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PHE Note First Term

First aid is the immediate treatment given to a victim before professional medical care, aimed at saving lives and preventing further injury. A good first aider should be observant, respectful, resourceful, gentle, tactful, and sympathetic. A first aid box contains essential items like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, scissors, tweezers, and pain relievers, and proper procedures must be followed when administering first aid.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views3 pages

PHE Note First Term

First aid is the immediate treatment given to a victim before professional medical care, aimed at saving lives and preventing further injury. A good first aider should be observant, respectful, resourceful, gentle, tactful, and sympathetic. A first aid box contains essential items like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, scissors, tweezers, and pain relievers, and proper procedures must be followed when administering first aid.

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First Aid and Safety Education

First aid is the immediate and temporary treatment given to a victim of an accident or a sick
person before professional medical care is available. It is applied to prevent further injury, reduce
pain experienced by the patient and shock from the injury.

Objectives of First Aid


1. The main objective of first aid is to save the victim’s life.
2. It helps to control bleeding.
3. The knowledge of first aid helps to treat minor injuries like cuts, bites, burns e.t.c.
4. It aims to take victims to the hospital in time.
Characteristics of a Good First Aider
1. A good first aider must be observant and be able to notice all signs.
2. He/she must be respectful in order to maintain a professional and caring attitude.
3. He/she must be resourceful and be able to make use of things at hand.
4. He/she must be gentle in order not to cause more pain for the victim.
5. He/she must be tactful in order not to alarm the victim.
6. He/she should be sympathetic and be able to comfort the victim.

Contents of a First Aid Box


A first aid box contains various items that can be used to provide basic medical attention.
Here are some common items you will find in a first aid box;
1. Adhesive Bandage: this is often referred to as plaster or simply ‘band-aid’. They serve
several important purposes in wound care and are designed to cover and protect small
cuts, scrapes and minor wounds.
2. Antiseptic wipes: they are moist towelettes or disposable pads that are pre-soaked in an
antiseptic solution. These wipes are used for cleaning wounds and preventing infection.
3. Gauze pads: these are sterile absorbent pieces of material designed for various first aid
applications. Their primary purpose is to cover and protect larger wounds, injuries or
surgical incisions.
4. Scissors: scissors are designed to cut various materials and they serve multiple purposes
such as cutting tape, clothing or gauze and so on.
5. Tweezer: tweezers are used to remove splinters or foreign objects from wounds.
6. Cotton balls and swabs: these are useful for cleaning and applying antiseptics.
7. Thermometer: a thermometer is used to check body temperature in case of illness or
fever.
8. Safety pins: safety pins can be both large and small, and they are used for splinter
removal and for securing triangular bandage sling.
9. Pain relievers: pain relievers like paracetamol is included for minor pain or fever
10. Gloves: gloves help protect and maintain a sterile or clean environment when tending to
wounds or injuries.

Standard Procedure in Giving First Aid


1. Do not move the victim from the position you find him/her unless the situation is critical and
may cause further injuries.
2. Check breathing, in the case of stoppage or difficulty in breathing.
3. Clear the mouth and throat from anything causing an obstruction.
4. Apply artificial respiration if necessary.
5. Check pulse, if there is no heartbeat, apply CPR.
6. Check for bleeding.
7. If the patient is unconscious but breathing normally,
• Turn the patient to his/her side with the head lower than the body if there is a back or
neck wound.
• Clear the mouth and throat from obstruction.
8. Do not give anything to drink.
9. Cover wounds with a clean cloth, bandage or dressing.
10. Put a splint on the fractured or dislocated bone.
11. Call for a doctor or take to the nearest hospital.

Safety Education
Safety simply refers to the measures that are taken in order to be free from all types of danger in
the environment. It is the condition of being safe or free from danger, injuries or damages.
Safety Education is the acquisition of knowledge and skills for dealing with emergencies,
resulting from accidents, and also preventing accidents through the early removal of hazards. It
involves teaching and learning about safety precautions in order to avoid or minimize the effects
of danger, it involves repairing faulty equipment and appliances that might cause accidents.

