In medical emergencies, it is important to know how to identify the proper first aid treatment. The “ABC” of first aid is a helpful guide that follows every step in treating injuries and illnesses.
The “7 steps of first aid” is a guide that was created by the American Red Cross. The 7 steps are: AIM, PRINCIPLE, ABC, FIRST AID KIT, TUTORIAL, MISSION and RESCUE.
In this post, we have discussed what first aid is, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what it is used for, what
What is First Aid? (Definition & Introduction)
First aid is the treatment offered to anybody suffering from a small or serious disease or injury, with the goal of preserving life, preventing the condition from deteriorating, or encouraging recovery.
It involves early action in a life-threatening situation before professional medical help arrives. For example, conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for an ambulance is one of these services.
Medication, such as patching a wound, is included in the entire treatment of minor ailments. With fundamental medical knowledge, a person can generally do first aid.
Psychological first aid is used as the first therapy for people who are at risk of acquiring PTSD, while mental health first aid is an extension of the notion of first aid to encompass mental health.
Conflict First Aid is being undertaken in Canada, and it focuses on the well-being and preservation of an individual’s social or relational ties.
Many situations may need first aid, and many nations have law, regulation, or guideline requiring a minimal minimum degree of first aid in certain situations.
It might involve specialized first-aid training or equipment in the workplace (such as an automated external defibrillator), expert first-aid coverage during public ceremonies, or mandatory first-aid training in schools.
First aid, on the other hand, does not need any specific equipment or training, and unskilled persons may improvise with whatever materials are available at the moment.
Although this article focuses on the treatment of human patients, first aid may be administered on practically any animal, including dogs.
First Aid’s Purpose
First aid’s primary purpose is to prevent death or serious harm from deteriorating. The three P’s highlight the basic goals of first aid:
“PPP”
1. Life should be preserved.
All medical treatment, including first aid, has the overarching goal of saving lives and reducing the danger of death.
Ease the pain – First aid has been performed appropriately, resulting in the patient’s pain levels being decreased and them being able to relax throughout the examination and treatment procedure.
2. Prevent more losses
Preventing future harm entails addressing both external variables, such as removing a patient from any source of pain, and first-aid methods, such as minimizing bleeding, to keep the disease from deteriorating. Applying pressure has become risky.
3. Encourage recovery
First aid also includes attempting to recover from disease or injury, and in certain situations, finishing treatment, such as plastering over a minor injury.
It’s important to remember that first aid is not a medical therapy and cannot be compared to a medical examination performed by a qualified expert. Making frequent sensible judgments in the best interests of the wounded person is part of first aid.
Another set of objectives for keeping a badly wounded person alive is known as “ABC.”
The Basics of First Aid
ATLS, BATLS, and SAFE-POINT are protocols based on the notion of identifying priorities and a process in which the right execution of individual phases fulfills the goal of saving human life. The following are the most important aspects of these protocols:
- Bleeding that is catastrophic (massive external bleeding)
- Access to the lungs (clearing the airway)
- Taking a deep breath (ensure respiration)
- The flow of information (internal bleeding)
- Incapacity (a neurological condition)
- the natural world (Overall Examination, Environment)
These procedures have the benefit of requiring less resources, time, and expertise while also having a better success rate in saving lives in difficult first-aid situations.
The A to Z of First Aid
Some abilities are considered necessary for providing first aid and are widely taught. Before treating less serious injuries, the “ABC” of first aid, which focuses on severe life-saving treatments, should be administered.
The letters ABC stand for airway, breathing, and circulation. The same epidemic is used by emergency medical personnel. To guarantee this, attention must first be drawn to the airway. The blockage (knee) is a life-threatening situation. A first aid attendant will evaluate the sufficiency of breathing after an airway evaluation and, if required, give rescue breathing.
Patients who are not breathing are no longer routinely checked for circulation, with first responders being taught to execute less severe direct chest contractions (and so give artificial flow). Patients’ pulses may be tested.
The following are the first aid priorities:
A – Airway B – Breathing C – Circulation A – Airway B – Breathing C – Circulation (And Bleeding)
Only then look at broken bones & burns.
1. a. a. a. a. a. a.
