“7 Essential Principles of First Aid: Importance, Role of First Aider, and Key Procedures”

“Discover the 7 essential principles of first aid. These include its importance, the golden role of the first aider, and critical procedures. These principles guarantee proper care in emergencies.”

Definition of First Aid:

First aid is the immediate care provided to a person experiencing sudden injury. It is also given to those with an illness before professional medical help arrives. It’s meant to stabilize the person and prevent their condition from worsening until further assistance is available.

Importance of First Aid: (4 Ps)

1. Preserves Life – Immediate action can prevent death in emergencies like heart attacks, choking, or severe injuries.
2. Prevents Worsening – First aid prevents further harm or complications by offering prompt care.
3. Promotes Recovery – Simple interventions like cleaning a wound or stabilizing a fracture aid in quicker recovery.
4. Provides Comfort – Eases pain or discomfort until professional help arrives.

Aims of First Aid:

1. Preserve Life – Act to keep the person alive.
2. Prevent Further Harm – Avoid worsening of the condition.
3. Promote Recovery – Help the injured heal faster.
4. Make sure Safe Transportation – Help in safely transferring the person to a medical facility.

Why First Aid is Important:

• Empowers people to help in emergencies like accidents, heart attacks, strokes, or seizures.
• Reduces the severity of the emergency.
• Helps individuals in daily life, especially those who care for people with special needs, chronic illnesses, or disabilities.

Historical Context:

• Organized first aid efforts began in 1877 with the St. John Ambulance Association in England.
• The Red Cross Society of India was established in 1920, enhancing first aid and health promotion across the country.

These key points summarize the essence of first aid and why it’s crucial in everyday life.

7 Basic Principles of First Aid

First aid involves providing immediate care to someone suffering from an injury or illness before professional medical help arrives. By applying these principles, a first aider can significantly impact the well-being of a casualty:

1. Don’t Panic: Stay calm. Panic leads to mistakes and poor decisions.
2. Make a Careful Assessment: Evaluate the situation and find the cause of injury or illness.
3. Preserve Life: Protect both the casualty and yourself from danger. Avoid becoming a casualty yourself.
4. Guarantee Protection: Keep the casualty safe from further harm. Control the environment to prevent overcrowding.
5. Offer Pain Relief: Use techniques like applying ice or a sling to reduce pain and give comfort.
6. Prevent Worsening: Avoid moving the casualty unless absolutely necessary. Make sure that your actions do not worsen their condition.
7. Call for Help: Always call for professional help. If alone, give immediate aid first, then seek help.

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Scope of First Aid

The scope of first aid includes diagnosis, treatment, and disposal of the casualty:

1. Diagnosis:

• Gather information from the victim or witnesses about how the injury occurred.
• Notice symptoms (faintness, pain, swelling) and signs (paleness, shivering) to assess the situation.

1. Treatment:

• Remove the cause of injury (e.g., falling objects, fire, electrical hazards).
• Pay special attention to severe cases like bleeding, shock, unconsciousness, and difficulty breathing.

1. Disposal:

Arrange for safe transportation to a hospital or shelter.

Inform family or relatives promptly.

Make sure the casualty is moved without causing further injury.

Golden Rules of First Aid

When providing first aid, it’s essential to follow certain guidelines. This ensures the safety of both the casualty and the responder. The three basic C’s—Check, Call, and Care—are foundational principles for any emergency situation. The three P’s—Preserve Life, Prevent Deterioration, and Promote Recovery—are also fundamental.

The 3 C’s of First Aid:

1. Check: Assess the situation by identifying what has happened. Find out what is wrong with the casualty. Make sure the surroundings are safe.
2. Call: Contact professional medical assistance right away.
3. Care: Give the necessary care to the casualty without moving them unless absolutely necessary.

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10 Golden Rules of First Aid

1. Understand the Environment: Be aware of potential hazards around you and know your limitations.
2. Do First Things First: Act quickly, calmly, and without hesitation. Handle the most urgent needs first.
3. Build Trust: Reassure the casualty and those nearby with confidence and compassion.
4. Start Artificial Respiration if Needed: If breathing is impaired, give artificial respiration to revive normal breathing.
5. Control Bleeding: Apply direct pressure to stop bleeding and prevent further blood loss.
6. Protect Against Trauma: Stabilize fractures, cuts, and injuries carefully without causing further harm.
7. Avoid Unnecessary Removal of Clothing: Only remove clothing if it’s obstructing your ability to offer first aid. Always respect the casualty’s privacy.
8. Remove Crowds: Keep onlookers away to make sure space for medical personnel and fresh air.
9. Only Do What’s Necessary: Focus on actions that prevent the situation from worsening.
10. Arrange for Transportation: Get the casualty to a medical facility or arrange for a doctor’s assistance quickly and safely.

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Role of a First Aider

A First Aider is a trained individual who provides emergency assistance until professional medical help arrives. Their role is crucial in maintaining the safety of the casualty, preventing further injury, and promoting recovery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assessing the situation: Quickly and calmly evaluate the safety of the area and the condition of the casualty.
• Protecting themselves and the casualty: Make sure that neither party is in further danger.
• Providing infection control: Use gloves or other barriers to avoid contamination.
• Comforting and reassuring the casualty: Stay calm, explain your actions, and offer reassurance.
• Administering first aid: Use the primary survey for life-threatening conditions and a secondary survey to find further injuries.
• Calling for help: If needed, make sure emergency services are contacted promptly.

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The DRSABCD Action Plan

The DRSABCD Action Plan is a structured approach to managing a casualty at the scene of an emergency:

1. Danger: Make sure the area is safe for yourself, the casualty, and bystanders.
2. Response: Check if the casualty is conscious by talking or gently shaking them.
3. Send for Help: Call for emergency assistance as soon as possible.
4. Airway: Check and clear the airway to make sure it’s not blocked.
5. Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing. If unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position.
6. Compressions: If the casualty is not breathing, start CPR with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths.
7. Defibrillation: If available, use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore a normal heart rhythm.

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Read more: “7 Essential Principles of First Aid: Importance, Role of First Aider, and Key Procedures”

COURSES

GNM

BSC NURSING

• PATIENT EDUCATION – INDEX
• FIRST AID – INDEX