FIRST A I D , D IS A S T ER

E M E NT AN D E M E R G E N C Y
MANAG S
SAFETY M E A SU R E
BACKGROUND
• DURING A DISASTER, THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE VICTIMS, BECAUSE AN EVENT IS STILL NOT
CONSIDERED DISASTER IF THERE ARE NO VICTIMS, SUCH AS DEATHS, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY,
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. SOMETIMES THE NUMBER
OF VICTIMS IS NOT THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE DISASTER BUT VICTIMS CAN STILL FALL BECAUSE
OF INAPPROPRIATE FIRST AID. THEREFORE, WE SHOULD IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING
REGARDING THE PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES AS WELL AS SKILLS IN DEALING WITH DISASTER
VICTIMS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER A SUDDEN OR FOREWARNED DISASTER, WHILE PANIC AND TOTAL
CONFUSION STILL RULES, WE SHOULD KEEP CALM AND THOUGHTFUL IN COPING. THE STEPS WE
TAKE TO HELP VICTIMS WILL VERY MUCH AFFECT THEIR FUTURE CONDITION. FIRST AID
ADMINISTERED ACCURATELY AND QUICKLY WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE VICTIM’S SURVIVAL.
OBJECTIVES OF FIRST AID

• PREVENT THE WORSENING OF THE CONDITIONS OF VICTIMS

• PREVENT ADDITIONAL VICTIMS
• FACILITATE FURTHER HANDLING
• MITIGATE THE VICTIM’S SUFFERING
PREVENT THE WORSENING OF THE CONDITIONS OF
VICTIMS

• MANY FATALITIES HAPPEN BECAUSE VICTIMS RECEIVED HELP TOO LATE OR

BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE OF PEOPLE AT THE SCENE IN ADMINISTERING FIRST
AID, E.G., IF A VICTIM SUFFERS A WOUND THAT IS BLEEDING A LITTLE, TRY AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO STOP THE BLEEDING IN ORDER TO PREVENT A
SERIOUS BLOOD SHORTAGE. USE A STERILE BANDAGE OTHERWSIE AN
INFECTION MAY FURTHER WORSEN THE VICTIM’S CONDITION.
PREVENT ADDITIONAL VICTIMS

• DURING A DISASTER SITUATION THERE CAN BE A LARGE NUMBER OF VICTIMS.

THE PURPOSE OF FIRST AID IS TO PREVENT THIS NUMBER FROM GROWING
AND THE VICTIMS’ CONDITIONS FROM WORSENING, E.G., WHEN HELPING
SOMEONE IS DROWNING IN A RIVER, THE HELPER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWIM
AND UNDERSTAND THE CONDITION OF THE RIVER CURRENT. THIS IS TO
PREVENT THE HELPER FROM ALSO DROWNING AND INCREASING CASUALTIES.
FACILITATE FURTHER HANDLING
• FIRST AID IS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE AND THEREFORE WILL STILL NEED
FURTHER AID FROM COMPETENT OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES SUCH AS
MIDWIVES, MEDICAL AIDES, DOCTORS, AND HOSPITALS. THEREFORE WHEN
ADMINISTERING FIRST AID, REFRAIN FROM METHODS THAT COULD
COMPLICATE FURTHER AID TREATMENTS, E.G., DO NOT PUT STRANGE
OINTMENTS ON THE WOUND BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE TO BE CLEANED ONCE
THE PERSON GET, AND THIS WOULD DEFINITELY TAKES VALUABLE TIME.
MITIGATE THE VICTIM’S SUFFERING

• BY ADMINISTERING FIRST AID, HOPEFULLY PHYSICAL SUFFERING SUCH AS

PAIN AND PANIC CAN BE MINIMIZED. GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, E.G., HELP WILL
BE COMING SOON; THE WOUND IS NOT SO SERIOUS; WRAP A BURN WITH
YOUNG BANANA LEAVES.
COMPONENTS OF FIRST AID
• VICTIM
- THE MAIN AID COMPONENT IS VICTIM
AS THE PERSON WHO NEEDS HELP

• HELPER
-A HELPER IS SOMEONE WHOSE
CONDITION IS BETTER THAN THE
VICTIM’S, WITH WILLINGNESS AND
ABILITY TO APPLY FIRST AID.
• SICKNESS/INJURY
- SICKNESS/INJURY IS A CONDITION
WHICH MAKES A VICTIM SUFFER, IT
MAY INCLUDE PHYSICAL OR
PSYCHOLOGICAL SICKNESS. WHAT
SHOULD BE KNOWN REGARDING
SICKNESS/INJURY IS THE
INJURY/SICKNESS TYPE, TREATMENT
PRINCIPLES, AND METHODS OF
ADMINISTERING FIRST AID.
CHARACTERISTIC OF A GOOD FIRST
AIDER
• OBSERVANT- NOTICE ALL SIGNS
• RESOURCEFUL- MAKE BEST USE OF ALL THINGS
• GENTLE- SHOULDN’T CAUSE PAIN
• TACTFUL- SHOULDN’T BE ALARMING
• SYMPATHETIC- SHOULD BE COMFORTING