Assignment
1. Name ten (10) contents of a first box

Common questions

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It is critical to avoid moving a victim unless the situation is life-threatening because unnecessary movement might cause additional injury, particularly if the victim has a neck or spine injury. Movement can turn a stable injury into a severe one, increasing the risk of complications. Therefore, assessing the situation and ensuring that moving the victim significantly enhances their chances of survival is crucial before altering their position .

A good first aider must be observant, respectful, resourceful, gentle, tactful, and sympathetic. Being observant allows the first aider to notice all signs of injury or distress, crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Respectfulness maintains a professional and caring attitude, important for gaining the victim's trust. Resourcefulness enables the first aider to use available materials effectively. Gentleness prevents further pain and injury to the victim. Tactfulness helps remain calm and not alarm the patient, while being sympathetic provides comfort and reassurance essential in alleviating shock and anxiety .

Antiseptic tools, like antiseptic wipes in a first aid kit, play a crucial role in preventing infection by cleaning and disinfecting the wound site. They remove bacteria and reduce the risk of infection during the critical period immediately after an injury. Cleaning wounds thoroughly with antiseptic wipes before applying dressings minimizes microbial presence and, consequently, infection risk .

Improper conduct by a first aider can have serious implications on the victim's recovery. For instance, a lack of gentleness could exacerbate the victim's injuries, while inadequate observation might lead to overlooked symptoms. A lack of tactfulness could induce panic or anxiety in the victim, worsening shock. Not being resourceful could result in ineffective use of available supplies, and insufficient respect might harm the victim's trust, compromising the care process .

When attending to an unconscious patient who is breathing normally, the patient should be turned to their side with the head lower than the body if a back or neck wound is present, to prevent aspiration. Clear the mouth and throat of any obstructions to ensure that the airway remains open. It's crucial not to give the patient anything to drink to avoid the risk of choking or aspiration. Cover any wounds with a clean cloth and wait for professional medical assistance .

Prompt hospitalization plays a critical role in first aid and emergency care by ensuring that victims receive comprehensive medical treatment as quickly as possible. First aid provides immediate care to stabilize the patient, but hospitalization facilitates advanced medical techniques necessary for diagnosing and treating injuries or illnesses that require professional attention. Timely hospital visits minimize complications and improve outcomes, as medical professionals can address issues that first aid alone cannot .

Having pain relievers in a first aid kit is significant because they help alleviate minor pains and fevers that could accompany injuries or medical conditions during emergencies. Pain relievers like paracetamol can reduce discomfort for the patient, improve their ability to tolerate injury or treatment, and stabilize vital signs affected by pain, aiding in better overall management of an emergency situation .

Safety education contributes to both preventing accidents and managing emergencies by imparting knowledge and skills that help individuals identify and mitigate hazards. Through education, people learn about safety precautions, such as repairing faulty equipment that might cause accidents and become equipped to handle emergencies effectively. This proactive approach minimizes the impact of emergencies when they occur, reducing the frequency and severity of accidents and ensuring preparedness .

The contents of a first aid box, such as adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, scissors, and gloves, support first aid procedures by providing necessary tools for wound care, infection prevention, and emergency handling. Bandages protect cuts and scrapes; antiseptic wipes clean wounds; gauze pads cover larger wounds; scissors assist in cutting tape or clothing; and gloves ensure a sterile environment. These items enable first aiders to manage injuries effectively until professional help is available .

The primary objectives of first aid are to save the victim's life, control bleeding, treat minor injuries, and ensure timely transport to the hospital. These objectives contribute to emergency management by stabilizing the patient's condition, reducing the risk of complications such as shock or infection, and ensuring that professional medical treatment can be administered as soon as possible .

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