Basic First Aid

What is First Aid?

Definitions of ‘first aid’

“Help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available”

 “…provision of initial care for an illness or injury”

First aid can be anything from putting on a plaster to saving someone’s life

You don’t need formal first aid training to help someone in need

 

The aims of first aid

Broadly, there are three main aims when administering first aid:

Preserve life

Prevent worsening of the condition (if possible)

Promote recovery

For example, applying a plaster is preventing the condition (a cut) from worsening by stopping infection

Calling for emergency help

In many first aid situations, help from the emergency services may be required.

Ensure you know which number to call!

United Kingdom: 999

United States: 911

European Union: 112

Other countries: http://chartsbin.com/view/1983

Give clear, precise information about

The location of the incident

The number of casualties / people involved

The nature of their injuries

In some cases, their age

Any hazards at the incident (e.g: spilt fuel, fire, electricity)

If the area is remote/difficult to access, consider sending someone to meet the emergency services in a known location

Managing an incident

Always be aware of potential dangers at an incident (e.g: traffic, fire, electricity)

Never put yourself or other bystanders in danger

You are the most important person

If the incident is too dangerous to approach, stay back and call for emergency help

Basic Infection Control

Various diseases can be transmitted via blood and body fluids

Including HIV and Hepatitis B & C

If possible, always wear disposable latex/nitrile gloves when dealing with bodily fluids

This is not always practical! You can improvise and use anything to create a barrier. e.g: a plastic carrier bag

Ensure any cuts/open injuries to your hands are covered with waterproof plasters or dressings.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water after dealing with a casualty

 

Helping someone who is unconscious

What is ‘unconsciousness’?

“complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness”

 “unaware of both self and external surroundings”

 

Unconsciousness vs sleeping

The difference between being asleep and being unconsciousness is that an unconscious person will not wake up.

Unconsciousness is a medical emergency

 

Why the fuss?

When someone goes unconscious, they lose muscle tone

This means they go all ‘floppy’ – like a rag doll

The tongue (a muscle) can block their airway when it loses muscle tone

This is known colloquially as “swallowing your own tongue”

In addition, loss of control over their stomach muscles can cause stomach contents (vomit) to travel back up to the throat which can block the airway

 

What is the ‘airway’?

The airway is a series of tubes which caries air from your mouth & nose to your lungs

It can become blocked by the tongue and regurgitation of stomach contents

This will stop the casualty from breathing

 

Helping someone who is unconscious

You can use the mnemonic “DR ABC” to remember what to do!

If you suspect someone is unconscious, do not leave them!

D: Danger

Check to see if there are any dangers to yourself or the casualty

For example electrical cables, moving traffic, other people etc.

Try and make the scene as safe as possible

If the area is too dangerous then stay back and call the emergency services

R: Response

Attempt to wake the person up by shouting loudly in both ears and tapping them on the shoulders

If you do not get a response, then the person is unconscious

A: Airway

Open the airway by tilting the head backwards and lifting the chin with two fingers

B: Breathing

Keep your hands on the person’s head & chin

Place your cheek above their mouth and look at their chest

Look, listen and feel for regular breathing for up to 10 seconds.

If the person is not breathing, commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

If they are breathing, then place them in the recovery position in order to protect their airway

The recovery position involves rolling the casualty onto their side with their head tilted back.

The recovery position – steps

Kneel by the casualty’s waist

Grasp the hand nearest to you, place the back of their hand against their cheek closest to you

Lift the left furthest away from you at the knee and place their foot on the floor

Using their knee as a lever, pull the person onto their side

Ensure their head is still tilted back and they are on their side

C: Call an ambulance

Once the person is in the recovery position call an ambulance if this has not been done already!

Recheck the casualty’s airway and breathing every few minutes until the ambulance arrives

Keep the casualty warm and dry if you can

How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique to help people who suffer a “cardiac arrest” (their heart stops beating).

It involves doing chest compressions and rescue breaths  to keep the casualty alive until a defibrillator arrives.

A defibrillator is an electrical device which can be used to help restart someone’s heart.

CPR on its own is unlikely to restart someone’s heart, however it will increase the chance of a defibrillator being successful.

Patient assessment

If you find someone collapsed, you can use the mnemonic “DR ABC” to help you remember what to do

R: Response

Try and wake the casualty up - are they responsive? 

Kneel by his/her head, shout loudly in both ears and tap them on the shoulders

If no response, the casualty is unconscious

At this point…

A: Airway

The airway is the tube which takes air from the mouth/nose to the lungs

When a casualty is unconscious, their tongue can fall backwards and block their airway.

