Introduction to basic First Aid

Collage of Health & Medical Sciences
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Department of Emergency & Critical Care Nursing

© 2019, Haramaya University
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
Basic First Aid and Emergency Care
By:- Ame Mehadi (BSc, MSc)
Basic First Aid Course
By: Ame Mehadi (BSc, MSc)
ECCN Lecturer
BEC and PoNT Trainer

June, 2021 © Haramaya University, CHMS,
Basic First Aid
INTRODUCTION
TO
BASIC FIRST AID

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson student will be able to;
►define first aid
►explain responsibilities of first aider
►explain values for first aid training
►determine the purposes and principles of first aid
►discus general directions to provide first aid
►discuss priority measures for any patient with an emergency situation.
►identify basic first aid equipment
►describe principles of accident prevention

Case scenario
Formulate a group, read the following case scenario and reflect your idea to
the questions provided.
►You are arriving at following accident scene just alone.

… scenario
The questions;
►What is your immediate action that should you do?
►What is the most important interventions that did you think in this scenario?
►What kinds of injury you may suspect to occur to the indicated passenger?
►What SHOULD YOU take to such accident scene always?

Think!!!
What knowledge and skills you will acquire from this course?

1.2. Introduction: First aid
Historical backgrounds of first aid
►First aid to sick and wounded has been practiced since ancient time.
►The idea of first aid is first conceived by the famous general surgeon, General
Esmarch (1823‒1908).
►But, an organized world wide effort of first aid came only in the year of 1877 with
formulation of St, John Ambulance association of England.
►Since then, the universal need and utility of first aid has been increasing in this
modern mechanized civilization.

Introduction…

Introduction: The need for emergency care
Statistics shows that
►incidence of accidental injuries and acute illness is raising.
►particularly it is general fact that accidents are the leading cause of death among.
The raising burdens of accidental injuries and acute illness leads to;
►Increasing the annual cost of medical attention,
►the loss of earning ability due to temporary or permanent impairment,
►the direct property damage, and the insurance costs billions of dollars each year, not
to mention
►the toll in pain, suffering, disability, and personal tragedy.

Introduction
Human populations are rapidly growing. As a results
►disturbances in environmental conditions & habits, this leads to;
►rising occurrence of natural & man-made disasters
►alterations in natural resource consumptions and land usage.
►leads to rising conflicts & violence among people
►advancement in technologies and increased use of its products.
►leads to rising injuries/illness as a systems made by human itself become out of control
Thus more peoples facing a sudden injuries and acute illness

Introduction ….
Definitions: First aid
►is the provision of immediate assistance or an initial care given to a victim with an
injury or sudden illness before a person gets expert medical help, usually using
locally available materials or materials at hand
►is a temporary and immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before
the arrival of emergency medial care.
►is helping behavior & initial care:- it includes well‒ selected words of
encouragement, sign of willingness to help and promotion of self‒confidence
A first aider – is someone with a formal training
►or first people on an emergency scene

Introduction …
Further first Aid
►is skilled application of accepted principle of treatment on the occurrence of
accident or sudden illness.
►includes home or work place based care
►doesn't replace definitive care by professionals
►can save lives in the critical time: ‒ only given for life‒and‒death situations
►can also prevent an injury or illness from becoming worse and provide comfort and
reassurance to a casualty
►can be performed by a bystander or by victim
►is both preventing and treating sudden illness or injury.
►is caring for large numbers of causalities in a natural disaster.

1.3. Principal aims of First Aid
Generally the 3 P’s of principles of first aid are;
Preserving life:-
►the principal aim of first aid is to save life, it is to make difference between life &
death.
►e.g. Rescue breathing.
Preventing complications:-
►prevent temporary & permanent disabilities as well as any further injury.
►e.g. stop bleeding or immobilization of fractured bone etc.
Promoting healing and recovery:‒
►is trying to start recovery process from injury or illness time, this will facilitate rapid
recovery & shortens hospitalization.

