Symptoms: Numbness, pale, glossy skin, possible blistering.
Treatment: Warm by placing victim
Emergency treatment administered to an injured or sick person before professional medical care
is available.
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a lay
person to a sick or injured casualty 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 animals, the term generally refers to care of human
patients.
Aims
The key aims of first aid can be summarised in three key points:[4]
• 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, 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.
First aid training also involves the prevention of initial injury and responder safety, and the
treatment phases.
Key skills
In case of tongue fallen backwards, blocking the airway, it is necessary to hyperextend the head
and pull up the chin, so that the tongue lifts and clears the airway.
Certain skills are considered essential to the provision of first aid and are taught ubiquitously.
Particularly, the "ABC"s of first aid, which focus on critical life-saving intervention, must be
rendered before treatment of less serious injuries. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and
Circulation. The same mnemonic is used by all emergency health professionals. Attention must
first be brought to the airway to ensure it is clear. Obstruction (choking) is a life-threatening
emergency. Following evaluation of the airway, a first aid attendant would determine adequacy
of breathing and provide rescue breathing if necessary. Assessment of circulation is now not
usually carried out for patients who are not breathing, with first aiders now trained to go straight
to chest compressions (and thus providing artificial circulation) but pulse checks may be done on
less serious patients.
Some organizations add a fourth step of "D" for Deadly bleeding or Defibrillation, while others
consider this as part of the Circulation step. Variations on techniques to evaluate and maintain
the ABCs depend on the skill level of the first aider. Once the ABCs are secured, first aiders can
begin additional treatments, as required. Some organizations teach the same order of priority
using the "3Bs": Breathing, Bleeding, and Bones (or "4Bs": Breathing, Bleeding, Brain, and
Bones). While the ABCs and 3Bs are taught to be performed sequentially, certain conditions may
require the consideration of two steps simultaneously. This includes the provision of both
artificial respiration and chest compressions to someone who is not breathing and has no pulse,
and the consideration of cervical spine injuries when ensuring an open airway.
first aid, immediate and temporary treatment of a victim of sudden illness or injury while
awaiting the arrival of medical aid. Proper early measures may be instrumental in saving life and
ensuring a better and more rapid recovery. The avoidance of unnecessary movement and over-
excitation of the victim often prevents further injury. Conditions that require immediate attention
to avert death include cessation of breathing (asphyxia), severe bleeding, poisoning, strokes, and
heart attack. The essentials of first aid treatment also include the correct bandaging of a wound;
the application of splints for fractures and dislocations; the effective methods of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) and artificial respiration; and treatment of shock, frostbite, fainting, bites and
stings, burns, and heat exhaustion.
Asphyxia and Obstruction of Air Passages
Symptoms: Blue discoloration of face, tongue, and lips; gasping; inability to speak;
unconsciousness. Treatment: First try the Heimlich maneuver, grasping the victim from behind
with hands linked in front and compressing the abdomen just below the ribs. Encourage victim to
cough up foreign objects in throat; as a last resort, rap victim between shoulder blades to dislodge
object. For asphyxia caused by gas or fumes, remove victim to a clear atmosphere; use artificial
respiration.
Bites and Stings
Symptoms: Wound (animal or human bite) or swelling and pain (insect sting). Treatment: For
animal and human bites, cleanse wound with soap and water and apply iodine containing
antiseptic; submit animal for rabies test. For poisonous snakebite, cooling the site of the wound
with ice will slow down absorption of poisons; antivenin treatment is required only for a small
number of reptile bites. Prevent exertion and taking of stimulants by victim. For insect stings
apply cortisone ointments, soothing lotions, or cool compress. Persons who are allergic to insect
stings should carry adrenaline with them at all times. Papain, the main ingredient in "meat
tenderizer," is effective in coral sting injuries.
Burns
Symptoms: Redness (first-degree burns), blistering (second-degree burns), charring of skin
(third-degree burns). Treatment: Cold water may be applied to first- and second-degree burns.
All burns should be covered with sterile non-adherent dressings. Chemical burns should be
washed with large quantity of water; vinegar may be added to the water for alkali burns, and
sodium bicarbonate may be added to the water in case of acid burns.
Drowning and Near-Drowning
Treatment: Immediate artificial respiration, and CPR. There is controversy over whether or not
the Heimlich maneuver should be used in conjunction with CPR in order to dislodge water in the
lungs and stomach.
Fainting
Symptoms: Unconsciousness, paleness, rapid pulse, coldness of the skin, sweating. Treatment:
Leave victim lying down, loosen clothing, roll victim to the side and wipe out mouth in the event
of vomiting.
Foreign Body in the Eye
Symptoms: Pain, redness, burning, tears. Treatment: Pull down lower lid and remove
unembedded object with clean tissue if it lies on the inner surface of lower lid. If object has not
been located, pull upper lid forward and down over lower lid. Object can be removed from
surface of upper eyelid by turning lid back over a swabstick or similar object and lifting off the
foreign body with a clean tissue. Finally, flush the eye with water. If object is suspected to be
embedded, apply a dry, protective dressing over eye, and call physician or take patient to hospital
emergency room. Keep victim from rubbing the eye. For chemical burns, flood eyes with water.
Fractures and Joint Injuries
Symptoms: Pain or tenderness, deformity of bones, swelling, discoloration. Treatment: Prevent
movement of injured parts until splint is applied; treat for shock; if ambulance service is not
available, splint entire limb before moving. For sprains, elevate affected part and apply cold
compresses. Elastic bandages may be used for immobilization.
Frostbite
indoors, remove covering, bathe frozen part in warm water; do not massage. For cold exposure,
give artificial respiration. Placing blankets over a person who has a reduced body core
temperature will do no good; heat must be applied to the victim to bring the temperature up to
normal. If conscious, give warm liquids by mouth.
Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms: Pale, clammy skin, profuse perspiration, weakness, headache, possibly cramps.
Treatment: Rest, cool atmosphere, cool water by mouth if conscious. In case of heat cramp, exert
firm pressure on cramped muscle (usually abdomen or legs) to help relieve spasms.
Heatstroke
Symptoms: High temperature (as high as 108-112°F/42-44°C), hot dry skin, rapid pulse, possibly
unconsciousness. Treatment: Immediately undress victim and sponge with or immerse in cool
water or wrap in water-soaked sheets. Use fan or air conditioner.
Poisoning
Symptoms and signs: Information from victim or observer, stains about mouth, presence of
poison container, breath odor, pupils contracted to pinpoint size from morphine or narcotics.
Treatment: Dilute ingested poison by administering water or milk, administer specific antidote if
described on label of commercial product. Do not induce vomiting if poison is strong acid, strong
alkali, or petroleum product, or if victim is unconscious or convulsive. Syrup of Ipecac available
without prescription at pharmacies may be administered to induce vomiting in other cases. A
universal antidote contains Ipecac and activated charcoal; the latter absorbs the poison and the
former causes it to be expelled.
Severe Bleeding
Symptoms: External wound. Treatment: Apply pressure over wound with wad of sterile gauze or
other clean material. If bleeding continues and no fracture is present, elevate wound. If bleeding
still continues, apply pressure to blood vessels leading to area-in arm, press just below armpit; in
leg, press against groin where thigh and trunk join. Use a tourniquet (tight band that cuts off
circulation) only when it has been decided that the sacrifice of a limb is necessary to save life.
Shock
Symptoms: Pale (or bluish) skin (in victim with dark skin examine inside of mouth and nailbeds
for bluish coloration), cool skin, weakness, weak pulse; unresponsiveness and dilated pupils in
later stages. Treatment: Keep victim lying down and covered enough to prevent loss of body
heat. The body position should be adjusted according to the victim's injuries. Victims in shock
may improve if the feet are raised 8 to 12 in. (20-30 cm). For electric shock, cut off current or
separate victim from contact with electricity by using dry wood, rope, cloth, or rubber;
administer CPR.
Wound
Treatment: Stop bleeding, cleanse wound with soap and water and cover with sterile or clean
bandage.
Conditions that often require first aid
Also see medical emergency.
• 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.[7]
• 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 aid - This 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 or other
terrorist activity.
• 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.
• Choking, blockage of the airway which can quickly result in death due to lack of
oxygen if the patient’s 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.[8]
• 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.
• 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 person’s core body temperature falls
below 33.7°C (92.6°F). 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.
• 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 Clearing the airway of an unconscious person:
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.  Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor.

