Basic First Aid

DRABCD
D – Danger – Check for danger to you, the casualty and others

R – Response – Squeeze the casualties shoulder and ask them their name

A – Airways - Check if Airway is clear, if blocked put them in recovery position and clear any
visible blockages

B – Breathing – look and feel for signs of breathing such as chest movement and air from
mouth and nose

If there is no breathing get someone to call 000

Sufficient breathing is minimum of 2 breathes in 10 seconds

C – CPR - if there are no signs of life (movement responses breathing) begin CPR

 Place Heel of hand on lower breast in centre of chest and place the other hand on
top of the first hand. For infants (0-12 months) 2 fingers is used in the centre of the
chest between the nipples
 Press 1/3 deep in the chest
 Give 30 compressions to 2 breathes
 Try to achieve 5 sets (30:2) in 2 min
 If any signs of life are seen immediately check if the casualty is breathing (do a ten
second check and if still no signs of life return to CPR)

D – Use defibrillator if available.

Choking

 Encourage person to relax and breathe deep, and cough to remove blockage
 If this doesn’t work call 000
 Bend Casualty forward and give 5 blows to between the shoulder blades
If that doesn’t work;
 Give 5 sharp thrusts to the chest in CPR position
 If blockage is still there alternate between blows to the back and thrusts to the
chest until ambulance arrives. If casualty loses consciousness follow DRABCD
Poisoning
 Follow DRABCD
 Call 000
 Call poison information centre 131126
 Monitor airway and breathing
 Do not induce vomiting unless advised by Poison information centre

Burns
 If clothes are on fire stop drop n roll or roll the victim on the ground till fire is out
 Use a fire blanket if available
 Cool burnt area under water for at least 10 min or at least 20 min for chemical burn
 Remove clothing and jewellery from burnt area unless its sticking to the burn
 Place sterile non adherent dressing sheet over the burn
 Seek medical aid

Bleeding
1. Apply pressure to the wound
 Remove or cut clothes to expose the wound
 Wear gloves if available
 Apply direct pressure on the wound using sterile or clean dressing pad
2. Raise and support injured part
 Lie casualty down and raise injury above heart
3. Bandage
 Bandage dressing and pad firmly in place
 If bleeding continues apply another bandage and dressing
 If bleeding continues seek medical aid

Sprains and Strains

R.I.C.E

R – Rest injured part in a comfortable place

I – ICE place icepack on injured part for 15 min every 2 hours for 24 hours

C – Apply Compression bandages firmly compressing beyond the injury

E – Elevate the injured area unless you suspect a fracture

Minor Injuries
Nose bleeds
 Sit up with head slightly forward
 Pinch soft part of the nose for 10 min
 Breathe through the mouth do no blow nose
 Loosen tight clothes around the neck
 Apply cold pack to neck and forehead
 If bleeding persist seek medical aid

Scrapes and grazes

 Wash with running water
 Cover with non-stick dressing and tape or bandage in place

Tooth knocked out

 Clean with milk or casualties own saliva
 Get casualty to hold it in place
 If unable to put the tooth back wrap in plastic or store in milk or sterile saline and
get to a dentist
 If tooth came in contact with dirt or soil advise casualty to get a tetanus shot

Asthma
If person is suffering an asthma attack sit them upright on a chair with their hands on their
knees. Give them four puffs of their inhaler, through a spacer will achieve best results, make
shift spacers can be made from empty drink bottles.

On each puff make sure the casualty holds inhaler in their lungs for 10 seconds

After the first 4 puffs, wait 4 minutes; if conditions have not improved provide the casualty
with 4 more puffs again making sure they hold their breath for 10 sec on each puff.

Wait 1 min if no improvements call 000

Continue giving casualty 4 puffs and wait 4 min 4 puffs wait four min… until ambulance
arrives

If patient stops breathing in this time and passes out continue with DRABCD response, most
likely starting from Airways as it has already been established that there is no danger or
response from the casualty.

Heart conditions
Angina
If someone is having chest pains and says they have angina they will probably have
medication. Provide them with their medication, check with them first if you have the
correct medication by reading the name of the medication to them. Immediately after they
take the medication start timing and if conditions haven’t improved in 10 minutes call an
ambulance.

Heart Attack
If someone is suffering chest pains, sit them upright in a chair with their hands on their
knees. Ask them if they have had these pains before. If they say they may be having a heart
attack so call 000. If advised by 000, give the casualty 300mg of aspirin. Do not give them
aspirin if;

1. They are allergic

2. They are currently on any other anticoagulant (blood thinner)
3. If they suffer from asthma (1/20 asthma sufferers don’t know they are allergic to
aspirin)

Congestive Heart Failure

After someone suffers from a heart attack they will now most likely have congestive heart
failure. Part of the heart muscle has died and the heart no longer has a full function. This
leads to tiredness, dull skin, fluid retention and many other problems which all add up to a
very low standard of life.

Cardiac arrest
When the heart stops- CPR is required – Follow DRABCD procedure and remember once you
start CPR do not stop unless someone is going to take over or you have seen signs of life and
are checking for normal breathing.

Important Notes
Remember – when performing first aid you should always be sensitive to religious beliefs,
always get permission from a conscious casualty before starting first aid if the casualty
refuses then you cannot give them first aid. You can try to reason with them though; if a
person is unconscious you have implied consent. When giving first aid to a minor try to
always have witnesses and if possible get consent from the parent or guardian. After
providing first aid, document everything that has happened as soon as possible, and keep all
documentation for seven years after the incident. If the incident involved a minor keep you
may need to keep the documents for up to 25 years. Remember you are protected by the
law under the Civil Liability Act.