First aid refers to the emergency or immediate care you should provide when a person is injured or ill until full medical treatment is available. For minor conditions, first aid care may be enough. For serious problems, first aid care should be continued until more advanced care becomes available.
The decision to act appropriately with first aid can mean the difference between life and death. Begin by introducing yourself to the injured or ill person. Explain that you are a first aid provider and are willing to help. The person must give you permission to help them; do not touch them until they agree to be helped. If you encounter a confused person or someone who is critically injured or ill, you can assume that they would want you to help them. This is known as “implied consent.”
Basic advice on first aid at work This leaflet contains basic advice on first aid for use in an emergency. It is not a substitute for effective training. This is a free-to-download, web-friendly version of INDG37. This version has been adapted for online use from HSE’s current printed version. You can buy the book at https://books.hse.gov.uk/.
First Aid Basics
The first step in any emergency is the recognition of the problem and providing help. When in doubt or when someone is seriously injured or ill, you should always activate the emergency response system by calling 911. If you’re not sure how serious the situation is, the 911 operator will ask you a series of questions to determine the seriousness of it.
- Basic First Aid Instructions Can Save Lives. Basic First Aid Instructions are so vital as it is the person on the spot, not a doctor or ambulance officer, that will clear a blocked airway and do CPR, stop bleeding or assist someone injured to become safe. Then there is the more common issues of.
- Adult First Aid/CPR/AED READY REFERENCE. AFTER CHECKING THE SCENE FOR SAFETY, CHECK THE PERSON: CHECK FOR RESPONSIVENESS Tap the shoulder and shout, “Are you OK?”.
- First Aid 2 First Aid This book covers in depth all topics required for a standard first aid course, and also includes a section on advanced topics. The basics covered include:. Primary assessment and CPR. Legal aspects of first aid, including negligence and consent. Circulatory emergencies, such as bleeding, heart attack and stroke.
Remain on the line until additional help arrives, or until the 911 operator tells you to hang up. Emergency system dispatchers can guide you through the steps of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an automatic external defibrillator (AED), or delivering basic care until additional help arrives.
Whether you are at home, work, or school, know where the first aid kit and the AED are kept and be familiar with their contents. Know how to activate the emergency response system (by calling 911 if in the United States). Be aware of any policies in the workplace regarding medical emergencies.
After determining the problem, the next step in providing help is to determine the unresponsiveness of the injured or ill person. The best way to determine this is to tap the person and talk loudly to them: “Are you okay?” After determining unresponsiveness, yell for help. Look for any medical identifications, such as a necklace or a bracelet. This may provide a valuable clue to the cause of the situation.
Scene Safety
Assessing the safety of the surroundings is critical when approaching any scene. You do not want to become another person who is injured or ill so look for any potential dangers. Remove the person from any dangers, such as presence of water at the scene. Be especially alert to avoid danger from automobile traffic.
Handwashing and Personal Protective Gear
Handwashing is essential in prevention of disease and illness. Wash your hands after each episode of care and after taking off gloves. Also, be sure to wash the injured/ill person’s hands at the first opportunity. When a sink is not available, use hand sanitizers. (Most hand sanitizers are alcohol-based and are substitute for hand washing when needed.)
Proper hand washing technique is fairly simple:
- Completely wet your hands and generously apply soap.
- Rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds (Figure 1).
- Rinse your hands with plenty of running water.
- Dry your hands with a towel or air dryer.
Using personal protective gear is an important strategy to minimize the risk of blood and bodily fluid exposure. If the person is bleeding, always wear gloves and protective eyewear when giving first aid care. The universal precaution is to use personal protective equipment whenever there is possible exposure to blood or bodily fluids; it reduces the risk for both the rescuer and the injured/ill person to be exposed to a blood borne disease. Gloves protect your hands from exposure to blood and other bodily fluids while eye protection prevents accidental exposure from splashing fluids.
