Emergency First Aid Basics, CPR

• First aid provides immediate assistance to someone facing a medical emergency.
• The goal of first aid is to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, and promote recovery until medical services arrive.

ABC of First Aid

• A stands for Airway
• B stands for Breathing
• C stands for Circulation
• Always ensure the airway is clear, check for breathing, and if they are not breathing, start CPR.
• The main aim of first aid is diagnosis, treatment, and transport, represented by DDT.

Role of a First Aider

• Remain calm, firm and act fast.

First Report Form (FRF) includes these details

• Name of Casualty
• Address
• Age
• Gender
• Pulse Rate
• Date of Incident
• Time of Incident
• Place of Incident
• Syndrome
• Diagnosis
• Treatment

CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

• CPR is an emergency procedure performed when someone's heart has stopped beating (cardiac arrest) or when they've stopped breathing.

Chest Compressions

• Placing the person: position the person on their back on a firm, flat surface.
• Hand placement: Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the person's chest (lower half of the breastbone). Place your other hand on top of the first, interlacing your fingers.
• Compression technique details: position your body so your shoulders are directly over your hands.
• Push straight down, compressing the chest at least 2 inches (5 centimetres) for adults
• Compress at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute
• Allow the chest to recoil completely after each compression

Rescue Breaths (If trained)

• Open the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift manoeuvre. Gently tilt the person's head back and lift their chin.
• Seal and breathe: Pinch the person's nose closed, make a complete seal over their mouth with yours, and give two rescue breaths
• Each breath should last about one second and make the chest rise
• Cycles: Continue cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths

Cuts

• Cuts usually result in bleeding, which can be either internal or external.
• When dealing with a cut, aim to stop the bleeding and prevent infection.
• Procedure for handling cuts:
• The 3C rule: Control - Clean - Cover
• Control the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth, gauze, or bandage.
• Cover the wound with a clean bandage to keep it clean and protected from further injury.

Fracture

• Signs of a fracture are Pain, Loss of Power, Irregularity, Swelling, Deformation, Unnatural Movement, and Crepitus.
• Aim: When dealing with a suspected fracture, the primary goal of first aid is to immobilize the injured area to prevent further damage.
• The key principles of a fracture are immobilization, minimize movement, control bleeding, and reduce swelling.
• Immobilization crucial to prevent movement of the fractured bone, as moving it can cause further injury to tissues, nerves, and blood vessels.
• Minimize Movement: Do not attempt to straighten or realign the broken bone.
• Control Bleeding: For an open fracture, control bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth.
• Reduce Swelling: Apply a cold compress (wrapped in a cloth) to the injured area to help reduce swelling and pain.
• Immobilize the Injured Area: Use a splint if possible, made from rigid materials like cardboard, rolled-up magazines, or wood
• The splint should extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture
• If you don't have materials for a splint, try to support the injured limb in a comfortable position
• For arm fractures, a sling can provide support.
• A splint is a device that supports and immobilizes an injured body part to reduce pain and prevent further injury.

Recognizing Choking

• Mild Choking (Incomplete): The person can still cough forcefully
• Encourage them to keep coughing to dislodge the object
• Severe Choking (Complete): The person cannot speak, cough, or breathe; they clutch their throat (the universal choking sign); they may have bluish skin; they may become panicked.

Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Manoeuvre)

• If back blows don't dislodge the object, begin abdominal thrusts
• Stand behind the person and place one fist slightly above their navel
• Grasp your fist with your other hand and press inward and upward with a quick, forceful thrust
• Give five abdominal thrusts.

Bandage

• Bandage Purpose: protecting wounds, controlling bleeding, supporting injuries, or holding dressings in place.
• Types of bandages: roller bandages and triangular bandages.