may give basic first aid instructions over the phone while the ambulance is on
the way.

Training is generally provided by attending a course, typically leading to certification. Due to

regular changes in procedures and protocols, based on updated clinical knowledge, and to
maintain skill, attendance at regular refresher courses or re-certification is often necessary.
First aid training is often available through community organizations such as the Red Cross
and St. John Ambulance, or through commercial providers, who will train people for a fee.
This commercial training is most common for training of employees to perform first aid in
their workplace. Many community organizations also provide a commercial service, which
complements their community programmes.

TWO OUT OF THREE PEOPLE COULDNT SAVE A LIFE: A STUDY

The majority of us dont feel we could save a life in an emergency, with a quarter saying wed
helplessly do nothing while a life is on the line. And those of us who would attempt first aid, our
efforts are likely to be in vain as in many cases we would administer the wrong procedure.

Leading first aid charity St John Ambulance commissioned the research* to determine how many
people could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

Key results show that:

Nearly two-thirds (59%) wouldnt feel confident trying to save a life

A quarter (24%) would do nothing and wait for an ambulance to arrive or hope that a passer-by
knows first aid

Around a third (39%) would try and do first aid even though they are not sure what to do

Just over a quarter (28%) say theyd know what first aid to do but sadly their confidence is
misplaced, as the survey results show many would do the wrong thing and may even make the
situation worse.

Armed with this knowledge we can all be the difference between a life lost and a life saved

Be the difference
Time Lost Equals Life lost

An ambulance responding to a call for a life-threatening situation can take up to 8 minutes to arrive
but a friend or loved one can die from any of the 5 conditions, and many others, in this time.
Knowing this, its clear that first aid can make the difference between life and death.

While the majority of us (98%) agree that first aid saves lives, worrying numbers wouldnt have the
correct basic knowledge to do this if confronted with a common emergency.

If faced with a man thrown off his motorbike and not breathing, over two-fifths (42%) wrongly say
theyd know what to do. However, of these people, 43% would make the mistake of not moving him
for fear of spinal injury, yet if hes not breathing and CPR*** is not given, hell die.

Other scenarios showed people who thought they knew what to do didnt always get it right:

If someone was choking, only half (53%) would intervene with back blows the correct procedure.
Worryingly 1 in 10 (9%) would stick their fingers down his or her throat which could push the
obstruction further down

For a middle-aged man with chest pains, 1 in 10 (9%) would put him in the recovery position, while
waiting for an ambulance, which would not relieve the strain on the heart and may aggravate the
condition. Instead they should sit him in a comfortable position.

Hitting home

When queried on what would motivate people to learn first aid, half of us (50%) cited the fear of
emergency services not arriving on time, as well as being a witness to an accident. Interestingly, 64%
of us felt that a loved one being in an emergency would give us the impetus to equip ourselves with
first aid skills. Unfortunately for many people, by the time they realise this, its too late to assist
those needing it.

Act now

Research conducted by ICM, February 2010, using a weighted sample of 2045 adults aged 18+. ICM
is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

The five common scenarios tackled in the adverts and in the free first aid guide are: Choking, heart
attack, severe bleeding, unconscious person who is breathing and one who is not breathing.

CONDITIONS THAT OFTEN REQUIRE FIRST AID

Altitude sickness, which can begin in susceptible people at altitudes as low as 5,000 feet, can cause
potentially fatal swelling of the brain or lungs.[12]
Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition in which the airway can become constricted and the
patient may go into shock. The reaction can be caused by a systemic allergic reaction to allergens
such as insect bites or peanuts. Anaphylaxis is initially treated with injection of epinephrine.

Battlefield first aidThis protocol refers to treating shrapnel, gunshot wounds, burns, bone
fractures, etc. as seen either in the traditional battlefield setting or in an area subject to damage by
large scale weaponry, such as a bomb blast.

Bone fracture, a break in a bone initially treated by stabilizing the fracture with a splint.

Burns, which can result in damage to tissues and loss of body fluids through the burn site.

Cardiac Arrest, which will lead to death unless CPR preferably combined with an AED is started
within minutes. There is often no time to wait for the emergency services to arrive as 92 percent of
people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching hospital according to the American
Heart Association.

Choking, blockage of the airway which can quickly result in death due to lack of oxygen if the
patients trachea is not cleared, for example by the Heimlich Maneuver.

Childbirth.

Cramps in muscles due to lactic acid build up caused either by inadequate oxygenation of muscle or
lack of water or salt.

Diving disorders, drowning or asphyxiation.[13]

Gender-specific conditions, such as dysmenorrhea and testicular torsion.

Heart attack, or inadequate blood flow to the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle.

