INTRODUCTION

Basic First Aid

Dr. Varish Ahmad
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
• Define first aid
• Give examples of common emergencies
• Outline the objectives of giving first aid
• Discuss the ideal attributes of a first aider
• Perform assessment of a patient
• Discuss guidelines in giving first aid
• Describe the content of a typical first aid kit
 Definition
[Aid = help]
• First aid = first help given in an emergency
before medical help arrives

• Person who gives first aid = first aider

• Person who needs first aid = patient, victim, casualty

• Medical help = trained medical personnel e.g.

paramedic, nurse, doctor
 Emergency
= Any situation/condition (illness, injury etc.)
that pose risk to health and requires
immediate response

• May be non-life threatening or life threatening

 1.Non-Life Threatening Emergencies
Commonly
• Minor wound
• Minor burn
• Bite/sting
• Soft tissue injury – sprain, strain etc.
• Etc.
 2. Life Threatening Emergencies
Some emergencies might be life threatening if
• Breathing stops e.g. heart attack, choking,
• Heart beat stops drowning
• Massive bleeding – e.g. road-traffic accident,
amputation injury etc.
 Calling for Help in KSA
• Police assistance: 999/ 911
• Fire emergency response: 998
• Car accidents: 993
• Public ambulance services:997
• Natural disasters: 966
• Coast guards: 994
• General emergency: 112
• The operator will redirect your call to nearest
police station and ambulance center; repeat
your information
• State your mobile phone number with the
police and ambulance in case they need to call
you
• Hang up last
 Objectives of First Aid
1. To save lives
2. To prevent further injury or harm
3. To reduce suffering
4. Promote recovering Whatever you do in
first aid must fulfill
these objectives!
 Objectives of First Aid
1. To save lives
• E.g. pulling patient out of danger, restore
breathing + heart beat (by CPR)
2. To prevent further injury or harm from
getting worse
• E.g. stop bleeding, immobilization etc.
3. To reduce suffering
• Make victim/patient comfortable while waiting
for professional help
• E.g. reducing pain, comforting words etc.
 Attributes of a First Aider
Ideally
• Well trained
• Good Observant = able to asses situation & patient
• Has Excellent knowledge for guidelines of giving first
aid
• Resourceful = able to use whatever available to
achieve objectives of first aid
• Calm
• Gentle
 Assessment
Life threatening Non-life threatening
emergencies - emergencies
remember DRABC • Patient examination
• D = Danger
• R = Response
• A = Airway
• B = Breathing
• C = Circulation
• D = Danger – ensure NO immediate danger to
patient and first aider!
• R = Response
• A = Airway You will learn in CPR
• B = Breathing - next topic…
• C = Circulation
E.g. Danger
• Electrical injury
– First aider to pull victim from source of electricity
while avoid being electrocuted
• Road traffic accident
– First aider to pull victim from middle of road while
avoid being hit by traffic
 Patient examination

• Ask patient about problems e.g. pain, weakness,

unable to move, fainting etc. (‘symptoms’)

• Visual check of patient from head to toe.

• Note visible injury e.g. wound/bleeding, swelling,

bruise, bite/sting mark etc. (‘signs’)

 Guidelines of Giving First Aid
• Identify yourself
• Ask for consent (if possible)
• Respect patient’s modesty
• Do NO harm – if unsure what to do, better do
nothing
• Follow instruction from professional
 MANAGING AN INCIDENT
• first aider will follow a plan of action
• ASSESS THE SITUATION AND SCENE
• ASSESS THE SITUATION AND SCENE
• GETTING HELP
• TREATING THE CASUALTY
 First Aid Kit
• Valuable resource in an emergency
• Commonly found in school & workplace
• Recommended to put in home, vehicle
 First aid kit should be

• Inspected regularly

• Put in a place where it is easily seen

• Out of reach of small children

• Have content enough to manage common

emergencies
Example
 Typical Contents of First aid box
For minor wound, bite/sting or burn injury
• Antiseptic wash e.g. Dettol
• Antiseptic solution e.g. Flavin, iodine
• Antibiotic cream e.g. Burnol
• Cotton wool
• Dressing usu plaster, gauze
• Bandage usu surgical tape, roll bandage
• Eye pad
For soft tissue injury (sprain, strain)
• Triangular bandage
• Elastic bandage (or crepe bandage)
• Analgesic spray e.g. trichloroethyl dichloride
• Analgesic cream e.g. Flanyl, Menzza
For fever, cough & cold
• Medication to reduce fever usu Panadol
• Cough syrup
• Decongestant tablets
 Activity Time!

Find the nearest first aid kit.

Open the kit and identify
the contents. Describe the
use for each content…
 Thank you…
Any question?