Principles of first aid

Preserve life:
Airway Breathing Circulation

Prevent deterioration:
Stop bleeding

Promote recovery:

Treat shock Treat other injuries

Reassure Relieve pain Handle with care Protect from harm

Action in an emergency
Assess dangers
Make safe

Give emergency aid

Get help Clear up Look after yourself

The first person at the scene of an incident should:

Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation

Make the area safe Reassure the casualty and bystanders Use bystanders to help

Prioritise and respond to the immediate needs of the casualty Send for help

As soon as possible:
Inform next of kin, if possible
Complete reports to include:

Details of the incident Location of the incident Date and time of the incident Who was involved What was done Who was notified

Infection control
If possible, wear disposable gloves,
improvise with polythene bags or consider whether the casualty can help, eg apply pressure to bleeding. Remember: Wash your hands carefully afterwards. Clean surfaces with bleach diluted 1:10 with water. If possible, keep any minor wounds covered with a plaster. Buy and use a resuscitation face shield. Dispose of soiled items appropriately.

Recovery position

Levels of consciousness
A Alert will talk but may be drowsy. V Responds to Voice responds to
simple commands, eg open your eyes, or may respond to simple questions.

P Responds to Pain will react

(eg make a noise) to a pinch on the back of the hand.

U Unresponsive there is no
response at all.

Causes of unconsciousness:

Fainting Imbalance of heat Shock Heart attack/ angina pectoris Stroke Head injuries

Asphyxia/hypoxia/
near drowning Asthma Anaphylaxis Poisoning Seizures Diabetic emergencies

Emergency life support for adults and children

Primary survey
Check for danger. 1 Check for response. Speak loudly and clearly to the casualty. Ask questions like are you all right?. If there is no response, shout for help. Do not leave the casualty.

Emergency life support for adults and children

2 Open the airway.

3 Check for normal breathing. Look, listen and feel.

Emergency life support for adults and children

4 If breathing normally, place in the recovery position.

CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES

Emergency life support for adults and children

Basic life support
For children Carry out a primary survey: It can be more beneficial to give Danger five initial breaths Response followed by Airway cycles of 30:2 compressions Breathing and breaths. Circulation One-handed CALL THE compressions EMERGENCY may be more SERVICES suitable.

Emergency life support for adults and children

1 If not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 chest compressions. 2 Open the airway.

Emergency life support for adults and children

3 Give two rescue breaths. Continue with 30 compressions and two rescue breaths until: Qualified help arrives to take over. The casualty starts to breathe normally. You become too exhausted to continue.

Chain of survival

Shock: causes
Fluid loss bleeding, burns, severe
diarrhoea or vomiting

Cardiac problems heart attack,

electrocution

Anaphylaxis severe allergic

reaction to stings, types of food, environmental features, poisons

Shock: signs and symptoms

Pale, cold, clammy skin Weak, dizzy, light-headed Nausea or vomiting Thirsty Yawning Anxiety or irrational behaviour Rapid, weak pulse Rapid, shallow breathing Dropping level of consciousness

Shock: treatment
Treat the cause and prevent the
condition getting worse by: Correct positioning of the casualty Reassurance Keeping the casualty fairly warm Monitoring breathing if necessary Do not give anything to
eat or drink

Bleeding
Direct pressure Elevate Dress

Slings
Elevation sling

Slings
Arm sling

Choking

Heart attack position

Fractures

Nose bleeds

Duty of care for other peoples children

Whilst first aiders would not normally give medication, youth leaders working with other peoples children have a duty of care equivalent to that of a responsible parent

They are often required to look after or carry medicines for young children and sometimes need to administer them Leaders should always seek parental permission before doing so

First aid kits

A guide to the contents of a kit: 1 pair of disposable non-latex protective gloves 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings 2 sterile eye pads 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile 6 safety pins 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings

First aid kits

Guidance leaflet (a leaflet supplied with the kit

or that you make yourself which includes brief instructions on emergency treatment)
You may like to include: Resuscitation shield Scissors Extra gloves Adhesive tape Steripods Individually wrapped moist cleaning wipes for the first aiders hands