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

 Clear the airway. If there's a visible blockage at the back of the throat or high in the throat,
• Toothache, which can result in severe pain and loss of the tooth but is rarely life reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the cause of the blockage. Be careful not to push
threatening, unless over time the infection spreads into the bone of the jaw and starts
osteomyelitis. the food or object deeper into the airway, which can happen easily in young children.

• Wounds and bleeding, including lacerations, incisions and abrasions,

 Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the object remains lodged and the person
Gastrointestinal bleeding, avulsions and Sucking chest wounds, treated with an
occlusive dressing to let air out but not in. doesn't respond after you take the above measures. The chest compressions used in CPR may
dislodge the object. Remember to recheck the mouth periodically.
Choking: First aid

Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the Clearing the airway of a choking infant younger than age 1:
flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit. Young children often swallow small
objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, administer first aid as quickly as possible.
 Assume a seated position and hold the infant facedown on your forearm, which is resting
on your thigh.
The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the
signal, look for these indications:
 Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back using the heel of
your hand. The combination of gravity and the back blows should release the blocking
 Inability to talk object.

 Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing  Hold the infant faceup on your forearm with the head lower than the trunk if the above
doesn't work. Using two fingers placed at the center of the infant's breastbone, give five
 Inability to cough forcefully quick chest compressions.

 Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky  Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts if breathing doesn't resume. Call for emergency
medical help.
 Loss of consciousness

 Begin infant CPR if one of these techniques opens the airway but the infant doesn't resume
If choking is occurring, the Red Cross recommends a "five-and-five" approach to delivering
breathing.
first aid:

If the child is older than age 1, give abdominal thrusts only.

 First, deliver five back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your
hand. To prepare yourself for these situations, learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in a certified
first-aid training course.
 Next, perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).

 Alternate between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the blockage is
dislodged.

If you're the only rescuer, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts before calling 911 (or your
local emergency number) for help. If another person is available, have that person call for help
while you perform first aid.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on someone else:

 Stand behind the person. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly.

 Make a fist with one hand. Position it slightly above the person's navel.

 Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward
thrust — as if trying to lift the person up.

 Perform a total of five abdominal thrusts, if needed. If the blockage still isn't dislodged,
repeat the "five-and-five" cycle.

If you're alone and choking, you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself.
However, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself:

 Place a fist slightly above your navel.

 Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair
will do.

 Shove your fist inward and upward.

Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:

 Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base
of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.

 Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.

 Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.