FIRST AID

DEFINITION
First aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to a casualty
for any injury or sudden illness before the arrival of an
ambulance, doctor or other qualified person.

AIMS OF FIRST AID

To save the life
To ease the pain
To limit the effects of the condition
To promote recovery
To prevent conditions that might increase the original injury
To arrange for transportation to the hospital

IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID

The immediate objective of first aid at a given situation is to save the life of
the individual.
It is the first objective of first aid to reduce pain.
First aid should help to avoid further injury. It should correct situations,
which tend to increase the original injury.
The first aid should form a basis for subsequent treatment by the doctor or
the hospital staff.
It can be done by supplying details of accident, injury, the first aid treatment
given, etc. The ultimate aim of first aid is to prevent disability and death.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF
FIRST AID

1. Be in control, both of yourself and the problem.

2. Act calmly and logically
3. Be gentle but firm speak to the casualty kindly but purposefully.
4. Build up trust while talking to the casualty throughout the examination and treatment.
5. Explain what you are going to do.
6. Answer honestly and say no if you do not know. Avoid misleading information.
7. Never leave the casualty alone. Continue to talk to him or her and hold his hands.
8. Reassure the casualty.
9. Do not separate a child from its parents or guardian.
10. Casualty should be sent to a hospital or doctor by quickest means of transport. Always
inform police about serious accidents.
11. Inform the relatives.

GOLDEN RULES OF FIRST AID

1. Do first things first quickly quietly without fuss or panic.

2. Give artificial respiration, if breathing has stopped every second counts.
3. Stop any bleeding.
4. Guard against or treat for shock by moving the casualty as little as possible and handling
him gently.
5. Do not attempt too much do the minimum that is essential to save life and prevent the
condition from worsening.
6. Reassure the casualty and those around thus help to lessen anxiety.
7. Do not allow people to crowd a round, as fresh air is essential..
8. Do not remove clothes unnecessarily.
9. Arrange for the removal of the casualty to the care of a doctor or hospital, as soon as
possible.

CONCEPT OF EMERGENCY

Preparing For Emergencies

Following thigs should be done:
1. Keep important information about you and your family in a handy place.
Information regarding address, age, medical condition, allergies,
prescription, doctors name and phone number.
2. Keep the emergency:
- Learn and stay practiced in first aid skills such as cardiopulmonary
resuscitation(CPR)
- Keep the first aid kit readily available in your home, workplace, leisure
center, and cars. Any first aid kit must be kept in a dry place and checked and
replenished regularly, so that items are always ready for use.

Goals Of Emergency Medical Treatment

When care is being given to a patient in an emergency situation, many crucial decisions must be
made.
The major goals of emergency medical treatment are:
1. To preserve life.
2. To prevent deterioration before more definitive treatment can be given.
3. To restore the patient to useful living.

Principles Applied In Emergency Management

The following principle are applicable to the emergency management of any

patient:
1. Maintain a patent airway and provide adequate ventilation, employing
resuscitation measures when necessary. Assess for chest injuries with
subsequent airway obstruction.
2. Control hemorrhage and its consequences.
3. Evaluate and restore cardiac output.
4. Prevent and treat shock; maintain or restore effective circulation.
5. Carry out a rapid initial and ongoing physical examination; the clinical
course of the injured or seriously ill patient is not static.

6. Assess whether or not the patient can follow commands, evaluate the size
and reactivity of the pupils and motor responses.
7. Start electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. If appropriate.
8. Splint suspected fractures, including fractures of the cervical spine in
patients with head injuries.
9. Protect wounds with sterile dressings.
10. Check to see if the patient has a medical alert tag or any similar
identification designating allergies.
11. Start a flow sheet of the patients vital signs, blood pressure., Neurologic
status etc. To guide decision making.

FIRST AID KIT

BOX CONTAINING:
1. COTTON BALL
2. GAUZE DRESSING 5 AND 10 CM IN INDIVIDUAL STERILE PACKAGE.
3. ADHESIVE TAPE
4. SCISSORS
5. ARTERY FORCEPS
6. THUMB FORCEPS
7. CLINICAL THERMOMETER
8. BLUE, BLACK AND RED PEN
9. PAPER BAG
10. SMALL DIARY

11. TORCH
12. EYE/EAR DROPS
13. BANDAGE
14. DETTOL LIQUID
15. DETTOL SOAP
16. INCH TAPE
17. NAIL CUTTER
18. GLOVES 6 SIZE
19. CRAPE BANDAGE
20. SOFRAMYCIN TUBE
21. ORS PACKET 1
22. TABLET RANITIDINE, NORFLOXCIN, DOMEPERIDONE, PARACETAMOL,
AMOXICILLIN.
23. EYE PAD.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. I Clement, Textbook On First Aid & Emergency Nursing, Edition 1st,

Page No: 1-8.
2. Ajay Singh, First Aid & Emergency Care, Edition 9th (Reprinted), Page
No: 1-4
3. L.C.Gupta, Manual Of First Aid, Edition 1st (Reprinted), Page No: 1-5