First Aid Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is the first step in providing first aid in an emergency situation?

Remove the casualty from danger or remove further danger from the casualty (correct)

Reassure the casualty to give them confidence

Call the nearest police station or ambulance

Treat the most urgent condition first

What should you do with an unconscious casualty?

Try to wake them up by shouting or shaking them

Place them in a prone position or lying in recumbent position with the head turned to the side (correct)

Give them something to drink to help them regain consciousness

Leave them alone to rest

What should you do if the casualty is bleeding by mouth and vomiting?

Call for help immediately (correct)

Give them a drink to help them stop bleeding

Give them something to eat to help them feel better

Try to stop the bleeding yourself

What should you do if you suspect a fracture?

Support the limb or part most carefully Signup and view all the answers

What should you do with unskilled onlookers in an emergency situation?

Ask them to call for help Signup and view all the answers

What should you avoid giving to a casualty?

Alcoholic stimulants to help them feel better Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when treating a casualty?

Only apply treatments you have been taught Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you need to lift a casualty?

Get sufficient helpers to lift them carefully Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of first aid?

To save or preserve life Signup and view all the answers

What should a first aider do in a dangerous situation?

Assess the situation without endangering self or casualty Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a first aider?

Being tactful and gentle Signup and view all the answers

What should a first aider do when assessing the casualty?

Assess the general condition of the casualty Signup and view all the answers

What is an emergency priority in first aid?

Severe bleeding Signup and view all the answers

What should a first aider do when dealing with a casualty?

Be gentle and speak softly to the casualty Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of a first aider's knowledge?

Having the necessary knowledge of first aid Signup and view all the answers

What should you do first in an emergency situation?

Take a moment to think Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a first aider in relation to medical attention?

To arrange for medical attention Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a first aider in an emergency situation?

To arrange for transportation to a hospital Signup and view all the answers

What should you do before helping a casualty in a life-threatening situation?

Determine if the scene is safe Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the scope of first aid?

Assessment/Diagnosis Signup and view all the answers

What should you avoid doing in an emergency situation?

Attempting to do too much alone Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you encounter a life-threatening situation, such as a fire outbreak?

Evacuate the casualty or move the casualty if possible Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of scene assessment or survey?

To identify potential dangers Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you encounter a victim with seizures or pain in the abdomen?

Arrange for transportation to a hospital without delay Signup and view all the answers

What should you check for in the mouth during the examination of a casualty?

Foreign bodies, dentures, and wounds Signup and view all the answers

Why should you loosen tight clothing around the neck and chest?

To improve respiration and circulation Signup and view all the answers

What should you check for when examining the ribcage?

Deformities and tenderness Signup and view all the answers

Why should you check the casualty's fingers?

To check for needle marks Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you suspect impairment of movement in the casualty?

Do not move the casualty to examine the spine Signup and view all the answers

What should you check for when examining the abdomen?

Bleeding and tenderness Signup and view all the answers

Why should you only expose the part of the body being examined?

To reduce the risk of further injury Signup and view all the answers

What should you take at the wrist during the examination of a casualty?

Pulse Signup and view all the answers

When removing clothing from a casualty, what should you do?

Cut the cloth carefully at the seams Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of anaphylaxis?

Insect bites Signup and view all the answers

What is the initial treatment for a bone fracture?

Stabilizing the fracture with a splint Signup and view all the answers

What can happen as a result of a burn?

Damage to tissues and loss of body fluids Signup and view all the answers

What is a condition that can occur during heavy exercise in high humidity?

Heat stroke Signup and view all the answers

What is a condition that can cause potentially fatal swelling of the brain or lungs?

Altitude sickness Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to prevent heat loss in a casualty?

Covering with a blanket Signup and view all the answers

What can happen if a person is unconscious for more than two hours?

Permanent disability Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

First Aid Definition

First aid is the immediate care or treatment given to a casualty who is injured or suddenly taken ill, using available resources before the arrival of an ambulance or qualified medical expert.

Aims of First Aid

To save or preserve life
To prevent further illness or injuries from becoming worse
To promote recovery
To relieve pain as far as possible
To arrange for medical attention for the patient in a hospital

Characteristics of a First Aider

Must be smart and quick
Must be sympathetic and understanding
Must have necessary knowledge and be resourceful
Must be gentle and not cause pain
Must be tactful and not alarm the casualty
Must be able to act quickly and improvise
Must have common sense
Must appreciate that sometimes the less interference, the better
Must be observant and note all signs and symptoms
Must be courageous

Responsibilities of a First Aider

To assess the situation without endangering self or casualty
To assess the casualties (major and minor conditions, people involved, general condition, emergencies, complications, or serious injuries)
To identify emergency priorities (interference with breathing, severe hemorrhage, vomiting blood, cardiac arrest, unconsciousness, victim with seizures or pain in the abdomen)
To arrange for transportation without delay to a hospital
To send for help and provide information to the ambulance or police

Scope of First Aid

Assessment/Diagnosis: assessment of the situation to determine the urgent case to be attended to
Treatment: care to be given in urgent situations before medical aid arrives
Disposal: sending the casualty to a safer environment and then to the hospital

Action to Take During an Emergency

Work with a clear plan during emergency
Control your feelings and take a moment to think
Do not place yourself in danger
Use common sense
Do not attempt too much alone
Beware of potential dangers
Use your eyes, ears, and nose to look for clues
Assess the situation and determine if the scene is safe
Make the area safe and evacuate the casualty or move the casualty if possible
Give emergency help and get help, send or call for help

General Principles/Rules of First Aid

Remove the casualty from danger or remove further danger from the casualty
Treat the most urgent condition first in order of precedence (apparent cessation of breathing, severe hemorrhage, shock, unconscious casualties)
Do not give anything by mouth to unconscious casualties
Call for help when necessary
Reassure the casualty to give them confidence
Write messages simply to avoid misinterpretation of information
Never apply treatment you have not been taught
Do not give alcoholic stimulants to the casualty
Organize unskilled onlookers to assist in any way possible
Control bystanders and onlookers by sending them away from the casualty
Avoid further injury by handling the casualty properly
If suspected fracture, support the limb or part most carefully
Do not lift the casualty unless there are sufficient helpers

Conditions that Often Require First Aid

Altitude sickness
Anaphylaxis
Bone fracture
Burns
Cardiac arrest
Choking
Childbirth
Cramps in muscles
Diving disorders, drowning, or asphyxiation
Gender-specific conditions (dysmenorrhea, testicular torsion)
Heart attack
Heat stroke/heat syncope
Unconsciousness for more than two hours

Examination of the Casualty

Record rate, depth, and nature of respiration
Check for foreign bodies in the mouth, eyes, and wounds
Check for any medical alert or talisman that may contain certain information
Loosen tight clothing around the neck and chest
Look for any injuries or irregularities on the skin
Run your finger gently along the spine to detect irregularities
Ask the casualty to breathe deeply and note whether the chest expands evenly
Feel the collar bones and shoulders for any deformity
Check movements in the elbow, wrist, and fingers
Take pulse at the wrist
Gently feel the front of the abdomen for bleeding and identify rigidity and tenderness
Feel both sides of the hips for any fracture or incontinence
Ask the casualty to raise their legs in turns and move their ankle and knee
Look and feel for bleeding, swelling, deformity, or tenderness in the legs
Check for movement and feeling in all toes

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Description

Understand the definition and aims of first aid, including immediate care and treatment for injuries and sudden illnesses before medical help arrives.