Introduction to First Aid:

Definition and Benefits of First Aid:

• Many deaths can be prevented.
• An assistance given to any tourist injured
• The main intention is to preserve life
• It is the initial intervention given before doctors
• First aid is done by the layman.
• Many countries have law and guidelines
• For first aid, a specific training is provided

History:

• In 111th century St. John trained people for first aid
• In 1863, the Red Cross was operated.
• In 1877, St. John ambulance was formed

Major Aims:

• Preserve the life
• Prevent further harm to the injury
• Promote recovery

General Guidelines:

FIRST AID KIT:

• Antiseptic liquid – Chloroxylenol
• Bandage
• Cleaning liquid
• Cotton
• Scissor
• Tablet for stomach ach
• Tablet for fever
• Tablet for vomiting
• Tablet of loose motion

PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENTS/ITEMS

• GLOVES
• GOOGLES
• SURGICAL MASKS
• APRON

FOR TRAUMA RELATED PROBLEMS

• ADHESIVE BANDAGE
• DRESSING
• SALINE
• SOAP
• ANTISEPTIC
• HEMOSTATIC

First Aid in Road Traffic Accidents? 

Check if they are conscious – Verify if the person is conscious and check the pulse to determine whether they are breathing. To keep the patient aware until medical assistance arrives, keep talking to them, and just inquire about basic things to keep their mind off of the current traumatic situation as much as possible.

Call an ambulance – While you provide first aid for road accident, don’t forget to call an ambulance to take the victim to the emergency room! The difference between life and death frequently comes down to how quickly emergency personnel can get to a victim and start providing care, so once the victim’s pulse has been verified, it is crucial to contact the local emergency number.  

Don’t try to move the victim – Only in cases where there is an immediate threat, such as a fire in the car and the victim is stuck inside, should you move them. Make sure the victim’s head, neck, and back are handled gently and aren’t jolted suddenly when you move them because there might be broken bones and internal bleeding! Keep in mind that many wounds are not immediately apparent so be mindful and careful when moving them. 

Clear the airway – Loss of oxygen supply is one of the most frequent causes of road accident death, and an obstruction in the airway is the main cause of this. To avoid additional harm, place the person in a secure position with extreme caution, and once the victim is turned on one side, remove any tight clothes from the waist, chest, and neck. To enable the tongue to fall forward and allow the vomit and blood from internal bleeding to flow out, gently tilt the head backward and incline the face slightly downward. If there is something stuck inside the month, remove it.  

Assist with breathing – Verify that the victim is breathing properly, and if not, a mouth-to-mouth breathing technique may be used. To provide rescue breaths, support the victim’s jaw with your fingers, gently tilt the head back, create a mouth-to-mouth seal, pinch their nose, and blow into the victim’s mouth until their chest rises. Examine the airway again in case the chest does not rise. Maintain mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the patient’s respiration returns to normal. 

Provide CPR –

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be administered right away if the patient is not breathing! In the initial moments following a sudden cardiac arrest, agonal breathing (erratic breaths are known as agonal breathing) is typical. This is not to be confused with regular breathing, and immediate CPR should be administered! 

CPR is a life-saving method that is advised in accident situations where the person needs outside assistance to maintain breathing or heart functions. This kind of first-aid emergency response method, which is known to save lives in the first few minutes following a near-fatal injury, is done by physically pumping the victim’s chest with one’s hands. The blood flow is maintained throughout the body by the compressions. 

Stop any bleeding – It’s important to check for bleeding in a road traffic accident individual. A piece of clothing (a coat or jacket) may hide bleeding, so to check if blood loss is happening, removing the garment is necessary, but always do it gently! If at all feasible, try to locate a first aid kit and look for gauze and bandages that may be used to stop the bleeding. In the event that a first aid kit is not accessible, continuously press on the open wound using a clean piece of cloth. 

If there seems to be arterial bleeding, tighten a belt above the wound as tightly as you can. If there are severely broken bones in the bleeding site that have caused an open wound, do not try to move the bones in any way!  

Try to keep the victim warm – If the victim is in shock, they will look pale, and their skin will feel cold! After an accident, shock causes accident victims to feel extremely chilly, so it’s essential to keep them warm. Use a jacket, coat, or any other item that is readily accessible at the scene to cover their body to provide warmth. 

First aid in snake bites:

Treatment

After you call 911 or your local emergency number, if possible, take these steps while waiting for medical help:

• Move far away from the snake.
• Stay still and calm.
• Remove any jewelry, watches or tight clothing before swelling starts.
• Sit or lie down so that the bite is in a neutral, comfortable position.
• Clean the bite with soap and water. Cover or wrap it loosely with a clean, dry bandage.

• Don’t tie off the bite area, called using a tourniquet, or apply ice.
• Don’t cut the bite or try to remove the venom.
• Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol.
• Don’t take pain-relieving medicine, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). Doing so can increase your risk of bleeding.
• Don’t try to catch or trap the snake. Try to remember its color and shape so that you can describe it. If possible, take a picture of the snake from a safe distance. Knowing what kind of snake bit you can help with treatment.