First- preceding all others in time or order.

Aid- to provide with what is useful or necessary.

First Aid- is an immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill. It includes
self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or delayed.

GOALS of FIRST AID

 Alleviate Suffering - one of the main objectives is to be able to help to reduce or totally alleviate
suffering.
 Prevent Further Injury or Danger - also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening,
or danger of further injury.
 Prolong Life - first aid measures aim to preserve and sustain life. Also save the victim from
imminent danger.

Role of First Aider

 Bridge the gap between the time of the accident and the arrival of the physician.
 Ends when medical assistance begins.
 Doesn’t intend to compete with or take place of the physician.

Characteristic of a Good First Aider

1. Gentle -First aider should not cause, inflict pain as much as possible.
2. Resourceful - makes the best use of things at hand.
3. Observant- should notice all signs. Aware of what is happening and what may happen.
4. Tactful - Handling the victim with utmost care and in a calm manner
5. Sympathetic -Should be comforting.
6. Respectable - maintains a professional and caring attitude.

First Aid Kit

 Rubbing Alcohol
 Providence Iodine
 Hydrogen Peroxide
 Cotton
 Cotton Swab
 Band Aid
 Gauge pads
 Gloves
 Elastic Roller Bandage
 Penlight
 Safety Pins
 Forceps
 Scissors
 Tweezers
 Medical tape
 Splints
 Tongue Depressor

General Guidelines in Administering First Aid

1. Planning of Action - Established on anticipated needs and available resources.

2. Gathering of needed materials - Preparation of equipment and personnel.
3. Initial Response (Sequence of Actions) as follows:
a) A - Ask for help
- In a crisis, time is of essence. The more quickly you recognize an emergency, and the
faster you call for medical assistance, the sooner the victim will get help. Immediate
care can greatly affect the outcome of an emergency.
 b) I - Intervene. Give appropriate interventions.
- To intervene means to do something for the victim that will help achieve a positive
outcome to an emergency. Sometimes getting medical help will be all you can do, and this
alone may save a life. In other situation, however, you may become actively involved the
victim’s initial care by giving first aid. Let the golden rules of emergency care guide your
effort.
c) D - Do no further harm.
- Once you have begun first aid, you want to be certain you don’t do anything that might
cause the victim’s condition to worsen. Certain actions should always be avoided by keeping
them in mind, you will be able to avoid adding to or worsening the victim’s illness or
injuries.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies,

including heart attack or near drowning, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.
 This is a combination of chest compression and rescue breaths.

Conditions when CPR is needed:

 The victim is unconscious.
 Pulse is Weak or No pulse
 No breathing / difficulty in breathing

Before Giving CPR:

1. Check the scene and the person. Make sure the scene is safe, then tap the person on the
shoulder and shout “Are you OK?” to ensure that the person needs help.
2. Call Emergency Hotline Number for assistance.
3. Open the airway. With the person lying on his or her back, tilt the head back slightly to lift the
chin.
4. Check for breathing. Listen carefully, for no more than 10 seconds, for sounds of breathing.
(Occasional gasping sounds do not equate to breathing.) If there is no breathing begin CPR.

The ABC’s of First Aid are the primary things that need to be checked prior to CPR.

 A- Airway- Make sure that the airway is clear. Choking, which results from the obstruction of
airways, can be fatal.
 B- Breathing- Once the airways are confirmed to be clear, determine whether the person can
breathe.
 C- Circulation - If the person involved in the emergency situation is not breathing, the first aider
should go straight for CPR.

Evaluating and maintaining ABC with a patient depends on the training and experience of first aider.
As soon as ABC has been secured, the first aider can then focus on any additional treatments.

How to perform CPR? (Search for a video or a Step by Step process of CPR)

When to STOP the CPR

S- Spontaneous signs of circulation restored

T- Turned over to medical services or authorized personnel
O- Operator is already exhausted and cannot continue CPR
P- Physician assumes the responsibility
Care of the Victim after Successful CPR
 Transfer in a secured place.
 Place in a side lying position - Recovery Position
 Wait for the emergency response unit and continuously monitor the victim.