Consider a pocket mask as part of your personal protective gear as it provides safety during rescue breathing. Be sure to dispose of all equipment that has touched bodily fluids in a biohazard bag when available.
When taking off the gloves, avoid touching the outer contaminated surface. Slowly pull one glove off while turning it inside out (Figure 2a). Place the glove in the palm of the other gloved hand. Place the glove in the palm of the other gloved hand (Figure 2b), and then remove the second glove while turning it inside out (Figure 2c).
First Aid Kit
Consider purchasing a commercially available first aid kit or making your own. Having one available around the house, in your car, and at your place of work is essential.
Common items found in a first aid kit are:
- Bandages, roller bandages and tape
- (Sterile) Gauze
- Antiseptic wipes and swabs
- Absorbent compresses
- Antibiotic cream
- Burn ointment
- Mask for breathing (rescue breathing/CPR)
- Chemical cold pack
- Eye shield and eye wash
- First aid reference guide that includes local phone numbers
This quick primer on common basic first aid procedures can help get you through a minor crisis, at least until the paramedics arrive or you can get to medical treatment. These tips are based on the 2015 first aid procedures recommended by the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. They are not a substitute for proper first aid training but can be an introduction to what you can do.
Basic First Aid for Cardiac Arrest
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most important medical procedure of all. If a person is in cardiac arrest (the heart is no longer pumping blood) and CPR is not performed, that person will die. On the other hand, performing CPR or using an automated external defibrillator (AED) could save a life.
You can start by reviewing the basics of CPR. The procedure has changed in the past few years, so it is best to take a CPR class at a medical center, community college, Red Cross, or fire department. There is no substitute for a hands-on class.
AEDs are available in many public areas and businesses. These devices are simplified for use even if you have never been trained. CPR training will include familiarization with AED use.
According to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross 2015 guidelines, the steps to take when a cardiac arrest is suspected are:
- Command someone to call 911 or the medical alert system for the locale.
- Immediately start chest compressions regardless of your training. Compress hard and fast in the center of the chest, allowing recoil between compressions. Hand this task over to those who are trained if and when they arrive.
- If you are trained, use chest compressions and rescue breathing.
- An AED should be applied and used. But it is essential not to delay chest compressions, so finding one should be commanded to someone else while you are doing chest compressions.
Basic First Aid for Bleeding
Regardless of how severe, almost all bleeding can be controlled. Mild bleeding will usually stop on its own. If severe bleeding is not controlled, it may lead to shock and eventually death.
There are steps to take if you are faced with bleeding right now.
- Cover the wound with a gauze or a cloth and apply direct pressure to stop the blood flow. Don't remove the cloth. Add more layers if needed. The cloth will help clots form to stop the flow.
- In most cases, applying a tourniquet may do more damage to the limb than good. The 2010 American Heart Association guidelines also discount the value of elevation and using pressure points.
Basic First Aid for Burns
The first step to treating a burn is to stop the burning process. Chemicals need to be cleaned off. Electricity needs to be turned off. Heat needs to be cooled down with running water. Sunburn victims need to be covered up or go inside. No matter what caused the burns or how bad they are, stopping the burn comes before treating the burn.
Basic First Aid Pdf File
The severity of a burn is based on depth and size. For serious burns, you might need to see a doctor or call 911.
- Flush the burned area with cool running water for several minutes. Do not use ice.
- Apply a light gauze bandage.
- Do not apply ointments, butter, or oily remedies to the burn.
- Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief if necessary.
- Do not break any blisters that may have formed.
Basic First Aid for Blisters
Whether or not a blister needs any treatment is debatable. If the blister is small, unbroken and not very painful, it is probably best to leave it alone. Cover it to prevent continued rubbing and pressure on it that can cause it to swell more and possibly burst on its own.
If the blister is large or painful—especially if the activity isn’t finished (such as you are in the middle of a hike)—follow steps to drain and dress a blister. Use a sterilized needle and make small punctures at the edge of the blister and express the fluid. Then apply antibiotic ointment and cover it to protect it from further rubbing and pressure.
