THE BASICS OF

FIRST AID
“Prevention is better than
cure”
 WHAT IS FIRST AID?

It is an immediate and temporary care given

to a person who suddenly gets ill or injured. It
includes self-help and home care if medical
assistance is not available or delayed. It can
mean the difference between life and death
in extreme cases. However, we must know
the limits of the first aid we can give because
improper first aid can actually do more harm
than good in some instances. Anyone who
gives first aid is a first aider.
 ROLES OF FIRST AID
1. It is a bridge that fills the gap between
the victim and the physician.
2. It is not intended to compete with or to
take the place of the services of
the physician.
3. It ends when the services of the
physician begins.
 OBJECTIVES OF FIRST AID

1. To save lives
2. To prolong life
3. To alleviate suffering
4. To prevent further injury
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD FIRST
AIDER
1. Gentle-does not cause pain and panic.
2. Observant-notices all signs.
3. Resourceful-makes the best use of things at
hand.
4. "Tactful- does not frighten the victim.
5. Sympathetic- comforts and reassures the
victim.
 PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID
(Dos in Giving First Aid)
1. DO stay calm.
2. DO reassure and comfort the victim.
3. DO check for a medical brace- let indicating
a condition, such as epilepsy or diabetes.
4. DO loosen any tight clothing.
5. DO keep the victim covered to reduce shock.
 PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID
(Don'ts in Giving First Aid)
1. DON'T give food and drink to
unconscious person.
2. DON'T move an injured person unless
you need to place him/her in the recovery
position.
SURVEY OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS
SURVEY OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS

Step 1. Is the scene safe? If Yes, proceed to the next

steps.
If No, do not attempt to go to the accident.
Call emergency Medical Services instead.
Step 2. Make sure the victim is lying on his back.
If not, roll the victim.
Step 3. Check for responsiveness by gently tapping
the shoulder of the victim saying:
“Hey, hey, hey, are you okay?”
Step 4. If there is no response, call help immediately.
SURVEY OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS

Step 5. Do the Primary Survey of the victim (A-B-C):

Airway- check if there is a blockage in the airway(if yes,
take it out using your pinky finger in a scoopingmotion.)
Breathing- use the maximum head-tilt-chin-lift method
and look-listen-feel(if negative, perform rescue
breathing).
Circulation- use the Carotid pulse(if negative, go to step
6).
Step 6. While applying maximum head-tilt-chin-lift method,
pinch the nose and give 2 initial full breaths to the
victims.
SURVEY OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS

Step 7. Take off the clothes of the victim that can block the
compression area.
Step 8. Perform CPR on the victim. (Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation). Do 5 cycles of 30 compressions and
2 breaths.
Step 9. If the victim is revived, do the secondary survey of the
victim. If not, continue performing CPR while waiting
for the rescue team.
Step 10. Do the Secondary Survey. Record all the data and
surrender to the rescue team.
SURVEY OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS

Interview:
S-ymptoms
A-llergy
M-edication
P-ast medical history
L-ast oral take
E-vents prior to the accident
Vital signs- carefully check for the following vital signs:
Eyes: dilated shock; constricted-stroke; drug abuse;
pupils are unequal-stroke or head injuries.
Nose: watery- fracture or skull injury.
Bluish skin color - lacking oxygen (cyanosis)
Body Temperature
Blood Pressure
 CHECKING FOR THE VITAL SIGNS

Vital signs are measures of various

physiological statistics taken in order
to assess the most basic body
functions. The act of taking vital signs
normally entails recording body
temperature, pulse rate, or heart rate,
blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
Checking for Vital Signs
1. Pulse rate
Steps in checking the pulse:
Use your fingertips in getting the pulse. Follow the following
pro-cedure:
1. Place the finger tip over an artery where it either crosses a
bone
or lies close to the skin.
2. Feel the pulsations as the pressure wave of blood causes the
vessel wall to expand - that is the pulse.
The pulse rate may be taken in different points in the body like:
 CHECKING OF PULSE RATE

