Benefits of Volunteerism

Volunteerism yields the following benefits:

1. Community development
2. Development of the sales of volunteers
3. Peace, solidarity, and trust among citizens
4. Career opportunities for volunteers
5. Friendship among citizens
6. Experience and self esteem pained by volunteers

Values Expected of Volunteers

Here are some core values expected of volunteers

1. Commitment. Volunteers are attached to identified with, and involved in

community service

2. Professionalism. Volunteers observe work ethics in performing their

responsibilities with socially and morally accepted behavior.

3. Creativity. Volunteers search constantly for new strategies and methods

of doing a task for improved results.

4. Unity. A volunteer supports teamwork to achieve the common goal.

Volunteer Opportunities

The 2001 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating shares

the following questionnaire, the answers to which help determine what kind
of volunteer opportunities will be suited to the individual volunteer:

1. If you have all the human and financial resources in the world, what
problem would you solve, what would you change, and what would you
create? Your answers will tell you what matters the most to you.

2. What kind of time commitment are you willing to make? Are you looking
for a regular/weekly volunteer commitment or a short-term/one-time
opportunity?

3. Would you like to volunteer with other people or by yourself?

4. Would you like to volunteer from your own home or would you prefer 10
volunteers in an organization?

5. If you would like to volunteer away from home where is the best location
for you-near your home, your work, your child's care center?

6. Do you have specific skills or talents that you would like to share with an
organization?

7. Would you like to develop a specific skill or meet new people?

8. What are your personal goals? Would you like to re-enter the workforce
or meet new people?
Potential volunteer opportunities are as follows:

A Based on the interests of an individual

1. If you like animals, you can help out at an animal shelter or the nearest
200.

2. If you like working with kids, you can get involved at a day care or
preschool center or help younger students with their schoolwork.

3. If you enjoy playing sports, you can play games with the kids at a nearby
sports complex or organize a mini-sports fest.

4. If you like to cook, you can get together with friends and teach moms or
housekeepers new recipes, the latest about food preparation and
preservation, and entrepreneurship opportunities in cooking.

5. If you enjoy arts and crafts, you can teach how to make curtains or
bedspreads, embroider pillowcases and towels, and make unique fashion
accessories at a women's shelter, nursing home, or orphanage.

6. If you enjoy the outdoors, you can help organize a clean-up drive in your
street or park or help a neighbor plant flowers.

7. If you enjoy dancing, singing, and acting, you can participate in your
community's cultural show group.

8. If your grandparents have passed away or live far away and you do not
get to see them as often you want to, you can make friends with a senior
citizen and adopt him/her as your grandma or grandpa.

9. If you are interested in foreign culture, you can volunteer at a school that
accepts foreign students.
10. If you are concerned about people with disabilities, you can volunteer at
an agency or institution that care for people with physical or mental
disabilities.

B. Based on the future career goal of an individual

1. If you like to work in the medical field, you can volunteer at a community
health center or a government hospital or clinic.

2. If you are interested in teaching, you can volunteer at a public school.

3. If you are interested in science, you can volunteer at the local science
museum or zoo.

4. If you like to work in an office someday, you can volunteer at a non-profit

organization.

Community Service

Community service is identified by the higher educational institution (HEI) in

consultation with the local government, community-based organizations,
and non- governmental organizations as designed to improve the quality
of life of community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or
to solve particular problems related to their needs. Community service
includes the following:

1. First aid training or health care, preschool storytelling, social welfare,

social services, trauma counseling, group dynamics, crime prevention,
recreation, street cleaning, and community improvement.

2. Serving in the youth corps as defined in the NSTP Act of 2001.

3. Assisting students with disabilities.

4. Tutoring, supporting educational and recreational activities, and
counseling, including career counseling.

Volunteer community-service can be rendered in government offices,

private companies or in any place where services may be needed.
Volunteers can also work from their homes.

Conclusion

Community volunteerism entails identifying resources, building up present

strengths; empowering partners or individuals to reach their potential,
facilitating new connections within the community and strengthening such
connections; and fostering relationships that enhance the ability of groups
and individuals to have a sense of belonging and a desire to be involved.
Introduction to First Aid Management

First Aid

The Philippine Red Cross defined first aid as an immediate care given to
a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill. It includes self-help
and home care if medical assistance is delayed or not available.

Objectives of First Aid

1. To promote recovery

One of the primary objectives is to be able to help reduce or totally alleviate

suffering which can be done by means of providing comfort, giving
assurance and attempting to relieve pain and other similar efforts to the
victim. These helpful acts for emergency situations and first aid will likely
vary depending on specific circumstances.

2. To prevent added/further injury or danger

The goal is to prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of further

injury first aid measures aim to preserve and sustain life. As a first
responder to the emergency situation, you must do what you can to keep
the victim in stable condition until medical professionals arrive. It can be
mean transferring the victim to a safer area, applying first aid, stabilizing
them, or just staying with the victim and giving comfort.

3. To prolong life
The first main concern should be to preserve life. You may have to do
CPR, stop bleeding or make an other move to preserve the victim’s life.
Start with C-A-B—circulation, airway, and breathing. Asses the quality of
the victim’s circulation and adjust if necessary. Second, ensure that the
victim has no blocks to their airway and that they are breathing. The goal is
to save the victim from imminent danger.
First Aider

The first aider deals with the whole situation involving the patient and
the injury or illness. The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) conducts trainings
for people who like to become first aiders. If interested parties are
physically and mentally fit, they can go to their local PRC chapter and
register for free. The one-week or two (2) days training focuses on basic
first aid and provides the needed medical kit.