Basic First Aid for Fractures
All extremity injuries need to be treated as broken bones (fractures) until an X-ray can be obtained.
There are all kinds of broken bone myths, such as not being able to walk on a broken leg or whether there's a difference between a fracture and a break. If you don't have Superman's X-ray eyes, treat it like it's broken. Take these steps for a suspected fracture:
- Don't try to straighten it.
- Stabilize the limb using a splint and padding to keep it immobile.
- Put a cold pack on the injury, avoiding placing ice directly on the skin.
- Elevate the extremity.
- Give anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen.
Basic First Aid for Sprains
The symptoms of a sprain are almost exactly the same as that of a broken bone. When in doubt, first aid for sprains should be the same as broken bones. Immobilize the limb, apply a cold pack, elevate it, and take anti-inflammatory drugs. See your doctor for further diagnosis and treatment.
Basic First Aid for Nosebleeds
Most of us have had a bloody nose at some time in our lives. It simply means bleeding from the inside of the nose due to trauma.
The biggest cause of a nosebleed is digital trauma – otherwise known as picking it.
- Lean forward, not back.
- Pinch the nose just below the bridge. Don't pinch the nostrils closed by pinching lower.
- Check after five minutes to see if bleeding has stopped. If not, continue pinching and check after another 10 minutes.
- You can also apply a cold pack to the bridge of the nose while pinching.
Basic First Aid for Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when the body's tissues freeze deeply in the cold. Ice crystals that form in the tissues cause damage to the cells. This is the opposite of a burn, but it does almost identical damage to the skin.
Treating frostbite is a delicate procedure of gradual warming. If at all possible, this should be done by professionals at a medical facility. First, get out of the cold. Small areas of minor frostbite may be rewarmed by skin-to-skin contact, but avoid using any heat sources or hot packs.
If you can't make it to a medical facility, use immersion of the affected area in warm water (98 to 105 F) for 20 to 30 minutes to rewarm it. Do not rub the affected area or use heat sources.
Basic First Aid Pdf Download
Basic First Aid for Bee Stings
Bee stings are either annoyingly painful or deadly, depending on if the victim is allergic to the venom. Use these bee sting first aid tips:
- Get the stinger out any way you can to prevent more venom being delivered. It's a myth that any particular way is better or worse.
- If the person is known to be allergic to bee stings, use an EpiPen to prevent anaphylaxis or call 911 if none is available.
- Use a cold pack to reduce swelling at the site, but take care not to cause frostbite.
- Use an antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to reduce swelling and itching.
- Try ibuprofen or Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain.
- Monitor the person who was stung by signs of anaphylaxis, including hives, redness or itching in other areas of the body, and shortness of breath.
Basic First Aid for Jellyfish Stings
The problem with jellyfish is that they sneak up on their victims. Swimmers are cruising along in the ocean one minute, and feeling the sting of the jellyfish the next. Takes these first aid steps for jellyfish stings.
- Rinse the area of the sting generously with vinegar for at least 30 seconds. If you don't have vinegar available, use a baking soda slurry instead.
- Immerse the affected area in hot water, as hot as the person can tolerate, for at least 20 minutes or until the pain goes away. If hot water isn't available, use dry hot packs. If those aren't available, use dry cold packs. Other methods to relieve pain are less effective (such as urine, fresh water wash, papain or meat tenderizer).
- Do not use a pressure bandage.
- The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. The 2015 Guidelines Update for First Aid. CPR & First Aid Emergency Cardiovascular Care. ecoguidelines.heart.org
- Goyal A, Sciammarella JC, Cusick AS, et al. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) [Updated 2019 Sep 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470402/
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): What you need to know. 2017 Nov 2. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK469741/
- Jorgenson DB, Skarr T, Russell JK, Snyder DE, Uhrbrock K. AED use in businesses, public facilities and homes by minimally trained first responders. Resuscitation. 2003;59(2):225-33.