The pulse rate may be taken in different points in the body like:
1. Brachial
2. Carotid
3. Wrist
4. Temporal
5. Subclavian
6. Axillary
7. Femoral
NO-NO in Getting Pulse Rate
 Never use your thumb; it has its own pulse.
 Do not palpate both the carotid arteries at the same time.
 Do not take the pulse when the victim is in sitting position.
Pulsations disappear as the victim is elevated to a sitting
position.
 Never put too much pressure or massage the carotid. You may
disturb the heart's electrical conduction system.
Normal Pulse Rate

60-70 Men
70-80 Women
80-90 Children over 7 years old
80-120 Children over 1-7 years old
110-130 Infants
2. Temperature
Guidelines in checking temperature:
 It is important to monitor temperature in the case of stroke
and high fever.
 Body temperature is measured by using a thermometer within
the:
1. Rectum (rectal)
2. Oral (mouth)
3. Axillary (armpit)
3. Respiration
Guidelines in checking respiration:
 Count the number of breaths per minute.
 A whistle sound or wheeze and difficulty in breathing may
mean an asthma attack.
 A gurgling or snoring noise and difficulty in breathing may
mean that the tongue, mucous or something else is stuck in
the throat and does not let enough air to get through.
"Between 15-20 breaths per minute are normal for adults and
older children; 40 breaths per minute are normal for babies.
4. Skin color
Guidelines in checking skin color:
 Skin color reflects the circulation of blood and the saturation
of oxygen in the blood.
 The presence of mucous around the mouth, inner eyelids, and
nail beds is a sign of poor blood circulation.
 A healthy skin is warm and pink because blood flows normally
in the blood vessels.
5. Head to Toe Examination
1. Head and neck
 Are there any lacerations or contusions in the area?
 • Is there a presence of blood in the victim's hair? If yes,
immediately find out where it is coming from.
 Is there any fluid in the victim's nose, and ears? If so, the
victim has a skull fracture.
2. Eyes
Pay close attention to the pupils.