Aims of first aid
The key aims of first aid includes:
►To recognize life-threatening situations.
►To activate the EMS system.
►To sustain/preserve life – e.g. Artificial respiration, CPR
►To prevent worsening of the problem/complications
 e.g. Immobilizing the fractured bone.
►To prevent disabilities (temporary Vs permanent)
►To prevent any further injury
►To preserve vitality & further resistance. e.g. Control bleeding...
►To provide pain relief e.g. use of ice packs or applying of sling
►To provide reassurances.
►To protect any unconscious victim.

1.4. Values of first aid training

Values of first aid training
the need for first aid training is greater than ever due to;
►rising magnitudes of sudden illness & injuries as a result of
1. rapid growth of world population and
2. increased use of technological products such as
 mechanical & electrical appliances
Further, there is growing demand for first aid training/knowledge/skill for ;
►a personal use and to be certified as first-aiders;
►institution as a part of industrial & commercial establishments.

… Values of First Aid Training
Why first aid skills for a personal use? Because
►sudden illness & injuries can happen anytime,
 hence basic skills of first aids helps for rescuing, perhaps saving lives and
minimizing injury at events of an urgency.
►you need to use those skills on the job, at home, and elsewhere in the community.
►a better handling of tragic emergencies,
 can make the difference between life and death
 may an event that minimize the need to hospital care

Cont’d…
The best way to prepare for emergencies is
►to be certified in first aid basic skills such as;
 Airway & respiratory intervention
 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
 Bleeding control and special wound care
 Stabilization of injuries and splinting of fractures
Hence, first aid training should be universal:
►everyone can/should learn and
►everyone should give first aid

1. Self-Help:
►Skillful person
 can be able to care for him/herself in case of injury or sudden illness.
 better care for him/herself during emergency.
 can direct others in his/her behave, in carrying out correct procedures
to follow if affected and if condition permits.
2. Help for Others:
►it is an obligation on a humanitarian basis to assist the traumatized and
helpless.
►saving life and/or relieve suffering is greater satisfaction

3. Preparation for Disaster prevention and management:
►Knowing what to do during disaster
►particular importance, when;
 delayed medical services
 limited hospital services
4. Safety Awareness:
►helps others to develop safety awareness and habits that promote safety;
 at home, at work, during recreation, and
 on the streets and highways.

Help! Emergency!
 Minutes could
make a difference

1.5. Role and responsibility of first aid provider
First Aider
►is someone who trained to provide initial emergency
medical care using a limited amount of equipment.
What can first aid provider do?
►can perform primary assessment and intervention while
awaiting arrival of EMS personnel.
Who can be first aid provider?
►is someone with a formal training; including:
 First aider, First responder, Paramedic,
 Police men or fireman;e.t.c.
►or first people on an emergency scene

1.5. Role and responsibility ……
 as a first aider your are expected to
►respond to emergencies that you have been trained to handle
►assess the situation quickly and safely and summon appropriate help
►protect casualties and others at the scene from possible danger
►identify, as far as possible, the nature of illness or injury affecting casualty.
►give each casualty early and appropriate treatment, treating the most serious condition first.
 Anybody providing first aid, has an obligations to
►arrange for the casualty’s removal to hospital
►remain with a casualty until definitive care or handover
►report your observations to those taking care of the casualty, and to give further assistance if
required.
 Duty to act
►Initially ask the victims, if you can help them (assume that he/she would want to help)
►Do not act beyond your level of qualifications
►there are circumstances under which you can decide whether to help or not

General Rules to provide First Aids
Be calm and confident (safety first)
►Calm the injured person
►Give a confidence that you know what you are doing.
Seek medical attention immediately
Examine the victim gently and treat the most urgent injuries 1st & then other
injuries to the best of your ability.
Handle with care
Protect from harm – Aware that further injury may happen during caring for victim
Do not move injured victim.
►Treat the victim on spot unless dangerous to do so.
►Keep the victim lying down
►Keep victim warm & comfortable.
Do not touch open wounds or burns with fingers
Avoid allowing a victim to see his own injury

