CHAPTER # 05

FIRST AID
DEFINITION First Aid – is an immediate and
temporary care given to a victim of an accident or sudden
illness before the services of a physician is obtained.
PURPOSE OF FIRST AID
•To save life
•To prevent further injury
•To preserve vitality and resistance to infection
PHASES OF FIRST AID
• Self-aid
• Assistance from a companion
• Emergency treatment
• Initial surgery
FIRST AID RULES
•Do not get excited. First, check for danger and then check
for responsiveness. Determine whether the victim is
conscious. If the victim is conscious, ask him what
happened and what is wrong now. If the victim is
unconscious, proceed to check the airway, breathing and
circulation. Commence resuscitation as appropriate.
•Do not move injured victim unless it is necessary. If
necessary to move a casualty, seek assistance if possible
and handle gently.
•Keeps the victim lying down with his head level with his
feet while being examined?
•Examined the victim gently. Treat the most urgent injuries
first and then treat the other injuries to the best of your
ability.
•Avoid allowing the victim to see his own injury. Assure
him that his condition is understood and that he will
receive good care.
•Do not try to give any solid or liquid substance by mouth
to an unconscious victim nor to a victim who has sustained
an injury.
•Do not touch open wounds or burns with fingers or other
objects except when sterile compresses or bandages are
not available and it is absolutely necessary to stop
bleeding.
•Do not try to arouse an unconscious person.
•Seek medical attention immediately
The role of a first aider is to provide
immediate, lifesaving, medical care before the
arrival of further medical help. This could include
performing procedures such as:
•Placing an unconscious casualty into the recovery
position
•Performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
•Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
•Stopping bleeding using pressure and elevation
•Keeping a fractured limb still
•A first aider’s overall aim should be to preserve
life.
Procedure to be followed while giving first aid (D.R.A.B)
When you approach a casualty, it is difficult to remember which
things to do first. It is important to do everything in right order. The
following flow chart shows you the right order to do things
Stop Bleeding…….
Pack the opening of the wound with sterile gauze

•Apply direct pressure to the wound by pressing with your hand and a piece
of sterile gauze

•Maintain steady pressure on the wound for five minutes and then release pressure
slowly and check for bleeding. If it still bleeds apply sterile gauze and repeat the
process.
Burns Degree
First-Degree Burn
•Redness
•minor swelling
•pain
•dry, peeling skin (occurs as the burn heals)
Second-Degree Burn
•Blisters.
•Deep redness.
•Burned area may appear wet and shiny.
•Skin that is painful to the touch.
•Burn may be white or discolored in an irregular pattern.
Third-Degree Burn
•Dry and leathery skin.
•Black, white, brown, or yellow skin.
•Swelling.
•Lack of pain because nerve endings have been destroyed.
The rule of nines is a standardized method used to quickly assess how much
body surface area (BSA) has been burned on a patient
ACTIVITY
 CPR demo by tutor

Perform CPR individual

Your colleague is complaining of
breathlessness and a tight pain in the chest. You
suspect a heart attack. What should you do?
• Get him to lay down flat
• Encourage him to stand up and move around
slowly
• Sit him in a comfortable position
Correct:
You need to ease the strain on his
heart, so make him as comfortable as
possible. A half-sitting position, with
his head and shoulders supported and
his knees bent is best.
One of your friends has cut his arm and is
bleeding severely. How do you treat his injury?
• Put the injured limb in some cold water
• Apply direct pressure over the wound
• Give him an aspirin
Correct:
Apply direct pressure over the wound with your
hand using a clean dressing. If you don’t have a
dressing, ask him to apply pressure himself.
Maintain direct pressure on the wound to control
bleeding.
Submit answer

You’re walking home and you see a man lying on

the ground. You ask him if he’s all right but he
doesn’t respond. What should you do next?
• Leave him to wake up by himself
• Begin CPR
• Check his airway is clear
Correct:
CPR must only be done if he is NOT
breathing.
Check his airway is open and clear by tilting
the head and lifting the chin to open the
airway.
Submit answer

You need to perform CPR on your neighbour

after she collapsed and stopped breathing. How
many chest compressions to rescue breaths
should you do?
• 30 compressions to two breaths
• 20 compressions to five breaths
• 15 compressions to three breaths
30 compressions to two breaths