FIRST AID
WHAT IS FIRST AID?
assistance given to an injured or sick person in need of urgent medical assistance
refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury
occurs and at the location where it occurred
an immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill
often consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and requires little technology or
training to administer
applies to a broad range of medical situations and consists both of specific knowledge
and skills (for example, what to do for each type of injury or illness) and the ability to
assess a situation and make appropriate decisions (such as when to call for
emergency medical assistance)
includes cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, or scratches; treating a minor burn; applying
bandages and dressings; the use of non-prescription medicine; draining blisters; removing
debris from the eyes; massage; and drinking fluids to relieve heat stress
Note: OSHA's revised recordkeeping rule, which went into effect January 1, 2002, does not
require first aid cases to be documented. (For example: A worker goes to the first-aid room
and has a dressing applied to a minor cut by a registered nurse. Although the registered
nurse is a health care professional, the employer does not have to report the accident
because the worker simply received first aid.)
HISTORY OF FIRST AID
1099 – first recorded history of first aid, when the religious order of St. John, known
today as St. John Ambulance—specialized in the treatment of battlefield injuries during
the crusades, was formed.
1792 – the French Army General Surgeon formed the first official army medical corps,
trained and equipped to administer first aid away from the field hospital 1860 – the first
Geneva Convention and International Red Cross were born specifically to cure and protect
sick and injured soldiers in the battlefield, as a result of Henry Dunant’s work. In a little
while, an army surgeon started training civilians on “pre-medical treatment”.
1878 – the term “first aid” was born in Britain, from the terms “first treatment” and
“National Aid”
OBJECTIVES OF PROVIDING FIRST AID
save and prolong a life
(The basic goal for giving first aid is to save a life. There are situations when a doctor or a
health personnel is not around. Every second counts in these circumstances and it might be
up to you to help save someone’s life.)
alleviate suffering
minimize or prevent more injuries to happen
(Minimizing or preventing more injuries to happen is the second goal of providing first aid.
This can be as simple as moving the patient away from the area or covering a victim with a
blanket. Bandaging a wound or trying to control bleeding by applying pressure on a wound is
actually another simple act that’s already a form of first aid.)
start the healing process
(Lastly, starting the healing process is one of the objectives of administering first aid. One
common example of this goal is treating an injury by putting a band-aid on a small scratch.
People with first aid training know what to do in different situations, from a minor cut to a
bone fracture, and they know how critical it is to provide treatment until the medical
personnel arrive.)
FIRST AIDER
any person trained and duly certified or qualified to administer first-aid by the Philippine
National Red Cross or by any organization accredited by the same.
ROLES
o Bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician by administering the
appropriate first aid to certain situations, like:
Placing an unconscious casualty into the recovery position
Performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
Stopping bleeding using pressure and elevation
Keeping a fractured limb still
Others
o Not intended to complete with or to take the place of the services of the physician
o Ends when medical assistance begins
RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage the incident and ensure the continuing safety of themselves, bystanders
o
and the casualty
o Assess casualties and find out the nature & cause of their injuries
o Arrange for further medical help or other emergency services to attend (e.g.: the
fire service)
o If trained, prioritise casualties based upon medical need
o Provide appropriate first aid treatment as trained
o If able, make notes/observations of casualties
o Fill out any paperwork as required
o Provide a handover when further medical help arrives
AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS FOR FIRST AID CERTIFICATION
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
o offers a short course in Emergency Medical Services that will train you in
performing basic life support drills during emergency situations
o requires about 960 hours to complete
FDM Training Center
o a first aid training center located in Quezon City that offers a classroom, video-
based, instructor-led course that teaches students critical skills to respond to and
manage an emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services
(EMS) arrives
Philippine Red Cross, Safety Service Office
o offers various programs in firs aid treatment
o offers a nationwide educational campaign to ensure the health and safety of the
Filipino people
o focuses on day to day and firsthand emergency situations that people may
encounter
o takes at least 8 hours for a one day discussion
EMERGENCY ACTION PRINCIPLES
EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS: FOUR PARTS
1. Scene Size-up or Scene Survey
o What to determine?
a. Is the scene safe?