General Rules …….
Keep NPO, for unconscious victims
Do not try to arouse an unconscious person.
Care for any life-threatening conditions first.
Give the care that is needed, within the scope of your knowledge and
training, and follow these general guidelines:
►Monitor the person’s breathing and level of responsiveness.
►Help the person rest in the most comfortable position.
►If necessary, roll the person into the recovery position.
►Keep the person from getting chilled or overheated.
►Reassure the person by repeating that you are there to help and that EMS
personnel have been called (if this is true).
►Continue to watch for changes in the person’s condition.

Characteristics of a First Aider
1. Resourceful
►using who ever near to and what ever at hand, to prevent further damage.
2. Tactful
►without unnecessary questions, understand the symptoms and history of the
case, and secure the confidence of the causality, and the bystanders in the Tx
of the causality.
3. Dexterous
►handle a causality without causing unnecessary pain and use appliances
efficiently, effectively and quickly.
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Characteristics ……
4. Explicit
►having clear instruction and clear communication with the causality and the
bystanders.
5. Persevering
►able to continue the efforts, though not at first successful, until relieved by other
authorized personnel, or death of the causality is known.
6. Discriminating
►decide which causality/victim should be treated first.
7. Sympathetic
►give real comfort and encouragement to the suffering, first principles of humanity.
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1.6. General directions to provide first aid
The general directions to provide first aid are;
quickly and calmly
►observe scene upon approach.
– Keep yourself & others at scene safe.
►Safety – any danger to you or the casualty?
 if yes put on your safety first and deal any danger when it is safe.
►Scene – cause of the accident?
►Situation: what’s happened? Condition of victim?

Securing the Scene
 Before performing any First Aid, Check for:
 Electrical hazards
 Chemical hazards
 Noxious & Toxic gases
 Ground hazards
 Fire
 Unstable equipment
► Environmental Hazards
 Traffic
 Electrical Wires
 Gas Leak

1.6. General directions …...
2. Protect yourself and the victims from any
danger
►Staying safe during First Aid
 only if necessary
 if leaving would cause more harm
3. Prevent infection between you and the victim
►Self Protection is also priority
►Blood and Bodily Fluid: HIV, Hepatitis B
►ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES when dealing with blood or body
fluids
4. Comfort and reassure the victim – make
rapport and reassure the victim.

1.6. General directions …….
– identify any life-threatening conditions
►Use primary survey/ABCDE approach
– Gain access to the victim, and determine immediate threats to life.
6. Provide first aid care
►Prioritize the most life‒threatening conditions then move on to less serious ones
to those whose lives are threatened (to those with most serious problem).
►Get help from others if possible
7. Arrange for the right kind of help –
/call for ambulance
►Arrange for the of the casualty
►Stay with them until arrive

I. Assessing the casualty…
Assessing the casualty (identifying the problem)
►A detailed evaluations is not essential
►Prioritize care
 treat the greatest threat to life first
►Carryout a rapid primary Survey
 “ABCDE” approach of primary Survey is key to identify life threatening
conditions.
Once a life threatening condition is discovered actions should not be
delayed
►If a victim’s condition is instantly life threatening, perform first aid immediately.

A) Primary Survey
Most crucial assessment tool in acute illness and injuries care
►About 1-2 minutes is MAX !
►Designed to identify and immediately correct life threatening problems
ACCURATELY
►Establish priorities
►Provide simultaneous interventions.
Po survey often referred as Basic Life Support/BLS
►BLS is maintaining of airway patency, and supporting breathing & circulation without
the use of equipment other than a protective device.
►BLS interventions including CPR (Chest compressions & artificial ventilation)
 can be performed by anyone who knows how to do it, anywhere, immediately,
without any other equipment

