First aid

From ArticleWorld

First aid is the act of offering immediate, basic medical aid until appropriate treatment can be provided. First aid is usually done using a number of instruments and substances contained in a first aid kit. It consists of a number of medical techniques which are simple enough to be applied by persons without previous medical experience.

Commonly used techniques include CPR, artificial respiration and sub-abdominal thrusts, although the range of possible actions is quite long.

Basic first aid techniques

The common formula for performing first aid involves the following steps:

• Surveillance of the scene. The person willing to offer first help should make sure that the victim can be approached safely. If not, they should make sure that the victim can be immediately moved to a safer place, maybe with the help of some other persons.

• Surveillance of the victim. This involves getting the consent of the victim (or the parent/guardian if the patient is not an adult) if he or she is conscious. Any other steps will require some precautions against infections, like wearing rubber gloves. The airways, breathing and circulation should be checked, as a CPR may be required. It is crucial to perform the CPR if required, as a lack of blood circulation towards the brain may cause death or irreversible damage. However, time should be spent carefully: the person offering first aid should call medical help as soon as possible instead of insisting with unsuccessfull CPR, as first aid techniques should be used to gain time until treatment arrives, no treat patients.

• Secondary surveillance. This step is performed after calling for medical help, by certified first aiders. It involves an interview of the victim, a thorough check of vitals and a head-to-toe examination.

Special measures are required if the first aid must be offered in the wild, or to a great number of persons.

Common conditions

There are a number of common conditions that require immediate first aid. These include altitude sickness, anaphylaxis, fractures, burns, childbirth, heart attacks etc.