(Example: A worker went in a confined space without proper respiratory breathing
apparatus and suddenly lost his consciousness after breathing in a dangerous
substance, just as what the video of the reporters of the confined spaces have
shown. As one who should perform the first aid, consider first the safety of the
location of rescue operation and take necessary precautions.)
b. What happened?
(Example: a worker collapsed after inhaling a dangerous substance, a worker’s
hand got burned from spilled acid, etc.)
c. Are there bystanders who can help?
(If you are a trained first aider, identify yourself as one.)
d. How many casualties?
e. Is there permission or consent? To obtain consent, do the following:
Identify yourself to the victim
State your level of training
Ask the victim whether you may help
Explain what you observe
Explain what you plan to do
2. Primary Assessment
o The purpose of which is to identify any immediate life-threatening conditions,
involving the ABC’s.
a. Check for consciousness (Gently tap the victim and say, “Hey! Are you
okay?”.)
b. Check for airway (A blocked airway is a life-threatening condition, such as
when someone is unconscious and lying on his or her back, the tongue may fall to the
back of the throat and block the airway. In case of blocked airway, do head tilt-chin lift
maneuver or jaw-thrust maneuver.)
c. Check for breathing
Look, listen, and feel (LLF) position
Is the victim breathing?
Is it shallow or deep?
Is he cyanotic?
d. Check for circulation (Quickly look for severe bleeding by looking over the
victim’s body from head to toe for signals such as blood-soaked clothing or blood
spurting out of a wound. It is not always easy to recognize severe bleeding. Severe
bleeding must be controlled as soon as possible. Do a 30 second rapid blood
sweep.)
3. Activating Medical Help
o Concept of call first/care first
o Information to be remembered when activating medical help
What happened?
Location of emergency?
Number of person injured or ill?
Cause and extent of injury and nature of illness, and first aid given?
Telephone number from where call is made?
Name of person who called medical help must identify himself/herself and
hang up last.
4. Secondary Assessment
a. Interview the victim
Ask the victim’s name
Ask what happened
Ask the SAMPLE history (signs and symptoms of the episode, allergies
particulary to medication, medications, past medical history, last oral
intake, events leading to the episode)
b. Head-to-toe examination
DOTS (deformity, open injuries, tenderness, swelling)
CPMS (capillary refill, pulse, motor, sensory)
c. Check vital signs
Skin appearance (temperature, color, condition)
Blood pressure
Pulse
Respiration
GOLDEN RULES WHEN GIVING EMERGENCY CARE
WHAT TO DO:
1. Obtain consent, when possible.
2. Expect the worst.
3. Remember to identify yourself to the victim.
4. Provide comfort or emotional support.
5. Respect the victim’s modesty and physical privacy.
6. Be calm and as direct as possible.
7. Care for the most serious injuries first.
8. Keep onlookers away.
9. Handle the victim to a minimum.
10. Loosen tight clothing.
11. Call or send for HELP.
12. Assist the victim with his/her prescribed medication.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
1. Do not harm by trying to arouse an unconscious victim (administering
fluids/alcoholic drinks).
2. Do not let the victim see his/her own injury.
3. Do not leave the victim except to get HELP.
4. Do not assume that the victim’s obvious injuries are the only ones.
5. Do not deny a victim’s physical or emotional coping limitations.
6. Do not make unrealistic promises.
7. Do not trust the judgment of a confused victim.
8. Do not require the victim to make the decision.
OSHA STANDARDS
First aid services and provisions for medical care shall be made available by the employer
for every employee.
The employer shall ensure the availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation
on matters of occupational health.
Provisions shall be made prior to commencement of the project for prompt medical
attention in case of serious injury.
In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician, that is reasonably accessible
in terms of time and distance to the worksite, which is available for the treatment of
injured employees, a person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training from the U.S.
Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be verified by
documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.
First aid supplies shall be easily accessible when required.
The contents of the first aid kit shall be placed in a weatherproof container with individual
sealed packages for each type of item, and shall be checked by the employer before being
sent out on each job and at least weekly on each job to ensure that the expended items
are replaced.
Proper equipment for prompt transportation of the injured person to a physician or
hospital, or a communication system for contacting necessary ambulance service, shall be
provided.
In areas where 911 is not available, the telephone numbers of the physicians, hospitals,
or ambulances shall be conspicuously posted.
Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials,
suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided
within the work area for immediate emergency use.
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