- Committee on the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest: Current Status and Future Directions; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Institute of Medicine; Graham R, McCoy MA, Schultz AM, editors. Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival: A Time to Act. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2015 Sep 29. 3, The Public Experience with Cardiac Arrest.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK321502/
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- Laskowski-jones L. First aid for bleeding wounds. Nursing. 2006;36(9):50-1.
- Hudspith J, Rayatt S. First aid and treatment of minor burns. BMJ. 2004;328(7454):1487–1489. doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1487
- Hyland EJ, Connolly SM, Fox JA, Harvey JG. Minor burn management: potions and lotions. Aust Prescr. 2015;38(4):124–127. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.041
- Ro HS, Shin JY, Sabbagh MD, Roh SG, Chang SC, Lee NH. Effectiveness of aspiration or deroofing for blister management in patients with burns: A prospective randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(17):e0563. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010563
- Bergeron BP. A Guide to Blister Management. Phys Sportsmed. 1995;23(2):37-46.
- Knapik JJ, Reynolds KL, Duplantis KL, Jones BH. Friction blisters. Pathophysiology, prevention and treatment. Sports Med. 1995;20(3):136-47.
- Glasziou P. Do all fractures need full immobilisation?. BMJ. 2007;335(7620):612–613. doi:10.1136/bmj.39272.565810.80
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Ankle sprains: Overview. 2008 Nov 13 [Updated 2018 Apr 19].Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279552/
- van den Bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, van Dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM. What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?. J Athl Train. 2012;47(4):435–443. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14
- Tabassom A, Cho JJ. Epistaxis (Nose Bleed) [Updated 2019 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435997/
- Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A. Current Approaches to Epistaxis Treatment in Primary and Secondary Care. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12–22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012
- Bilgiç S, Ozkan H, Ozenç S, Safaz I, Yildiz C. Treating frostbite. Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(3):361–363.
- Zafren K. Frostbite: prevention and initial management. High Alt Med Biol. 2013;14(1):9-12.
- Nagpal BM, Sharma R. Cold Injuries : The Chill Within. Med J Armed Forces India. 2004;60(2):165–171. doi:10.1016/S0377-1237(04)80111-4
- Laskowski-jones L. First aid for bee, wasp, & hornet stings: learn how to protect the victim-and yourself-from the potentially dangerous effects of their venom. Nursing. 2006;36(7):58-9.
- Järvinen KM, Celestin J. Anaphylaxis avoidance and management: educating patients and their caregivers. J Asthma Allergy. 2014;7:95–104. Published 2014 Jul 10. doi:10.2147/JAA.S48611Added SLI profile for Spinter Cell: Blacklist. SLI Technology. Added SLI profile for Batman: Arkham OriginsAdditional Details. Up to 11% in F1 2012.Up to 19% in Dirt: Showdown.
- Cegolon L, Heymann WC, Lange JH, Mastrangelo G. Jellyfish stings and their management: a review. Mar Drugs. 2013;11(2):523–550. Published 2013 Feb 22. doi:10.3390/md11020523
- Fenner PJ, Williamson JA, Burnett JW, Rifkin J. First aid treatment of jellyfish stings in Australia. Response to a newly differentiated species. Med J Aust. 1993;158(7):498-501.PrakashJayaram has produced this serial under the banner of Shri Jai Mahta Comines. Kulavadhu is a mega serial that is telecasting on colors Kannada from Monday to Saturday at 6:30 pm. It was started on 28th July’2014.
Additional Reading
American Red Cross Basic First Aid Pdf
- Berg RA, Hemphill R, Abella BS, et al. Part 5: Adult Basic Life Support: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2010;122(18_suppl_3). doi:10.1161/circulationaha.110.970939.
- Markenson D, Ferguson JD, Chameides L, et al. Part 17: First Aid: 2010 American Heart Association and American Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid. Circulation. 2010;122(18_suppl_3). doi:10.1161/circulationaha.110.971150.