Mr. Wira

Principles and Practice of First AidPrinciples and Practice of First Aid

What is First Aid ?What is First Aid ?

“ “ First aid is the provision of immediate care to aFirst aid is the provision of immediate care to a

victim with an injury or illness, usually effected byvictim with an injury or illness, usually effected by

a lay person, and performed within a limited skilla lay person, and performed within a limited skill

range ” range ”

- Normally performed until injury or illness is - Normally performed until injury or illness is

satisfactorily dealt with satisfactorily dealt with

or or

- until the next level of care, such as an ambulance or - until the next level of care, such as an ambulance or

doctor, arrives.doctor, arrives.

- The key guiding principles and purpose of first aid are :- - The key guiding principles and purpose of first aid are :-

PPrevent further injuryrevent further injury PPreserve lifereserve life PPromote recovery romote recovery

Issues in Providing CareIssues in Providing Care

As most first aid treatment involve touching the victim,As most first aid treatment involve touching the victim,

it is important that the first aider gains their permission.it is important that the first aider gains their permission.

During conversation, identify the following points :-During conversation, identify the following points :-

(patient is conscious)(patient is conscious) Who you areWho you are Why you are with them Why you are with them What you are going to do What you are going to do

However assume victim gives their consent in followingHowever assume victim gives their consent in following

cases :-cases :- Is unconscious.Is unconscious. Has a very reduced level of consciousness. Has a very reduced level of consciousness.

Primary AssessmentPrimary Assessment

Awareness of DangerAwareness of Danger

Environmental dangerEnvironmental danger

Human dangerHuman danger - as you approach a scene, be aware of the dangers- as you approach a scene, be aware of the dangers

which might be posed to you or the victim.which might be posed to you or the victim.

- such as – traffic, gas or chemical leaks, live electrical- such as – traffic, gas or chemical leaks, live electrical

items, building on fire or falling objects.items, building on fire or falling objects.

- human factors such as bystanders in the way, - human factors such as bystanders in the way,

victims not being co-operatives, or aggresor in thevictims not being co-operatives, or aggresor in the

vicinity. vicinity.

- first aiders are never required to place themselves- first aiders are never required to place themselves

in a situation which might put them in danger.in a situation which might put them in danger.

- Keep yourself protected – first priority. - Keep yourself protected – first priority. - be aware of your surrounding and changing situation.- be aware of your surrounding and changing situation. - other key dangers – bodily fluids eg. blood, vomit,- other key dangers – bodily fluids eg. blood, vomit, urine and feces. urine and feces. - remember body fluids can carry infections and- remember body fluids can carry infections and diseases.diseases.

Cont. protective precautions Cont. protective precautions

Put on the glovesPut on the gloves

- this is the first thing a first aider should do when- this is the first thing a first aider should do when

approaching a victim !approaching a victim !

- gloves are generally of 3 types :-- gloves are generally of 3 types :-

1. Nitrile1. Nitrile

- often purple or blue in colour- often purple or blue in colour

- most recommended- most recommended

- can be used to deal with chemical burns. - can be used to deal with chemical burns.

2. Latex2. Latex

- usually white- usually white

3. Vinyl3. Vinyl

- used primarily for touching victims without external- used primarily for touching victims without external

body fluids. body fluids.

What as happened ?What as happened ? - as you approach, try to gain as much information as- as you approach, try to gain as much information as

possible about the incident.possible about the incident.

- build a mental picture that can help you treat the- build a mental picture that can help you treat the

victim through :-victim through :-

1. Assessing the scene1. Assessing the scene

2. Get some history2. Get some history

3. Be sure to listen 3. Be sure to listen

ResponsivenessResponsiveness

- once confident there is minimal danger to yourself,- once confident there is minimal danger to yourself,

assess how responsive the victim is.assess how responsive the victim is.

- greet “ Hello, are you alright ?”- greet “ Hello, are you alright ?”

- assess and prioritized victim using AVPU scale in order- assess and prioritized victim using AVPU scale in order

to help the first aider to make decision.to help the first aider to make decision.

- AVPU stands for Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive. - AVPU stands for Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive.

Key indicators on the victims are their :-Key indicators on the victims are their :-

- Eyes – are they open spontaneously, looking around- Eyes – are they open spontaneously, looking around

appear able to see you ?appear able to see you ?

- Response to voice- Response to voice

do they reply, seem to understand and obeydo they reply, seem to understand and obey

command?command?

- Response to pain (physical stimulus) - Response to pain (physical stimulus)

- first stimulus – tap/shake of shoulder.- first stimulus – tap/shake of shoulder.

