FIRST AID

What is First Aid?

First aid is emergency care given immediately to an injured person. The purpose of first aid is to minimize injury and future disability. In serious cases, first aid may be necessary to keep the victim alive.

First aid may be required for medical emergencies such as heart attack, stroke, or seizures as well as for minor medical conditions like nosebleed and mild allergic reactions.

Importance of First Aid

First aid is a very important skill for anyone to have. Knowing what to do in a medical emergency can be the difference between life and death.

If there is in accident, knowing first aid could reduced the danger posed by the injury.

First Aid Situations

Some examples where first aid knowledge would be important include:

1. Allergic reactions2. Animal bites3. Broken limbs4. Burns, chemical burns5. Chocking6. Cuts and bleeding7. Heart attacks

First Aid Kits

A first aid kit is a necessary tool to ensure safety in a workplace.

First Aid Kits First aid kits should include the following:

1. Emergency telephone numbers for EMS/9-1-1, your local poison control centre, and your personal doctors

2. Home and office phone numbers for family members, friends, or neighbours who can help3. Sterile gauze pads (dressings) in small and large squares to place over wounds4. Adhesive tape5. Roller and triangular bandages to hold dressings in place or to make an arm sling6. Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes7. Scissors8. Tweezers9. Safety pins10. Instant ice packs11. Disposable non-latex gloves, such as surgical or examination gloves12. Flashlight, with extra batteries in a separate bag13. Antiseptic wipes or soap14. Pencil and pad15. Emergency blanket16. Eye patches17. Thermometer18. Barrier devices, such as a pocket mask or face shield19. Coins for pay phone20. Canadian Red Cross first aid manual

First Aid Training Some workplaces require employees to

take a course in first aid.

These courses provide training for what to in emergencies and how to react when someone is injured.