Heat stroke, also known as sunstroke or hyperthermia, which tends to occur during heavy exercise
in high humidity, or with inadequate water, though it may occur spontaneously in some chronically
ill persons. Sunstroke, especially when the victim has been unconscious, often causes major damage
to body systems such as brain, kidney, liver, gastric tract. Unconsciousness for more than two hours
usually leads to permanent disability. Emergency treatment involves rapid cooling of the patient.

Hair tourniquet a condition where a hair or other thread becomes tied around a toe or finger
tightly enough to cut off blood flow.

Heat syncope, another stage in the same process as heat stroke, occurs under similar conditions as
heat stroke and is not distinguished from the latter by some authorities.

Heavy bleeding, treated by applying pressure (manually and later with a pressure bandage) to the
wound site and elevating the limb if possible.

Hyperglycemia (diabetic coma) and Hypoglycemia (insulin shock).

Hypothermia, or Exposure, occurs when a persons core body temperature falls below 33.7C
(92.6F). First aid for a mildly hypothermic patient includes rewarming, but rewarming a severely
hypothermic person could result in a fatal arrhythmia, an irregular heart rhythm.[14]

Insect and animal bites and stings.

Joint dislocation.

Poisoning, which can occur by injection, inhalation, absorption, or ingestion.

Seizures, or a malfunction in the electrical activity in the brain. Three types of seizures include a
grand mal (which usually features convulsions as well as temporary respiratory abnormalities,
change in skin complexion, etc.) and petit mal (which usually features twitching, rapid blinking,
and/or fidgeting as well as altered consciousness and temporary respiratory abnormalities).

Muscle strains and Sprains, a temporary dislocation of a joint that immediately reduces
automatically but may result in ligament damage.

Stroke, a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain.

Toothache, which can result in severe pain and loss of the tooth but is rarely life threatening,
unless over time the infection spreads into the bone of the jaw and starts osteomyelitis.

Wounds and bleeding, including lacerations, incisions and abrasions, Gastrointestinal bleeding,
avulsions and Sucking chest wounds, treated with an occlusive dressing to let air out but not in.

GENERAL REMEDIES FOR EMERGENCIES

Performing the Three Cs
Check the surroundings. Evaluate the situation. Are there things that might put you at risk of harm?
Are you or the victim threatened by fire, toxic smoke or gasses, an unstable building, live electrical
wires or other dangerous scenario? Do not rush into a situation where you could end up as a victim
yourself.

1. If approaching the victim will endanger your life, seek professional help immediately; they
have higher levels of training and know how to handle these situations. First aid becomes
useless if you can't safely perform it without hurting yourself.
2. Call for help. Call authorities or emergency services immediately if you believe someone to
be seriously injured. If you are the only person on the scene, try to establish breathing in the
patient before calling for help. Do not leave the victim alone for an extensive amount of
time.
3. Care for the person. Caring for someone who has just gone through serious trauma includes
both physical treatment and emotional support. Remember to stay calm and try to be
reassuring; let the person know that help is on its way and that everything will be alright.

Caring for an Unconscious Person

Determine responsiveness. If a person is unconscious, try to rouse them by gently
tickling their bare hands and feet or by speaking to them. If they do not respond to
activity, sound, touch, or other stimulation, determine whether they are breathing.
Check for breathing and a pulse. If unconscious and unable to be roused, check for
breathing: look for a rise in the chest area; listen for the sound of air coming in and out;
feel for air using the side of your face. If no signs of breathing are apparent, check for a
pulse.
If the person remains unresponsive, prep for CPR. Unless you suspect a spinal injury,
carefully roll them onto their back and open their airway. If you suspect a spinal injury,
leave the person where they are, provided they are breathing. If the person begins to
vomit, move them over to their side to help prevent choking.
1. Keep the head and neck aligned.
2. Carefully roll them onto their back while holding their head.
3. Open the airway by lifting the chin.
4 Perform 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths (optional) as part of CPR. In
the center of the chest, just below an imaginary line running between the nipples, put
your two hands together and compress the chest down approximately 2 inches at a rate
of 100 compressions per minute. After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths and
check vitals. If the breaths are blocked, reposition the airway. Make sure the head is
tilted slightly back and the tongue is not obstructing it. Continue this cycle of 30 chest
compressions and two rescue breaths until someone else relieves you.
Remember your ABCs of CPR. The ABCs of CPR refer to the three critical things you need
to look for. Check these three things frequently as you give the person first aid CPR.
1. Airway. Does the person have an unobstructed airway?
2. Breathing. Is the person breathing?
3. Circulation. Does the person show a pulse at major pulse points (wrist, carotid
artery, groin)?
 Make sure the
person is warm as you wait for
medical help. Drape a towel or a
blanket over the person if you
have one; if you don't remove
some of your own clothing as use
it as a cover until medical help
arrives.
Pay attention to
a list of don'ts. As you administer first aid, be sure to be aware of these things that you
should not do in any case:
1. Do not feed or hydrate an unconscious person. This could cause choking and
possible asphyxiation.
2. Do not leave the person alone. Unless you absolutely need to signal or call for
help, stay with the person at all times.
3. Do not prop up an unconscious person's head with a pillow.
4. Do not slap or splash with water an unconscious person's face. These are movie
gimmicks.