- sternal rub- sternal rub

- nail bed squeeze- nail bed squeeze

- ear lobe squeeze - ear lobe squeeze

Some important tips :-Some important tips :-

- If the measures above provoke reaction eg. groaning,- If the measures above provoke reaction eg. groaning,

a movement, fluttering of eyes,- these mean a movement, fluttering of eyes,- these mean

reponsive to pain. reponsive to pain.

- If victim is not responsive to voice or pain, then- If victim is not responsive to voice or pain, then

they are unresponsive.they are unresponsive.

- Perform further checks on key life critical system- Perform further checks on key life critical system

of breathing and circulation (ABCs). of breathing and circulation (ABCs).

SummarySummary

Remember the mnemonic “ Remember the mnemonic “ Go DR SHAVPUGo DR SHAVPU ” ”

GoGo – Put gloves on. – Put gloves on.

DD - Check for danger. - Check for danger.

RR - Checked for responsiveness. - Checked for responsiveness.

SS - Looked at the scene for clues about what happen. - Looked at the scene for clues about what happen.

HH - Gained history on the incident. - Gained history on the incident.

AVPUAVPU – Assessed to see how responsive the victim is. – Assessed to see how responsive the victim is.

The first AiderThe first Aider

A first aider is just a common person who may A first aider is just a common person who may have learnt a standart method at aplication of have learnt a standart method at aplication of first aid best suited to his skill.first aid best suited to his skill.

He is trained to reach patients, identify the He is trained to reach patients, identify the problem, and provide emergency care and when problem, and provide emergency care and when necessary move patients without causing futher necessary move patients without causing futher injuryinjury

QualificationsQualifications

Should be a good observerShould be a good observerShould be able to act quicklyShould be able to act quicklyShould not get panicky or excitedShould not get panicky or excitedShould have ability to lead and control the crowd Should have ability to lead and control the crowd and take help from the onlookersand take help from the onlookersShould have self confidence and ability to judge Should have self confidence and ability to judge injuries to be tracked firstinjuries to be tracked first

Warning to the first aiderWarning to the first aider

First aider should keep in First aider should keep in mind that he is not doctormind that he is not doctorHe should not examine He should not examine wounds by opening which wounds by opening which have already been have already been bandaged by some body bandaged by some body elseelseHe should not declare any He should not declare any person as dead, this is not person as dead, this is not in his scopein his scope

Scope at the first aidScope at the first aid

In accidents, which In accidents, which may take place either may take place either at road, home, in at road, home, in factories, buildings or factories, buildings or as a result of natural as a result of natural calamities, electric calamities, electric shock, burns, snake shock, burns, snake bite ,etc.bite ,etc.

Summary of the first aider skillSummary of the first aider skill

Control the scene of Control the scene of accidentaccidentGain access to the patientGain access to the patientEvaluate the scene in the Evaluate the scene in the terms of safety and posible terms of safety and posible cause of accidentcause of accidentGather information from Gather information from patient and bystandarspatient and bystandarsDetermine vital sign ( pulse, Determine vital sign ( pulse, breathing, skin temperature )breathing, skin temperature )

Perform the necessary ABCs of emergency Perform the necessary ABCs of emergency care ( and bleeding control )care ( and bleeding control )

Diagnosis and care for shockDiagnosis and care for shock

Detect and care for poisoning including Detect and care for poisoning including alcohol and drug abusealcohol and drug abuse

Diagnosis and care for burns and smoke Diagnosis and care for burns and smoke inhalationinhalation

Guidelines to the presentation.Guidelines to the presentation.

This is a group presentation.This is a group presentation.

Every member of the group should participate in the Every member of the group should participate in the preparation and presentation.preparation and presentation.

Time will be allocated for presentation and questioning Time will be allocated for presentation and questioning session.session.

The following guidelines are sujested :- The following guidelines are sujested :-

Define subject.Define subject.

Brief explaination of the physiology and anatomical Brief explaination of the physiology and anatomical structures concerned.structures concerned.

Institution of first aid measures.Institution of first aid measures.

Group assignment and presentationGroup assignment and presentation

External injuries and bleeding. Group 1External injuries and bleeding. Group 1

Fracture. Group 2Fracture. Group 2

SuctionSuction Group 3 Group 3

Shock. Group 4Shock. Group 4

Obstructed airway and asphyxia. Group 5Obstructed airway and asphyxia. Group 5

Burns Goup 6Burns Goup 6

GCSGCS Group 7 Group 7

Poisoning. Group 8Poisoning. Group 8

Convulsion Group 9Convulsion Group 9

Drowning Group 10Drowning Group 10