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First Aid Basics: Definitions and Principles

This document provides an introduction to first aid, including definitions of terms, reasons for providing first aid such as sustaining life and preventing complications, and the values of first aid training. It outlines general principles for giving first aid, such as assessing the situation, identifying problems, and providing treatment while prioritizing more urgent casualties. Proper assessment involves checking for breathing, bleeding and consciousness level while identifying problems includes examining signs and symptoms and obtaining a history.

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Dagmawit Girma
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8 views15 pages

First Aid Basics: Definitions and Principles

This document provides an introduction to first aid, including definitions of terms, reasons for providing first aid such as sustaining life and preventing complications, and the values of first aid training. It outlines general principles for giving first aid, such as assessing the situation, identifying problems, and providing treatment while prioritizing more urgent casualties. Proper assessment involves checking for breathing, bleeding and consciousness level while identifying problems includes examining signs and symptoms and obtaining a history.

Uploaded by

Dagmawit Girma
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION TO FIRST AID

Session outlines:
 Definition of terms

 Reasons for first-aid

 Values of first-aid training

 General directions /principles to give first-aid


DEFINITION
 First aid is the immediate care given to a
person who has been injured or suddenly
taken ill.
 It includes home care if medical assistance is
not available or delayed.
 It also includes well selected words of
encouragement, evidence of willingness to
help, and promotion of confidence by
demonstration of competence (American red
cross, 1998).
REASONS FOR FIRST AID GIVING
 To sustain (preserve) life.
E.g. mouth to mouth respiration when
breathing has stopped.
 To prevent worsening of the problem
(complication).
E.g. Immobilizing the fractured bone.
 To promote healing and recovery

e.g., reassuring patient, relief pain, protect


from cold and arrange patient transfer
VALUES OF FIRST AID TRAINING
 The need for first aid training is greater than
ever because of population growth through
out the world and
 Due to the increased use of technological
products; such as mechanical and electrical
appliances in everyday use at home, working
place and play areas which make more people
at risk of injury.
VALUES…
 Double burden of disease in our country
 In general first aid is aimed to provide help
for others, preparation for knowing what to
do during disaster as well as to help oneself.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS TO GIVE FIRST
AID
Responsibility of a first - aider in the management of
casualty :-
 Assessment of the situation
 Identify the problem

 Giving immediate and adequate treatment, bearing


in mind that a casualty may have more than one
injury and that some casualties will require more
urgent attention than others (to give priority).
CONT…
 Arrangement for the transport of casualty
according to the seriousness of his/her
condition with out delay accompanied with
brief written report.
 Prevent cross infection
1/ ASSESSMENT

• Be calm, take charge and be confident


• Talk to, listen and reassure the conscious
casualty
• Check safety of casualty and of yourself and
check for breathing, bleeding and level of
consciousness.
• Get others to help.
1/ ASSESSMENT….
1/ ASSESSMENT….
2/PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
(DIAGNOSIS)
 Examination made to determine the signs and
symptoms and level of consciousness.
 History:-The story of how the accident
happened or the illness began can be
obtained from:-
• The causality ( e.g. I slipped and fall down)
• A witness or a bystander(s)
2/PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION…
 Points to be considered during history taking:
 Any history of illness: Eg. Epilepsy, Diabetes
mellitus,
 For history of ingested material E.g. Drug,
Alcohol, type of food or fluid
LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS
 Recognition of any change of level of
consciousness is important
 Full consciousness- the casualty is able to speak
and answer questions normally.
 Drowsiness- the casualty is easily aroused but
lapses in to unconscious state.
 Stupor –the casualty can be aroused with
difficulty, aware of painful stimuli.
CONT...
E.g. pin prick, but not of other external
elements like being spoken to.
• Coma - cannot be roused by any stimuli.

NB: In general make full use of your senses to


obtain maximum information (Look, smell,
listen and touch).
CONT…
 Action: - If the cause of the condition is
still active, remove the cause.
E.g. -a lodging of wood on the causalities
leg,contaminated clothing
 Remove the causality from the cause, such as
traffic, fire, water, poisonous fumes. etc.

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