Introduction to

First Aid Care

Introduction to First Aid

 The first people on the scene, the First

Aiders, can initiate various life-saving
procedures:
Airway & respiratory intervention
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Bleeding control
Special wound care
Stabilization of spinal injuries
Splinting of fractures
Definition of First Aid (FA)
 First Aid is the & immediate care given to
a person who is injured or who suddenly
becomes ill.
 FA include recognize life-threatening
conditions & taking effective action to keep
the injured or ill person alive & in the best
possible condition until medical treatment
can be obtained.
Cont..
Definition of First Aid (FA)

 First Aid does not replace the physician,

nurse, or paramedic.
 Primary principles of first aid is to
activate the Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) system in all cases of serious
injury.
The principal aims of first aid are to:
 Recognize life-threatening situations
 Activate the EMS system
 Supply artificial ventilation & circulation when
needed
 Control bleeding
 Care for other life-threatening conditions
 Minimize further injury & complications
 Prevent infection
 Make the victim as comfortable as possible
First Aid General Procedures

 Observe the accident scene

 Keep yourself & others at the scene safe
 Gain access to the victim(s) & determine
any immediate threats to life
 Provide basic life support to those lives
are threatened
 Should activate the EMS system for any
serious or potentially serious conditions
Arranging for Medical Assistance

 Activating the EMS System

The exact location of the victim
 Complete address
The phone number where can be reached
Any information about the victim that will help
them to send an appropriate personnel &
equipment
First Aider Skills
 Control an accident scene to prevent further injury
 Gain access to victims in the easiest & safest ways
possible
 Open a victim’s airway
 Perform rescue breathing
 Provide one- & two-rescuer cardiopulmonary
resuscitation
 Control bleeding by direct pressure, elevation, pressure
points, & tourniquets
 Detect & care for shock
Cont..
First Aider Skills
 Detect & care for soft-tissue & internal injuries
 Perform basic dressing & bandaging techniques
 Detect & care for open & close fractures
 Detect & care poisoning, including poisoning by
drugs
 Detect & care for heart attack, stroke, diabetic
coma, insulin shock, & seizures
 Detect & care for facial & head injuries & chest
injuries (fractures ribs, flail chest, & penetrating
chest wounds)
Cont..
First Aider Skills

 Detect & care for superficial, partial-

thickness & full-thickness burns, & smoke
inhalation
 Detect & care for heat- & cold-related
injuries
 Perform emergency & none-mergency
moves
Infectious Disease Transmission
 Infectious disease, A disease that can be
transmitted from one person to another or
from an insect or animal to a person
 All body fluids should be considered
infectious, including
Saliva, blood, vaginal secretions, semen,
amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds a fetus
in the uterus), and fluids that lubricate the
brain, spine, lungs, heart, abdominal organs,
& joints & tendons
Diseases of concern in the emergency
setting
 Bloodborne Pathogens
 Hepatitis B – viral infection of the liver
 Hepatitis C – can lead to permanent liver damage or
cancer of the liver
 HIV – suppresses the immune system & interferes with
the body’s ability to defend itself against other diseases.
 Other infectious diseases
 Herpes – infection of the skin through contact with
active lesions
 Tuberculosis – severe lung infection through air or
direct contact with nasal or oral secretions (coughing,
spitting, or simply speaking)
 Meningitis – an infection of the membranes lining the
brain & spinal cord through infected water, food, air, or
direct contact.
How infectious diseases can spread
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 Make sure your immunizations are up to date.

 MMR (measles [skin rash], mumps [enlargement of the
two salivary glands in the cheeks] , rubella [Congenital
rubella syndrome (CRS) is an important cause of
severe birth defects] )
 DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)
 Varicella (chicken pox)
 Hepatitis B
 Influenza immunizations
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 Wear disposable protective gloves

whenever have direct contact with a victim
Do not use gloves that are
 Discolored
 Brittle
 Punctured
 Torn
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 If there is risk of significant body fluid

contact, wear additional disposable
protective gear, such as a face mask,
protective eyewear, & a gown
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 Wash your hands thoroughly with soap &

hot water or an antibacterial agent
immediately after providing care, even if
you were wearing gloves; be sure to scrub
under your fingernails.
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

or any personal items (such as a comb,
car keys, or food) until you have washed
your hands.
Protecting yourself form risk of infection

 Use a pocket mask if possible when giving

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.