This can cause an obstruction and stop the casualty from breathing

To open someone’s airway, place one hand on their forehead and tilt their head backwards

Then place two fingers on the bony part of their chin and lift it.

This is known as the “head tilt, chin lift” manoeuver.

B: Breathing

Keep your hands on the person’s head/chin

Place your cheek above their mouth and look at their chest

Look, listen and feel for regular breathing for up to 10 seconds

C: Call an ambulance

If a casualty is not breathing normally, call an emergency ambulance immediately

If a bystander is available, they can call the ambulance for you

Ensure you tell the operator that you have an unconscious, non-breathing casualty.

Adult CPR

After an ambulance has been called, you should commence CPR.

First, you should give 30 chest compressions

Place your hands in the centre of the person’s chest, over the breastbone (sternum)

interlock your fingers

Push down 30 times at a rate of 100 - 120 compressions / minute

Chest compressions

Ensure your elbows are locked and your shoulders positioned above the chest

Push down to a depth of about 5cm

Ensure you release fully after each compression

Rescue breaths

After 30 chest compressions, give 2 rescue breaths.

Tilt the casualty’s head backwards, life their chin and then pinch their nose

Make a seal over their mouth and breath in for approximately one second

Continue the cycle of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths until help arrives

If there is more than one first aider, swap over doing chest compressions regularly

If a defibrillator arrives it should be used immediately

Summary

Danger

Response

Airway

Breathing

Call an ambulance

First aid for burns

Types of burns

Scald – caused by a hot liquid

Friction – caused by rough surfaces, e.g: carpet

Radiation/sunburn

electrical – will have an entry burn and an exit burn

Chemical

Dry – touching hot objects, e.g: a cooker.

Depths of burns

1st degree / superficial: Minor damage to the top layer of skin. Normally appears as just redness.

2nd degree / partial: Damage to several layers of skin. Causes blisters.

3rd degree / full: Damage to skin and underlying tissue. May be charring of the skin.

General treatment for burns

Immediately cool the affected area with running water for at least 10 minutes

Cover the burn with a non-sticky dressing – clingfilm, a plastic bag, non-fluffy bandage

Seek medical attention, if the burn is serious then call an ambulance

If running water is not available then improvise, any harmless liquid can be used to cool a burn.

What not do to

Do not try to remove clothing sticking to a burn, instead cool through the clothing

Do not apply toothpaste / butter / creams to a burn. Running water is the most effective cooling method.

Exception: “Aftersun” lotion is useful for sunburn

Do not burst any blisters

Do not stop cooling before 10 minutes is up!

Infection control

Try and keep the wound as clean as possible

Try to avoid contact with the casualty’s blood

Wear disposable latex / nitrile gloves if available

If not, use any available items to create a barrier (e.g: a plastic bag)

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards

Seek medical advice if you are concerned

First aid for blood loss and wounds

The circulatory system

The heart is responsible for pumping blood around the body

Blood travels in arteries, veins and capillaries

Blood transports Oxygen and nutrients around the body and helps remove waste products

An average adult has around 10 pints of blood

Wound terminology

Laceration: Tearing of the skin & tissue

Contusion: A bruise

Abrasion: Graze - loss of superficial layer of skin

Incision: A straight clean wound

Puncture: Caused by a sharp object

Object may still be in the wound (foreign / embedded object)

First aid for major blood loss

Expose injury and elevate above level of heart

If there are no foreign objects, apply firm direct pressure over the wound

if there is an object, apply pressure around the foreign object

Call for emergency help

What not to do

Do not apply a tourniquet unless specifically trained to do so

Do not attempt to wash out a major wound – your aim is to control the bleeding

Shock

Shock is a medical emergency which can be caused by severe blood loss

The casualty does not receive enough oxygen due to the loss of blood

Signs & symptoms include:

Pale clammy skin

Drowsiness

Thirst

Confusion

Nausea & vomiting

If you suspect a casualty is suffering from shock then you should:

Lie them down and raise their legs

This improves the blood flow to the vital organs

Cover them with a blanket

Call for emergency help if you haven’t already done so

Infection control

Try and keep the wound as clean as possible

Try to avoid contact with the casualty’s blood

Wear disposable latex / nitrile gloves if available

If not, use any available items to create a barrier (e.g: a plastic bag)

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards

Seek medical advice if you are concerned

First aid for minor wounds

Wear gloves if available

Clean the wound thoroughly with antiseptic wipes or saline

Do not remove any embedded objects (e.g: glass) – seek medical advice

Cover the wound using a clean dressing (plaster, non-adherent pad etc.)

Seek medical advice if there are any signs of infection – redness, swelling or the area is warm to the touch