Primary Survey… Steps of BLS
Steps of Po Survey in basic life support (BLS/ CPR)
1. Approach safely
2. Check for response
3. Shout for help
4. Open airway
5. Check breathing
6. Call for EMS 939/7605 and ask for AED
7. Provide 30 chest compressions
8. Give 2 rescue breaths

Primary Survey…
ABCDEs of care are (Primary survey )
►A Airway (with c-spine protection in trauma)
►B Breathing (with giving ventilation)
►C Circulation (with bleeding control)
►D Disability (checking neurologic status)
►E Exposure (Environmental control)
Always, precede with evaluation of the
►danger (D) and response (R);
►change it to DR- ABCDE method
►follow each step logically, deal with it in order of priority

D- Danger
Safety –is first rule of first aid
►is primary concern in first aid
►before you start to provide any care, you must make sure the
scene is safe for you, casualty and any bystanders.
►You must assess the scene for any dangers and take note of
any information needed.
►Assess the situation for presence of any DANGER;
►Are there any risks to you or the casualty?
►If the incident is too dangerous to approach, stay back and call for
emergency help.

D - DANGER:
If someone needs help, before you go up to them check – is it safe?
No:
►If you can see or hear any danger nearby,
for you or them, like broken glass or
oncoming traffic,
►then make the situation safe before you
get closer
 Yes:
►If you can’t see or hear any danger
then it is safe to go up to them.
Staying safe is your first priority.
Don’t enter an unsafe situation without proper training and equipment.
If there is no risk, assess the casualty responsiveness(R

R- RESPONSE:
Once it is safe to do,
►immediately check for a Responsiveness
►If the victim conscious?
►Touch their shoulder, ask if they are alright.
►Ask if they need help.
►If they say no (I don’t need), then proceed no further
►If they say yes (I need), or no response, then proceed to A
 A is for Activate, EMS or dial for ambulance.
 Shout for help, open the airway, check for breathing.

R- RESPONSE:
Do they respond when you ask them:
►‘Are you alright? or if you say: ‘Open your eyes!’
No:
If they don't respond,
 Adult- pinch their ear lobe/ gently shake
shoulder.
 Child, baby ?
 If they still don’t respond, then you can
presume they’re unresponsive & move
on to the next stage  Airway.
Yes: -
►If they respond by making eye contact
or some gesture with you then they’re
responsive & you can move on to the
next stage  Airway.
NB- Unresponsive victim should always take priority treat them first & as quickly as possible.

Calling for help
Call for help /EMS/ –
►Getting assistance from a companion;
 Call a trained person certified in first aid to the scene or those who have been
designated as emergency first responders, if you can’t handle yourself.
►if you are alone – determine the seriousness of
 the injury and may need to provide immediate firs aid  then leave victim to
call for help /EMS/
NB:- Administration of first aid must not delay activation of the EMS

Calling for help
How to call for help
►Things you need to remember when making a call:
 Your name
 The emergency situation
 The location of the emergency
 Condition of the victim
 Number of victims
►If the area is remote/difficult to access, consider sending
someone to meet the EMS in known location

Calling for help
When should EMS be called?
►Check the victim for responsiveness.
►If they do not respond or if they tell you that they need help, then contact EMS.
►if you suspect that the problem needs medical attention.

Check, Call, Care
Check
►Once you recognize an emergency you must first check the
scene, then check the person.
Check the Scene for
►Safety
►Number of victims
►Presence of any other persons for to help
Make your initial impression of the ill or injured
person?

Check, Call, Care
Check the Person (Primary Assessment)
Check the person to see if he or she is responsive:
►Does the person respond when you talk to him or her (e.g., does
the person open his or her eyes, move, moan, or talk to you)?
►Does the person respond when tapped on the shoulder?
►A person who does not respond at all is considered to be
unresponsive.
Check the person’s ABCs: Airway, Breathing, and
Circulation
Checking the ABCs is a rapid assessment and should be
done as quickly as possible.