Pupil Appearance Assessment

Dilated Pupil State of shock
Very small Pupils Poison or use prohibited
drugs
Different size Head injury that requires
immediate attention
Small and Bright Pupils are reactive
No reaction DEATH
3. Chest
 • Check for cuts, bruises, penetrations, and other impairments.
 If the victim feels pain while you apply pressure onto his/her
chest, there could be a rib fracture.
4. Abdomen
 Does the victim's abdomen hurt? Where is the pain coming
from?
 Is his/her abdomen tender?
 Did you feel any lumps? If yes, get immediate medical
assistance.
5. Back
 "Is there movement in the victim's lower extremities?
 Is there sensation in these parts? If the answer is yes, do not
move the victim. Immobilize him/her.
Top Ten things to do in case of emergency:
1. Shout for HELP!
2. Survey the scene and assess the situation.
3. Determine if the accident warrants a visit to the nearest hospital or if
simple cleansing and band aid will do.
4. If you are certified in CPR and a victim needs it, begin CPR right
away.
5. Stop the bleeding, if there is any.
6. Treat any symptoms of shock.
7. Look for the medical alert tag in every victim.
8. Seek trained medical assistance.
9. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious victim.
10. Wait for medical professionals to arrive.
*ALWAYS LOOK FOR A MEDICAL ALERT TAG IN EVERY VICTIM.
 FIRST AID FOR
COMMON
UNINTENTIONAL
INJURIES
 FRACTURE
Is a break or crack in a bone. An open fracture
pierces the skin surface while in a closed fracture,
the skin above is intact.
First Aid:
1. Check vital signs.
2. Do not move the injured part.
3. Stop bleeding if there is any.
4. If you have to move the person, immobilize the
broken part by splinting.
5. Seek medical help immediately.
 DISLOCATION
Is a partial or complete displacement of
the bones.
First Aid:
1. Call for help immediately.
2. Splint for affected part.
3. Do not try to move a dislocated part or
force it back into place.
4. Apply ice on the injured part to replaced
swelling.
SPRAIN – is an injury to the ligaments of a
bone due to accidental tearing or
overstretching.
STRAIN – is an injury to the muscles which is a
result of improper use of the muscle.
First Aid:
1. Rest the injured part.
2. Apply ice.
3. Compress the injured part.
4. Elevate the injured part.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Is caused by loss of salt and water due
to excessively high temperature. This
may lead to heatstroke and even death.
First Aid:
1. Transport a victim to a cool place.
2. Give him/her plenty of water.
3. Check for vital signs.
4. Seek medical help.
FOOD POISONING
Is caused by consuming food or drink
that is contaminated with bacteria or
viruses.
First Aid:
1. Help the person to lie down and rest.
2. Give him plenty of flavorless fluids to
drink and a bowl to use if he vomits.
3. Call for medical help if the condition
worsens.
 CHOKING
Result when a foreign object blocks the throat.
First Aid:
1. Ask the person if he is choking.
2. Encourage him/her to cough.
3. When the person cannot speak or stop
coughing, give him five back blows. Stand
behind him and help him lean forward. Support
his chest with one hand, and give five sharp
blows between the shoulder blades with the
heel of your hand.
4. If back blows fail, try abdominal thrusts. Stand
behind the person and put your arms around the
upper part of his abdomen. Clench your fist with
thumbs inward. Place it between navel and the
bottom of breastbone. Grasp your fist with your
other hand. Pull sharply inwards and upwards up
to five times.
5. Check his mouth. If obstruction is not cleared,
repeat the back blows and abdominal thrust.
6. If obstruction still has not cleared, call for an
ambulance. Continue until help arrives.
 DROWNING
Happens when air cannot get into the lungs because of
water. It can cause immediate death when taken for
granted.
First Aid:
1. Lay the person down on his/her back.
2. Check breathing and open the airway
3. Give rescue breaths and chest compression if
necessary.
4. If the person is breathing place him/her in the
recovery position.
5. Treat for hypothemia by removing wet clothing
covering him/her with a dry blanket
 HEAR ATTACK
Is caused by a sudden obstruction of blood
supply to the part of the heart muscles
First Aid:
1. Help the person sit or lie down with head
elevated.
2. Call for medical help.
3. If the person is conscious, give him/her a full-
dose aspirin and advise him/her to chew it slowly
4. Constantly monitor the vital signs Be prepared
to give rescue breaths and chest compression
 CHEMICAL BURNS
May occur when electricity passes through the body.
First Aid:
1. Make sure that contact with the electrical source is
broken.
2. Flood the sites of injury at the entry and exit points
of the current with plenty of cold water.
3. Wear disposable gloves and place a sterile dressing
or a bandage over the burn to protect it from airborne
infection.
4. Call for medical help.
5. Reassure the victim and treat for shock.
 BURNS
Are often due to domestic incidents such as touching
a hot iron, friction (rope burn) or spilling boiling
water on the skin.
First Aid:
1. For minor burns, flood the injured area with cold
water for at least how long to stop burning and relieve
pain.
2. Put on gloves and cover the area with sterile non-
adhesive dressing or bandage
3. For severe burns, help the person to lie down and
prevent the burnt area from coming into contact with
the ground. Douse the burn with plenty of cold liquid.
4. Seek for medical assistance. Do not delay
medical help.
5. Wear disposable gloves and gently remove
any rings, watches, belts, shoes, or smouldering
clothing before the tissues begin to swell.
6. Carefully remove any burnt dothing, unless it
is sticking to the skin Cover the burnt area with
non-adhesive dressing or bandage.
7. Continue to monitor vital signs.
8. Reassure casualty and treat for shock.
 HEAT STROKE
Is caused by a failure of the thermostat in the
brain to regulate body temperature. When this
happens, the body becomes seriously heated.
First Aid:
1. Move the person immediately to a cool place
2. Remove as much of his outer clothing as
possible.
3. Call for medical help.
4. Wrap the person in a cold, wet sheet and
keep the sheet wet until his temperature drops
to 38° C or 37.5°C under the tongue or armpit,
respectively.
5, if the person has returned to normal
temperature, replace wet sheet with a dry one.
6. Monitor vital signs until help arrives.
7. If temperature rises, repeat the cooling
process.
 STROKE
Is a condition in which the blood supply to a part
of the brain is suddenly and seriously impaired
by a blood clot or ruptured blood vessel.
First Aid:
1. If the person is conscious, help him to lie down
with his head and shoulders slightly raised and
supported.
2. Incline his head to the affected side and place a
towel on his shoulder to absorb any dribbling
3. Call for help.
4. Loosen any tight clothing.
5. Monitor vital signs and reassure
the victim.
6. If the victim is unconscious, give
rescue breathing and chest
compression.
7. Call for an ambulance or call for
help.