HSU 100

BASIC LIFE
SUPPORT
Eliphas Gitonga, PhD
 ROLE OF A FIRST AIDER
Taking Care of Yourself
Caring for the Ill or Injured
The Limits of First Aid
Six Principles of First Aid
 FIRST RESPONDER’S ROLE INCLUDE:
 Providing First Aid to those in need
 Assisting in the response to a disaster (e.g. flooding or earthquake)
 Helping to promote health and safety in the community
 Transporting the ill or injured to a medical centre or hospital
 Communicating with medical professionals such as doctors and
ambulance crews
 Recording information about ill or injured people
 QUALITIES OF A FIRST
AIDER
 Training and practice Skilled in basic and advanced First Aid
 Skilled in incident management
 Skilled in communication
 Integrity and sensitivity
 Able to keep information private and respect the confidentiality and rights of
others
 Honest and respectful
 Motivated
 Prepared to continue learning and improving
 Willing to help people in need
 Organised
 Ready to help when needed
 Properly equipped
 Disciplined
 Use skills and knowledge appropriately
 Dedicated
 Prepared to give time
 Reliable
 TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF; SIGNS YOU NEED HELP

 Becoming irritable
 Being easily startled
 Having intrusive memories (flashbacks)
 Withdrawal from colleagues, friends and loved ones
 Emotionally withdrawn or empty
 Eating and sleeping more or less than is normal
 Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
TAKE CARE OF SELF; YOU MIGHT TRY TALKING TO:
 A close friend or member of your family
 A member of your community who you think will understand
 A doctor or nurse who you work with
 Another First Responder
 A person who is trained to help people affected by stressful
experiences
 CARING FOR T HE ILL OR INJURED
 A calm and confident approach is needed when caring for the ill or injured.
 This is because a person suffering from an illness or injury often feels vulnerable,
confused or distressed.
 A reassuring approach from the First Responder will help to reassure the person
that they are going to be cared for.
 You have a duty to look after the ill and injured person as a whole.
 This means recognising the person’s psychological and social needs as well as
their physical ones.
 CARING CONT:
REASSURANCE
 Talk to them calmly
 Show them respect
 Avoid making any judgments about the person or their problems
 Ask if they have family or a friend they would like to talk to
 Make them as comfortable as possible
 Tell them what you are doing and why
 Discuss any options with them and involve them in decisions when possible
 THE LIMITS OF FIRST AID
 Preceding factors like pre-existing illnesses, may cause a person to be more
vulnerable & less able to cope with the impact of an illness or injury
 First Aid normally takes place away from a hospital and without all the support of
advanced medical practitioners and equipment
 In some areas, there may be only very limited emergency medical services (e.g.
ambulances and mobile doctors) & so the time taken to provide advance medical
care can be delayed
 PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID
 Keep calm during an emergency situation
 Try to bring your emotions under control before you act
 Only proceed when you have regained your calm
 Avoid infection
 If possible, wash your hands with water & soap before & after administering
 After washing your hands, put on gloves or alternatively plastic bags
 Act as a First Aider
 Make sure you do not make the situation worse
 Only give medication if clearly recommended and if legislation in your
country allow first responders to give medication
Ensure the comfort of the ill or injured person
 Protect the ill or injured person against cold and heat, but do not give
food or drinks except in a few specific conditions (e.g. shock,
hyperthermia and hypoglycaemia)
Give psychosocial First Aid
 Try to make the ill or injured person feel better
 Listen to him, talk quietly, explain what you are doing & touch him
gently
Emotional reactions might occur afterwards
 Talk to family, friends, fellow First Aiders or a community leader
 If you are still worried, talk to a professional & seek counselling