If You Are Alone: Call First or Care First?
care first in the following situations:
►The person is choking or is experiencing anaphylaxis and carrying epinephrine.
►The person has life-threatening bleeding
►The person is an unresponsive child or baby who is not breathing.

A - Airway
check airway for patency.
►Is the patient able to communicate verbally?
►Inspect for any foreign bodies
►Look for stridor, gurgling, pooled secretions or blood
►sweep the mouth to remove any visible object.
 Using your finger or cloths
►If this fails, then perform the abdominal thrusts.
►Performing the Head-Tilt/Chin-Lift
Assume cervical (C-spine) injury in patients with
multiple trauma
►C- spine protection should remain in place
How to assess & open the airway?

… Airway:
Is their airway open and clear?
No:
►Responsive: If they’re responsive, yet
blocked airway treat (e.g. choking)
►Unresponsive: tilt their head and lift their
chin to open their airway.
Yes:
►If the airway is open and clear, move
on to the next stage – Breathing.
 NB 
►Only move on to the next stage –
once their airway is open and clear.

… Airway techniques
Head-tilt/Chin-lift Maneuver Jaw-thrust Maneuver

B- Breathing
Airway patency alone does not ensure adequate
ventilation
Look, listen and feel for breathing (LLF).
►Look – for chest movement
 by watching the chest and placing your cheek a
few inches above the mouth of the victim to sense
any mov’t of air.
►Listen – air movement
►Feel – for incoming air
►If the victim is breathing, place in recovery position
and deal for ambulance
►If the victim is not breathing, the head may need
repositioning.

B- Breathing …
Are they breathing normally?
No  Unresponsive:
►If they’re unresponsive and not breathing,
call EMS or get someone else to call if
possible, and start giving chest
compressions and rescue breaths (CPR)
►If this happens you won’t move on to the
next stage as casualty needs CPR
No  Responsive:
►If they’re conscious, treat them for
whatever is stopping them breathing,
for example, an obstructed airway.
Yes  breathing
►If they are breathing normally, move
on to the next stage – circulation.

Breathing …
No - Breathing Interventions
Unresponsive:
►start giving artificial ventilation
►chest compressions and rescue breaths
/CPR
chest compressions & rescue breaths
Artificial ventilation

C- Circulation:
check pulse
►If no pulse start CPR.
►the carotid artery is best place to check a pulse
Are there any signs of severe bleeding?
Yes:
►If they’re bleeding severely, control
the bleeding with your gloved
fingers, dressing or clothing, call
EMS and treat them to reduce the
risk of them going into shock.
No:
►If they aren’t bleeding, and
you’re sure you have dealt with
any life-threatening conditions,
then you can move on to the
disability.

… Circulation Interventions
Hemorrhagic shock should be assumed in any
hypotensive trauma patient
►Check for skin color and check pulses in four
extremities (for rate and strength)
Controlling of External Hemorrhage
►Apply direct pressure to sites of bleeding
►Elevation
►Compression of pressure points (arteries, veins)
►AVOID tourniquets…can compromise loss of
circulation and loss of limb

D- Disability
Disability is all about neurological conditions
►Check level of consciousness –
 Level of consciousness
 Motor and sensory function
►abbreviated neurological status
 AVPU or GCS (Glasgow coma scale)
 Utilized to determine severity of injury
►Never offer any fluid (anything) orally for unconscious or victims with altered
mentation
►Immobilize the victim
 If spinal cord injury or Pelvic Fractures ???