An unconscious person’s airway might become clogged or restricted, making breathing difficult, loud, or impossible.
It occurs when the tongue retracts, obstructing the throat. The tongue is lifted away from the air route by tilting the head back and elevating the chin.
Here, one needs to place two fingers under the point of person’s chin, & raise the jaw while placing the other hand over the forehead and tilting the head back. In case the head is injured, you should tilt the head very carefully, and open the airway.
2. B – Taking a Deep Breath
Place your ear near the person’s lips and nose to check for breathing. Feel your face for breath or the back of your hand for dampness.
You may request assistance in the event of an emergency. You shouldn’t try to complete everything at once since it will lead you to lose focus on the important things. As a result, when you get on the scene, you should perform the following:
- Examine the scenario. Make sure the place is secure.
- Keep an eye out for threats to both yourself and the casualty.
- Take in what has transpired as swiftly as possible.
- Determine the number of casualties.
- The unconscious individual will be given priority and will need immediate assistance to guarantee that they can breathe. After that, you should start assessing the injury.
You may use mouth to mouth ventilation if someone has stopped breathing. Make sure the airway is clear and that the head is inclined back. Pinch your nostrils and take a deep inhale before blowing into your mouth.
Then, to prevent air loss, tightly close your lips around your mouth. The chest will increase after that.
Remove your lips and allow your chest to drop. Continue to provide around 10 breaths per minute until breathing resumes or assistance comes.
3. Circulation is the third letter of the alphabet.
By touching Adam’s apple with two fingers, you may check for circulation and discover whether the heart is beating.
Feel the pulse by sliding your fingertips to the side of your windpipe. Use chest compressions to attempt to restart the heart if it has stopped beating.
Place one hand flat at the spot where the rib meets the breastbone, and the other hand on top of it, fingers locked together. Then, with your arms straight, press down 4 to 5 cm on the breast bone.
Then, at a pace of roughly 80 per minute, release the pressure and repeat the compression. If the victim continues to have trouble breathing, alternate 15 compressions with two breaths until aid comes.
Apply tight pressure to the wound for 15 minutes to stop bleeding and never use a tourniquet.
Medicines and a First-Aid Kit
Everyone these days must use a first aid kit at some time. So, make time to prepare home & travel kits for you and your family’s safety. First aid kits may be comprehensive or essential.
What you need is determined by your medical training and the distance between you and the expert’s therapeutic assistance.
Furthermore, commercially accessible ready-made first-aid kits may be found anywhere from outdoor outlets to chain stores. It is, however, simple to construct your own affordable and practical first aid kits.
1. Anti-inflammatory drugs for back pain, ankle sprains, and headaches
If you could only have one item in your first-aid kit, it would have to be pain medicine. As a result, most injuries and conditions generate discomfort, and you’ll want to reach for them at least once a year, if not more.
Acetaminophen is the most used pain reliever in this country. It has specific interactions, few adverse effects, and is generally safe to use for most people. Since a result, be careful to just take the appropriate amount, as too much might be harmful to the liver.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen alleviate pain while also reducing inflammation.
2. Heartburn, dyspepsia, or indigestion relief
Foods that are spicy, oily, or fatty may wreak havoc on your digestive system. Overeating meals too quickly might also be harmful. It’s why, for gastrointestinal treatment, you should include a package of Tums or a bottle of Maalox in your bag.
However, any stomach pain, bloating, or heartburn that occurs on a regular basis, regardless of what you eat, should be checked out by a doctor. Indigestion is a symptom of a variety of illnesses, some of which are more serious than others.
3. Have a cough suppressant on hand.
It may be aggravating for the whole family if you have excessive coughing, especially at night.
So if you have a cough suppressant like Dextromethorphan in your medical cabinet to put and halt the cough, you will be showered with gratitude.
Here, you must confirm that a dry cough is not accompanied by any other alarming symptoms. It is important to get medical assistance immediately away if they are short of breath, have a fever, or are a small kid.
Coughs that are most soothed by expectorants like Guaifenesin (Mucinex) sound chestier now. It will make it easier for you to cough.