Roles and Responsibilities of a First Aider

1. Bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician.

● It is not intended to compete with, or take the place of the services of

the physician.
● It ends when the services of a physician begin.

2. Ensure safety of him / herself and that of bystanders.

3. Gain access to the victim.

4. Determine any threats to patient’s life.

5. Summon advanced medical care as needed.

6. Provide needed care for the patient.

7. Assist advanced personnel.

8. Record all findings and care given to the patient.

Characteristics of a Good First Aider

A good first aider must be gentle, resourceful, observant, tactful,

empathetic, and respectful. He/She should maximize the use of materials
at hand, know how to improvise and how to assess the situation and the
victim properly, and exhibit professionalism. Moreover, he/she must not
cause further harm by making the victim panic.

1. Gentle - He/She should not cause or inflict pain as much as possible.

2. Resourceful - He/She makes the best use of things at hand.

3. Observant- He/She should notice all signs. It also means being aware of
what is happening and what are the possible things that may occur.

4. Tactful - He/She is handling the victim with utmost care and in a calm
manner.

5. Empathetic - He/She should be comforting.

6. Respectable - He/She maintains a professional and caring attitude.

Hindrances in Giving First Aid

1. Unfavorable surroundings.

● Night time
● Crowded city streets, churches, markets or shopping malls
● Busy highways
● Cold and rainy weather
● Lack of necessary materials or helper

2. Presence of crowds.

● Crowds curiously watch, sometimes interrupt, and sometimes

suggest incorrect advice.
● They may demand quickness in transportation or attempt other
procedures.

3. Pressure from victim or relatives.

● The victim usually welcome help, but if he is drunk, he is open hard to

look at and handle, and is frequently deceptive in his reaction.
● The panic of the relatives of the victim, the evidence of pain, blood
and possible early death, exert incredible tension on the first aider.
● The first aider may neglect to look at cautiously and might be
convinced to do what he would know in quiet minutes to not be right.
Transmission of Diseases

1. Direct Transmission – Infectious diseases are usually spread when

through direct contact or when a person touches an infected persons
body fluids.

2. Indirect Transmission – Infectious diseases can also be spread

indirectly through the air and other mechanisms. It occurs when a
person touches objects that have been contaminated by the blood or
another body fluid of an infected person.

● Airborne Transmission – It happens when an individual breathes

in contaminated droplet that have gotten airborne as an infected
person coughs or sneezes.
● Vector Transmission – It happens when an animal like dogs or
insects transmit a pathogen into the body through a bite.

Body Substance Isolation

This are precautions taken to isolate or prevent risk of exposure from

any type of bodily substance.

Basic Precautions & Practices

1. Personal Hygiene
2. Protective Equipment
3. Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cloth Materials Commonly Used In First Aid

1. Dressing - any sterile cloth material used to cover the wound.

2. Bandage - any cloth material sterile or not used to hold the dressing in
place.
Other uses of bandages:

● Control bleeding.
● Tie splints in place.
● Immobilize body part.
● For arm support – use as a sling.

Emergency Action Principles

Safety First!

• Survey the scene

Is the scene safe? Safe for you and the injured person?
What happened? How many people are injured?
Are there someone who can help?
Get consent before giving first aid care.
• Primary Survey

I. Assessing Responsiveness
A patient's response level can be summarize in the AVPU mnemonic as
follows:
A - Alert
V - Verbal Response
P - Pain Response
U - Unresponsive/Unconscious

II. Activate Medical Help

Ask someone to call for local emergency number.

II. Check for A-B-C of Life

Airway - Breathing - Circulation
Shock

Many people consider "shock" as emotional distress or sudden fright

because of a horrible accident. However, in clinical terms, "shock" is a
condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich
blood to the body’s tissues and vital organs. It is a dangerous health related
crisis.

A drop in blood pressure lessens the progression of oxygen and

supplements to an individual's vital organs for example their heart and
lungs. In the event that the blood stream is not reestablished, the individual
may suffer death from complexities because of absence of oxygen supply
to significant organs of the body.

Dangers of Shock

● Lead to death
● Predisposes body infection
● Lead to loss of body parts

Causes of Shock

● Severe bleeding
● Crushing injury
● Infection
● Heart attack
● Perforation
● Shell bomb and bullet wound
● Rupture of tubal pregnancies
● Anaphylaxis
● Starvation and disease
Signs and Symptoms of Shock

● Face - pale or cyanotic in color

● Skin- cold and clammy
● Breathing - irregular
● Pulse - rapid and weak
● Nausea and vomiting
● Weakness
● Thirsty

Objectives of First Aid for Shock

1. To improve circulation of blood.

2. To ensure an adequate supply of oxygen.

3. To maintain normal body temperature.

First Aid Management for Shock

Clinical "shock" is a life-threatening emergency situation and for that

reason an effective first aid and prompt medical attention can save a
person’s life. If you suspect a person is in shock, call 911 or your local
emergency number. Then, immediately take the following actions:

If the person is unconscious,

1. Check the A-B-C of life to see if he still breathing and has a heartbeat.

2. If you do not detect breathing or a heartbeat, begin Cardiopulmonary

Resuscitation (CPR).
If the person is conscious,

1. Make the person lie down.

2. Control any external bleeding.

3. Legs may be raised 6 to 12 inches.

4. Help the person maintain normal body temperature.

5. Do not give the person anything to eat or drink.

6. Reassure the person every so often.

Give Proper for Shock

1. Proper Posture
2. Proper Heat
3. Proper Transfer