Care

for
Health
NSTPO2-CWTS
 First aid
First aid is the first and
immediate assistance given
to any person suffering from
either a minor or serious
illness or injury, with care
provided to preserve life,
prevent the condition from
worsening, or to promote
recovery.
 Basic
First Aid
 Importance of
First Aid

focuses on
First aid training
providing immediate care to sick or
injured patients until full medical
help is available.

In the time it takes for more

advanced care to arrive, first aid
aims to prevent medical conditions
from deteriorating, help relieve
pain, and provide reassurance
 Principles of
First Aid
Preserve Life
Prevent Deterioration
Promote Recovery
Taking immediate action
Calming down the situation
Calling for medical assistance
Apply the relevant treatment
First aid is promptly helping
people who are suddenly sick
(illnesses) or hurt (injuries or
body damage).

For example, first aid is used at

accidents to help an injured person
until they get medical treatment
(help by doctors, nurses or
ambulances).
 First Aid Kit
Common items found in a first aid kit are:
Bandages, roller bandages, and tape
Sterile gauze
Antiseptic wipes and swabs
Absorbent compresses
Antibiotic cream
Burn ointment
Mask for breathing (rescue
breathing/CPR)
Chemical cold pack
Eyeshield and eyewash
First aid reference guide that includes
local phone numbers
Remember
The decision to act appropriately with first aid can mean the
difference between life and death.
Begin by introducing yourself to the injured or ill person.

Explain that you are a first aid provider and are willing to help.
The person must give you permission to help them;

Do not touch them until they agree to be helped. If you

encounter a confused person or someone who is critically
injured or ill, you can assume that they would want you to help
them.

This is known as "implied consent".

Here are 10 first aid “must-knows” that you can use to treat a
broad array of injuries:

1. Remember the “Three P’s.” Preserve life Prevent further injury Promote
recovery
2. Check the scene for danger before you provide help.
3. To treat cuts and scrapes, apply gentle pressure, disinfectant, and
bandages.
4. To treat sprains, apply ice and compression at intervals and keep the limb
elevated.
5. To treat heat exhaustion, use cool fluids, cool cloths, and shade.
6. To treat hypothermia; use warm fluids and warm covering.
7. To treat burns, determine the burn type and severity. Cover the wound with
loose cloth to prevent infection.
8. Use an EpiPen to treat allergic reactions.
9. To treat fractures, keep the fractured area stable and immobilized, and
apply a cold pack.
10. Perform CPR if an injured person stops breathing
The Four Steps of First Aid
These four first aid steps are:

Assess
Plan
Implement
Evaluate
Step 1: Assess
the situation
Assess the situation and check for any potential dangers to
yourself, bystanders or the patient
check for safety before rushing to the injured patient
make sure the situation is safe for you, the casualty, and other people or
bystanders
if the situation is too dangers, stay back and await professional assistance
Assess the person’s condition:

Ais the victim suffocating or bleeding heavily? In these cases,

act immediately and appropriately
is the person conscious?
is the person breathing normally?
Step 2: Plan for
interventions

Get help:
call for help or ask someone to call for medical or
professional help

Plan first aid interventions:

plan what action to take until professional help arrives,
based on the initial or primary assessment
determine how much help you can give based on what you
know and what skills you have
ensure your own ongoing safety as a rescuer
Step 3: Implement
first aid
Implement first aid:
give first aid for life-threatening emergencies and specific
injuries based on the initial assessment
if emergency services are arriving very soon, do not splint
injuries
maintain safety and wait for assistance Give
psychological first aid:
talk to person and family
inform them what is happening and what you are doing If it
is necessary, prepare the person for transportation
Step 4: Evaluate the
situation
Evaluate first aid actions:
check that medical or professional assistance will arrive soon
check that the scene remains safe. If not, consider moving the person as
carefully as possible with help from bystanders or other rescuers
re-check the actions after the initial assessment
check that bandages are still in place and bleeding has stopped. If not, do
NOT remove existing dressings, but simply add more dressings and apply
pressure
if the person becomes unconscious, follow actions for basic life support
(BLS)
hand over the person to medical or professional personnel when they
arrive
find out which hospital, clinic or health centre will provide care
inform family and relatives
First Aid Principles
The four principles of first aid management are:

Stay calm. Do not take risks for yourself, the

injured person or any witnesses.

Manage the situation to give safe access to the

person.

Manage the patient in line with current first

aid guidance

Do things step by step