Treating Common Problems In First Aid Scenarios

Stop the bleeding first. After you have established that the victim is breathing and has a
pulse, your next priority should be to control any bleeding. Control of bleeding is one of the
most important things you can do to save a trauma victim. Use direct pressure on a wound
before trying any other method of managing bleeding. Read the linked article for more
detailed steps you can take. Treat a bullet wound. Bullet wounds are serious and
unpredictable. Read on for special considerations when treating someone who has suffered
a gunshot wound.
Treat shock next. Shock, often caused a loss of blood flow to the body, frequently follows
physical and occasionally psychological trauma. A person in shock will frequently have cool,
clammy skin, be agitated or have an altered mental status, and have pale color to the skin
around the face and lips. Untreated, shock can be fatal. Anyone who has suffered a severe
injury or life-threatening situation is at risk for shock.
Provide first aid for a broken bone. A broken bone, however common, can be treated with
the following steps:
1. Immobilize the area. Make sure that the broken bone doesn't have to move or
support any other body parts.
2. Numb the pain. Often, this can be done with an ice-pack covered by a towel.
3. Make a splint. A bundle of newspapers and sturdy tape will do just the trick. A
broken finger, for example, can also use another finger as a stabilizing splint.
4. Make a sling, if necessary. Tie a shirt or a pillowcase around a broken arm and then
around the shoulder.
Help a choking victim. Choking can cause death or permanent brain damage within minutes.
Read this article for ways to help a choking victim. The article addresses helping both
children and adult choking victims.One of the ways to help a choking victim is the Heimlich
 maneuver. The Heimlich
maneuver is performed by
straddling the victim from behind
and bear-hugging them with your
hands interlocked above their
belly-button but beneath their
breastbone. Thrust upward to
expel air from the lungs and
repeat until you are successful in
clearing the object from the
windpipe.
Learn how to treat a burn. Treat first- and second-degree burns by immersing or flushing
with cool water (no ice). Don't use creams, butter or other ointments, and do not pop
blisters. Third degree burns should be covered with a damp cloth. Remove clothing and
jewelry from the burn, but do not try to remove charred clothing that is stuck to burns.
Look out for a concussion. If the victim has suffered a blow to the head, look for signs of
concussion. Common symptoms include:
1. Loss of consciousness following the injury
2. Disorientation or memory impairment
3. Vertigo
4. Nausea
5. Lethargy.
Treat a Spinal Injury Victim. If you suspect a spinal injury, it is especially critical that you not
move the victim's head, neck or back unless they are in immediate danger. You also need to
take special care when performing rescue breathing or CPR. Read this article to learn what
to do.

TREATING RARER CASES IN FIRST AID SCENARIOS

Help someone who is having a seizure. Seizures can be scary things for people who've never
experienced them before. Luckily, helping people with seizures is relatively straightforward, if
traumatic. Help the person down to the floor and make sure that the person is breathing. Prevent
them from hurting themselves by slamming into anything. As soon as you can, write down any
details that might help medical professionals diagnose the situation.

Help someone survive a heart attack. It helps to know the symptoms of heart attack, which include
rapid heartbeat, pressure or pain in the chest, and general unease or nausea. Rush the person to the
hospital immediately while giving them an aspirin or a nitroglycerin, which the person should chew.

Identify someone having a stroke. Again, knowing the symptoms of stroke is important. They include
temporary inability to talk or understand what is being said; confusion; loss of balance or dizziness;
and severe headache with no precursor, among others. Rush a person you suspect has had a stroke
to the emergency room immediately.
Treat poisoning. Poisoning can occur as a result of natural toxins (i.e. snake bite) or chemical
combinations. If an animal may be responsible for poisoning, try to (safely) kill it, bag it, and bring it
with you to poison control.

If possible, use latex gloves or other barriers to protect yourself from others' bodily fluids.

As much as this article can cover, you will only learn so much from reading steps on how to do this.
As such, try to find training in first aid and/or CPR if at all possible - this gives you, the reader, the
ability to learn hands-on exactly how to bind fractures and dislocations, bandage moderate to severe
wounds, and even perform CPR, and you will find yourself better prepared for treating those in need
after the training. In addition, these certifications also protect you in the event of legal action - while
Good Samaritan laws will protect you in these cases, certifications simply bolster this.

If a person is impaled on an object, do not remove it unless it is obstructing an airway. Removing the
object is likely to cause additional injuries and increase the severity of bleeding. Avoid moving the
person. If you must move them, you may shorten and secure the object.