Basic first aid & CPR

First aid principles

The following information is designed to provide you with awareness of basic first aid principles and the importance of first aid training courses.

You will find general information about how to take care of someone who is injured.

This information, however, is only a guide. It is not a substitute for training or professional medical assistance. Always seek professional advice when tending to an injured person.

To gain a full accreditation in this course, the learner will need to submit evidence that they have completed a formal First Aid Course, including CPR techniques, conducted in person by a qualified instructor. These courses allow adequate time to practice on a training mannequin under close supervision of an instructor.

Regular courses are run by the various ambulance organizations in your region, although these are not the only sources of competent training.

After successfully completing the course, present your certificate to your supervisor/mentor who will arrange for the certification to be recognized by the assessing authority responsible for delivering this course.

Safety check

• Always perform first aid techniques as quickly as possible after an injury. Three important rules of first aid are:
  • Know what you MUST NOT do
  • Know what you MUST do
  • If you are not sure what procedures to follow, send for trained medical assistance
• When assisting an injured person, be aware of any dangers that may still be present. Remove the injured from the danger area only if it is safe for you to do so. When dealing with electrocution or electrical burns make sure the electrical supply is switched off before attempting any assistance.
• When breathing or the heart has stopped, brain damage can occur within 4 to 6 minutes. The degree of brain damage will increase with each passing minute, so make sure you know what to do and do it quickly.
• Again, if you have not yet been properly trained in first aid procedures, call for assistance immediately.

First aid concepts

• First aid is emergency medical treatment for injury or sudden illness, administered before regular medical care or treatment that is more thorough can be obtained. It is important to remember that incorrect first aid treatment can be fatal.
• The goals of first aid are to:
  • Make the immediate environment as safe as possible
  • Preserve life
  • Prevent the injury from worsening
  • Promote recovery
  • Protect the unconscious
  • Comfort the injured
• The person providing first aid also has responsibilities:
  • Prevent further injuries to the casualty and themselves
  • Prevent the death of the injured
  • Prevent any delay in the treatment
  • Provide the best possible care for the injured
• When attending to an injured person always send for assistance. Make sure the person who stays with the injured is more experienced in first aid than the messenger. If you are the only person available, always give assistance before leaving the injured to call for assistance.
• When you approach the scene of an accident or emergency, follow the DRABC Action Plan.
• Danger:
  • Make sure there are no other injuries
  • Assist only if it is safe to do so
• Response:
  • Make sure the casualty is conscious
  • If conscious, attend to injuries
  • If unconscious, they should be placed on their side
• Airway:
  • Make sure the airway is clear
  • Remove any obstructions, including dentures
  • Breathing:
  • Make sure the casualty is breathing, then tend to injuries
  • If the casualty is not breathing, commence Expired Air Resuscitation (EAR); you must be trained before attempting to perform this procedure
• Circulation:
  • Check the neck for a pulse
  • If a pulse is found, continue EAR
  • If no pulse is found, commence Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); you must be trained before attempting to perform this procedure
  • Check for the return of pulse and breathing; if so, tend to other injuries
  • Seek medical aid

Bleeding

• A wound that has severe bleeding is serious. If the bleeding is allowed to continue, the casualty may collapse or die.
• Bleeding is divided into two categories: external and internal. External bleeding is the loss of blood from an external wound where blood can be seen escaping. Internal bleeding is the loss of blood into the body cavity from a wound with no obvious sign of blood.
• First, make sure the caregiver is not exposed to blood, if a casualty has severe external bleeding. Wear medical gloves or an artificial barrier, then implement the DRABC plan, and:
  • Lay the injured down
  • Apply direct pressure to the site of the bleeding and make sure there are no foreign particles in the wound
  • Raise and support the bleeding area, if possible
  • Loosen tight clothing
  • Give nothing by mouth
  • Seek medical aid immediately
• If it is a puncture wound, apply a doughnut bandage to the wound around the protruding object. Do not remove the object because more damage may occur.
• If the injured has internal bleeding, it may not be immediately obvious. Symptoms of internal bleeding are:
  • Coughing frothy blood
  • Vomiting blood, sometimes mixed with food
  • Passing blood with faeces
  • Passing blood with urine
• To assist the injured with internal bleeding:
  • Lay the casualty down
  • Raise the legs or bend knees
  • Loosen tight clothing
  • Give nothing by mouth
  • Seek medical aid immediately

Eye injuries

• Foreign objects can embed in the eye and objects can travel on the eye surface.
• If an object is embedded in the eye, do not attempt to remove it. Lay the injured down, cover the eye, ensuring the pad does not press against the eye, and seek medical assistance.
• If an object is loose on the surface of the eye, use a surgical eye spear to remove the object. You may need to draw the upper or lower eyelid away from the eye to gain access. If the object cannot be removed easily, seek medical assistance.

