First Aid 9th Home Science

FIRST AID

First Aid is a medical help that we give to someone who is hurt or ill before the doctor arrives. First Aid is the first and immediate help given to any injured or ill person. First Aid is generally performed by someone with basic medical training. There are many situations that may require First Aid such as a person injured suddenly and doctor is not available at that time,a person has serious health issue and suddenly he/she requires immediate medical help. First Aid is not medical treatment and can not be compared with the treatment of a medical professional.

Principles of First Aid 

1) To save life - The most important purpose of First Aid is to save the life of an injured or sick person. First Aid can save a dying man. 

2) Immediate help - This is another main aim of First Aid. First Aid provide immediate and quick relief to an injured or seriously ill person. 

3) To remove anxieties of the patient and family members - First Aid is given immediately to a person in the absence of a doctor or before reaching the doctor so it helps in reducing the anxiety level of the patient and his family members. They can try their best for further treatment of the patient with relaxed mind. 

4) Immediate decision making - The First Aider should take quick decision about the treatment of an injured person. To control the situation it is a very important point. 

5) Adequate knowledge & training - A  First Aider must have adequate knowledge and training about the care of wounds, cuts, fractures and minor burns etc. He/she should also capable in dealing the cases of poisoning. 

6) Immediate calling of doctor - A First Aider should familiar with basic emergency needs of patient. He should capable to contact the doctor immediately. 

Characteristics of a First Aider 

1) Qualified - A First Aider should be a qualified and expert person with adequate knowledge and training. 

2) Active & Expert - A First Aider should be active and expert in dealing with the accidental cases specially. 

3) Healthy - A First Aider should be healthy too otherwise he may not provide any quick help to the injured or sick people. Unhealthy and weak hearted persons can not perform their duties successfully. 

4) Light handed - A First Aider should use the equipments of First Aid with light hand in the cases of wounds, cuts and fractures. A heavy handed person cannot be successful in this field. 

5) Farsighted - This is very important quality of a First Aider. He should be able to think about the future treatment of the patient before providing any first aid. He should have wit to understand the patient's future. 

6) Sympathetic & Patienceful - These are the basic qualities of a First Aider. He must be co-operative with the family members of patient. He should have sympathy with the injured person. He should have patience in himself. A person with full of sympathy and patience can provide genuine help to the needy people. 

7) Leadership & Soft spoken - A First Aider should be able to express himself in short. It will help him to talk with the doctor. He can explain the present condition of a patient in clear and few words. It also helpful in the conversation with close relatives and friends of an ill or injured person. 

8) Wise decision maker - A First Aider should be wise that he may take quick decision regarding to the situation of trouble. Sometimes delay of a second can be dangerous for the patient. 

Duties of a First Aider

1) Calling a doctor - It is the first duty of a First Aider that he should call a doctor immediately and also provide necessary information about the patient so that the doctor should reach with full preparation. 

2) To stop bleeding - In accidental cases First Aider should try to stop bleeding first. An injured person can die because of blood loss. 

3) Treatment for fracture - If there is a fracture in any part of the body of the injured person then it is necessary to stop the movement of that particular body part. It will reduce the pain and give relief to the patient. 

4) Treatment of unconsciousness - If a person is fainted because of very hot weather and nervousness then he should be taken to an open & airy place. It will help the patient in breathing properly. If a person is unconscious or fainted due to drowning in water then the life of the person will be saved by artificial breathing. 

5) Management of fresh and adequate air -A First Aider should try to avoid crowd from the place of accident and provide fresh air to the fainted person. Fresh and pure air can be provided by hand fan or electric fan. An unconscious person becomes conscious quickly in pure & fresh air. 

6) To collect information in details about accident - It is an important duty of a First Aider to know the reasons of injury. He may ask about the accident from nearby people . It will be helpful in the process of First Aid 

7) Treatment of poison - In case of poisoning it is must to know that which type of poison have taken by the person. Symptoms of the patient and the articles found at that place are the best way to find out the type of poison. To reduce the effects of toxin should try to make the patient spew or to vomit. The risk of death can be reduced by vomit. 

8) Use instant medicines - Some instant medicines give quick relief to the patient. Nowadays different type of instant medicines are available in the market easily. Such medicines can be given quickly in the case of injury or in emergency situations.