Conditions Requiring First Aid

1. Wounds- is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body either internal or external.
Classifications:
a) Closed Wound
b) Open Wound
A. Closed Wound- break in the continuity of a body tissue without the skin being broken down.
 Causes: - Blunt object result in contusion or bruises
- Application of external forces.
 Signs and Symptoms:
- Pain and tenderness
- Swelling
- Discoloration
- Hematoma
 First Aid:
- Rest the affected area
- Ice application or cold compress
- Compression over the affected area
- Elevate the affected area above the heart
B. Open Wound - is an injury involving an external or internal break in body tissue, usually involving
the skin.
 Classifications:
 Puncture - wound caused by sharp and pointed object penetrating the skin.
 Abrasion - caused by rubbing/scrapping of the skin against rough surfaces.
 Laceration - the skin is torn by sharp objects with irregular edges.
 Avulsion - tissues are forcefully separated from the body.
 Incision - skin and tissues are cut by a sharp bladed instrument.
 Dangers of an Open Wound
 Hemorrhage - severe bleeding.
 Infection - introduction of bacteria/parasites.
 Shock- decreased in circulatory (blood) volume (a fatal condition).
 First Aid: The Major Principles of Open Wound Treatment are to:
 Control Bleeding - Direct Pressure and Elevation
 Prevent further contamination of the wound (wound dressing & bandaging)
 Immobilize the injured part
 Stabilize any impaled object
 For wounds with mild to moderate bleeding
- Clean with soap and water
- Disinfect apply topical antiseptics. (Povidone Iodine or Topical Antibacterials)
- Dress apply sterile gauze pad with dressing. Secure with adhesive tapes.
2. Fainting - caused by a sudden fall in the supply of blood to their brain that results in the temporary
loss of consciousness.

 Signs and Symptoms

 Sweating
 Dizziness
 Nausea
 Weakness
 Paleness
 Ringing in the ears
 Blurred vision
  First Aid
 Lay the person flat on the ground. Elevate the legs to coax more blood into your brain.
 If person is on the chair, push his head down between his knees.
 Loosen tight clothing.
 Avoid crowding the patient.
 Call a doctor if necessary.
3. Nose Bleeding - occurs when a small blood vessel in the lining of the nose bursts. It very common in
the children and often result from harmless activities such as your child picking their nose, blowing it
too hard or too often or from getting knocked on the nose during play.
 First Aid
 Sit down lean forward slightly.
 Pinch the lower part of the nostrils just below the bony part of the nose for 10 minutes
while breathing through the mouth.
 Release nostrils slowly, repeat procedure if bleeding continue.
 Do not touch or blow the nose for about 24 hours. Do not pact the affected nostrils
with cotton
 Bring patient to hospital if necessary.
4. Fracture - a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone. A bone
fracture can be the result of high force impact or stress, or trivial injury as a result of certain medical
conditions that weaken the bones.
 Types of Fracture:
 Greenstick fracture- an incomplete fracture in which the bone is bent.
 Transverse fracture - a fracture at a right angle to the bone’s axis.
 Spiral fracture -a fracture in which the break has a curved or sloped pattern.
 Comminuted fracture - a fracture in which the bone fragments into several pieces.
 Compound fracture - meaning the bone ends are no longer touching.
 Signs and Symptoms
 Pain and swelling at the fracture site
 Tenderness close to the fracture
 Paleness and deformity (sometimes)
 Loss of pulse below the fracture, usually in an extremity (this is an emergency)
 Bleeding or bruising at the site
 Weakness and inability to bear weight.
 First Aid
 Initial treatment for fractures of the arms, legs, hands and feet in the field include
splinting the extremity in the position it is found, elevation and ice. Immobilization will
be very helpful with initial pain control.