Fractures

• A fracture is a broken or cracked bone. In all cases, always seek medical attention. There may be symptoms you are not aware of, that may make the injury more complex than first thought.
• The three types of bone fracture are:
  • Simple- there is no wound or bleeding, internal or external
  • Compound- the fracture has caused bleeding or the bone is protruding through the skin
  • Complicated- the bone has penetrated a vital organ
• The symptoms of a fracture are:
  • A snapping noise was heard when the injury occurred
  • Pain or tenderness at or near the injury
  • Unable to move the limb
  • Loss of power in the limb
  • Shortening of the limb or an abnormally shaped limb
  • Swelling and or bruising around the area
  • Grinding noise if limb moved
• If a fracture is noted, apply the DRABC procedure, then:
  • Cover the wound and control any bleeding
  • Make sure the injured does not move the limb
  • Immobilize the fracture using a sling, bandage or splint
  • Check the victim regularly for loss of circulation or the feeling of "pins and needles"
  • Do not move the injured unless there is a danger
  • Be aware of the onset of "shock", where the injured may vomit or faint

Sprains, Dislocations and Strains

• When a joint has been forced past its natural range of movement, or a muscle or ligament has been overstressed or torn, a sprain, strain or dislocation may occur.
• A sprain occurs when a joint is forced beyond its natural movement limit. This causes stretching or tearing in the ligaments that hold the bones together. Symptoms of a sprain are:
  • Pain and loss of limb function
  • Swelling and bruising
• When a sprain occurs:
  • Apply covered ice packs every 20 minutes
  • Raise the injured limb
• Apply an elastic compression bandage to the area and beyond the affected area
• Treat as a fracture until medical opinion says otherwise
• A dislocation is the displacement of a joint from its normal position and is caused by an external force stretching the ligaments beyond their elastic limit. Symptoms of a dislocation are:
  • Pain or tenderness around the area
  • No movement in the joint
  • Deformity of the joint
  • Swelling and discoloration over the joint
• If a dislocation occurs, treat the same as a sprain
• A strain is an injury caused by the overstretching of muscles and tendons. Symptoms of a strain are:
  • Sharp pain in the area immediately after the injury occurs
  • Use of limb increases pain
  • Tenderness over the entire muscle
  • Muscle may have an indentation at the strain location
• When a strain occurs:
  • Apply covered ice packs every 20 minutes
  • Apply an elastic compression bandage to the area and beyond the affected area
  • Have the injured gently move the muscle to prevent spasms or muscle shortening.

Burns and Scalds

• Burns are injuries to body tissues, including skin, caused by exposure to heat, chemicals and radiation. They are caused by:
  • Excessive heat — fire
  • Friction — rope burn
  • Radiation — welding flash and sunburn
  • Chemicals — acids and bases
  • Electricity — faulty appliances
• Scalds are injuries to the skin caused by exposure to hot liquids and gases.
• The effects of burns and scalds are:
  • Permanent skin and tissue damage
  • Blisters caused by damage to surface blood vessels
  • Severe pain
  • Shock
• When treating a burn, do not:
  • Apply any ointments or lotions
  • Apply any covering to the burn other than a sterile non-stick dressing
  • Puncture blisters
  • Give alcohol
• When a burn occurs follow the DRABC plan, then:
  • Remove the casualty from any danger
  • Extinguish any clothing that is on fire
  • Gently pour room temperature water over the area to cool and flush any chemicals from the area
  • Remove contaminated or burnt clothing and jewelry from the affected area. Do not remove it if it is stuck to the skin
  • Use a sterile non-stick dressing to cover the burn
  • Seek medical aid immediately
• Any serious burn must be treated by a qualified medical practitioner. Serious burns include:
  • Deep, skin blackened, whitened or charred
  • Larger than 2 cm in diameter
  • In the airway, face, hands or genitals
  • (If you are unsure how serious the burn is, consult a doctor)