Providing First Aid in a Variety of Situations
(In the event of an injury or bleeding, a fracture, electric shock, a burn, a snake bite, or a dog bite)
1. Bleeding Treatments
If someone is bleeding profusely, the primary priority should be to stop the bleeding and reduce the consequences of shock.
You should call an ambulance as soon as possible. If you have disposable gloves, put them on to limit the chance of spreading an illness. Make sure there’s nothing stuck in the wound.
If this is the case, avoid pressing down on the item. To prevent placing pressure on the item, push hard on each side of it and create up padding around it before bandaging.
If nothing is embedded, apply & maintain pressure to the wound with your gloved hand, using a clean pad or dressing if possible. You should still apply pressure until the bleeding stops.
Apply a new dressing to the wound and secure it with a bandage. If bleeding persists through the pad, put pressure to the wound until it stops bleeding, then apply another one on top and secure it with a bandage.
Check that the bleeding has stopped before removing the bandage or pad. If a bodily part, like as a finger, has been cut, place it in a plastic bag and wrap it in cling film so that it may be sent to the hospital with the victim.
2. Electric Shock First Aid (domestic)
If someone has received an electric shock, turn off the power at the breaker box to sever the connection between the electrical supply and the victim.
If you can’t get to the main supply, don’t approach or touch the individual until you’re sure the power is turned off. When the power has been turned off and the individual isn’t breathing, call an ambulance.
Unless the electric shock is extremely minimal, seek medical assistance.
3. Burns First Aid
Hold the injured under cold running water or cover it with a cool damp cloth until the pain goes away. Tape, gauge, or a loose bandage may be used to cover any minor blisters.
If you have burns on your hands, face, or genitals, or if they are larger than 1/4 inch elsewhere on your body, see a doctor right once. Go to the emergency room if the damage seems to be deep.
Cold compresses should not be used on a burn that covers a tenth of the body or more. To avoid hypothermia, call an ambulance and cover yourself with a clean sheet or blanket until aid comes. Make sure you don’t pop any blisters yourself.
If the skin breaks, use antibiotic cream and a gauge or bandage to cover the area until it heals. Keep an eye out for any indications of infection, such as discharge, pain, swelling, or redness.
4. Snake Bite First Aid
It’s possible that the snake is poisonous. If a snake bites a human, he or she will have difficulties breathing and may lose consciousness. Treat as a puncture wound if you know the snake isn’t deadly.
To begin, make a mental note of the snake’s appearance and be prepared to explain it to emergency personnel. Then, while waiting for medical assistance, either guard the victim or relocate him out of the snake’s reach and lay him down with the wound below the heart.
To prevent the venom from spreading, keep the sufferer quiet and at rest. Cover the wound with a sterile, loose bandage. Remove any jewelry from the affected region, as well as shoes if the foot or leg has been bitten.
Do not:
- Give the individual alcohol, caffeine-containing beverages, or any other drugs.
- Use a tourniquet, ice, or water to relieve the pain.
- Attempt to suck the poison out of the snake.
- a biting wound should be cut
Finally, make an appointment with a medical professional. Treatment in the hospital will be determined by the type of snake; if the snake is poisonous, anti-venom will be administered. A tetanus shot is also provided based on the previous injection date.
5. Fractures and First Aid
Fractures are shattered bones that may happen as a consequence of falls or other types of trauma. When this occurs, the afflicted region must be immobilized and no manipulation should be done.
It is to remember, that a fracture could sever a nerve or a blood vessel if not immobilized, resulting in a much more severe injury. So, it is advisable to immobilize the injured part & transport the patient to a medical clinic or nearest hospital as soon as possible.
First aid is necessary to save lives.
You need an open airway to save a person’s life because it provides a clean channel for air to move via the pharynx, mouth, or nose, and into the lungs without interruption.
People who are conscious will naturally maintain their airways, but those who are unknowing (with a GCS of less than 8) may be unable to supply a stable airway since the portion of the brain that breaths normally regulates what it can’t do.
If the patient was breathing, an aider would place them in the recovery posture on a regular basis, and the patient would bend over, which would also clear the debris from the throat. It also prevents reabsorbing the contents of the stomach, which is a common cause of mortality in unconscious patients.
Choking is a condition in which the airway is closed by a foreign item lodged in the throat or larynx. Eider will first teach a mix of ‘back slaps’ and ‘belly thrusts’ to cope with it.
The first castor will check to see whether the patient is breathing once the airway has been opened. The first Eider will do CPR, which involves breathing for the patient, if someone is not breathing or the patient is not breathing regularly, such as agonal breathing. Also, gently massage the heart to improve blood circulation throughout the body.
If the kneeling individual is a newborn, the assistant will deliver five powerful strikes to the infant’s upper back by putting the baby’s face downward. If the infant can cry or cough, the assistant will be instructed to refrain from administering first aid.
Coughing and sobbing signal that the airway is open, and that foreign matter is likely to escape via the coughing or crying force.
First-aid training
Fundamental values, such as understanding how to use an adhesive bandage or exerting direct pressure to stop bleeding, are commonly acquired via passive learning.
Delivering effective, life-saving first aid interventions, on the other hand, needs teaching and hands-on experience. It mostly corrects errors in illnesses and injuries that are potentially lethal, such as those needing CPR.
These operations may be invasive, putting both the patient and the practitioner at risk. It’s always better to learn something before you need it, and in many countries, emergency ambulance dispatchers may deliver basic first aid instructions over the phone. The ambulance, on the other hand, is on its way.
Attending a course provides training, which is normally required for certification. Attendance at regular revision courses or re-certification is often necessary due to continual modifications in procedures and protocols based on up-to-date clinical information.
Local groups such as the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, as well as commercial providers that will teach individuals for a charge, are frequently able to give first aid training.
This kind of vocational training is most often used to teach workers how to provide first aid in the workplace. Many community organizations also provide a commercial service to support their community initiatives.
Types of First Aid that need certification
There are many different forms of first aid (and first aiders) that need specialized training. These are frequently carried out to fulfill the needs of the job or activity.
Professionals such as lifeguards, professional mariners, and diver rescues typically perform aquatic / marine first aid. It addresses particular issues that may arise after a water-based rescue or a delayed medivac.
During armed conflict, Warring First Aid takes into mind the unique demands of treating injured fighters and non-combatants.
Underwater diving specialists who need to address illnesses like decomposition disease may use hyperbaric first aid.
Oxygen first aid is designed to help those who are suffering from hypoxia-related illnesses. It’s also a required first-aid practice for underwater diving activities in which a gas bubble might develop in the tissues.
Jungle first aid is the provision of first aid in situations when an injured person’s emergency evacuation or removal may be delayed owing to geography, weather, or a lack of available equipment. Care for an injured person may be necessary for many hours or days.
Physical and mental health first aid are taught separately. It explains how to help someone who is having an emotional health condition or is in a crisis. Also, to recognize the early signs of someone developing mental illness and direct them to the right resources.
Services for First Aid
Some persons get special training to offer first aid during public or private events, while filming, or other public gatherings.
They may be referred to as first eiders or by another name. This function may be taken up on a volunteer basis with groups like the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, or as a paid contract with a medical contractor.
People who undertake first aid jobs, whether professionally or voluntarily, are often required to have extensive first-aid training and are typically uniform.
The “abc of first aid pdf” is a PDF document that has the ABCs of first aid. The document is meant to be used as a guide for people who want to learn more about first aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ABC method in first aid?
A: The ABC Method is an acronym that stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. It is used as a basic first aid measure to help with breathing or circulation when someone has trouble doing it on their own.
What are the 5 main aim and principles of first aid?
A: The first aid principles are to stop the bleeding, identify and treat any injuries, prevent further injury by controlling movement and providing support.
What are 10 items in a first aid first a kit?
A: The following items are found in the first aid kit.
Bandages – Gauze pads, cotton cloths
Blister strips (plastic) – Bandage-like adhesive with a strong grip on one side and an open cell design on the other that wont stick to your skin
Cotton rollers – Rolled pieces of soft material used as padding or to clean out wounds
Disinfectant wipes/spray – Cloth soaked with a solution of water and alcohol or bleach, which kills germs and viruses; also absorbs odors from mildewy bandages
Elastic wraps (cuffs) – Elastic bandage wrapped around limb for immobilization during treatment
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