Check level of consciousness
degree of responsiveness to stimuli (internal and
external).
It assessed in the following ways
►AVPU
►Glasgow coma scale
57

Check level of consciousness……
Levels of Response (AVPU)
AVPU scale:
►A – Alert, conscious: responds appropriately/aware of place/time
►V – Verbal: responds in some manner to voice
►P – Pain: responds in some manner to painful stimuli
►U – Unresponsive: Does not respond to painful stimuli
58

Check level of consciousness……
GCS: standard tool for the ass’t of LOC.
►This method is based on three main components:
 Eye opening – scored out of 4
 Verbal responses – scored out of 5
 Best motor responses – scored out of 6
►The value in this scale range from 3 to 15
►the deepest to 15 the fullest alertness
►A score of 8 or less is accepted as coma and requires appropriate mgt

Assessment of the level of consciousness
Eye opening
►Spontaneously …4
►To speech …………3
►To pain ……………2
►No response at all …1
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• Best motor responses
– Obeys command ………6
– Localized pain …………5
– Withdraws to pain ……..4
– Abnormal flexion to pain ...3
– Extends to pain ………….2
– No response ………......1
• Verbal responses
– Oriented…………………….5
– Confused conversation …...4
– Inappropriate words ……….3
– Incomprehensible sound …2
– No response ………………1

Assessment of the level of consciousness
Level of consciousness:- Recognition of any change of level of
consciousness is important.
Full consciousness- the casualty is able to speak and answer questions
normally.
Drowsiness- the casualty is easily aroused but lapses in to unconscious
state.
Stupor –the casualty can be aroused with difficulty, aware of painful stimuli.
E.g. pin prick, but not of other external elements like being spoken to.
Coma - cannot be roused by any stimuli.
61

E- Exposure
Expose the victims
►Complete undressing of patient
►Logroll to inspect back
►Warm blankets/external warming device to prevent hypothermia
giving comfort measures… pain control, reassurance to causality
inspect for hidden injuries-log roll patient to inspect posterior aspect.

Always Inspect the Back

II. Moving the victim
When to Move a victim/an Injured Person?
►only if absolutely necessary to prevent further injury from a hazard at the scene.
RECOVERY POSITION
►For people who are unconscious, or semiconscious, but are still breathing.
►If there are spinal or neck injuries, do not attempt to place the casualty in the
recovery position.
►NOTE: Leaving the victim in this position for long periods may cause them to
experience nerve compression.
Conduct frequent reassessment of victims conditions while considering for
transfer or transporting

III. Transport of victims
 The time from injury to definitive care
is a determinant of survival,
particularly those with major internal
hemorrhage.
 Careful attention must be given to the
airway with cervical spine
immobilization, breathing and
circulation. (ABC’s)
►How is it decided?
♫ Travel time
♫ Topography
♫ Availability of air or ground
transport
♫ Capability of personnel
♫ Weather

What if Non-accidental injuries?
Key is SUSPICION!!!
Incongruent stories of mechanisms of injury
Delay in seeking help
Multiple stages of injuries
Patterns of Injuries
►Injury mechanism beyond the scope of the age of child (6week old rolled over off the
bed)
►Bite marks, submersion injury, cigarette burns

Priority (Hurry) cases
Airway
►Airway blockage
Breathing
►Stoppage of Breathing
►(respiratory arrest)
Circulations
►Severe Bleeding
►Heart attack
►Shock, and Fainting
Disability
►Fracture
►Burns and Scalds
►seizures
►Poisoning – (including ingested &
injected poisons / snake bite).

Priority Interventions
Ensure patent airway
Maintaining adequate ventilation
Adequate gas exchange
Then:
►Control bleeding,
►restore tissue perfusion

Precautions …
While caring for ABCs Infectious Disease issues ….
Safety is first priority.

Case scenario
A young man involved in a high speed motorcycle accident. He was not
wearing a helmet. He is response status, is drowsy but arousable to voice.
He has large bleeding from scalp, obvious deformity to Left ankle
►What are the intervention priorities at this time?
►What are the interventions that need to happen now?

Summary
First aid is temporary, immediate care for
a person who is injured or who becomes suddenly ill.
►It does not replace care of a physician, or professional
A primary principle is to assure safety and activate the EMS system.
There is increasing needs to first aid trainings
Care should always be provided to the most seriously injured victims first.
Follow primary survey steps (ABCDE)
Staying safe is your first priority.

SECTION II
Principles of Accident prevention

Introduction
Definitions
►Accident is unfortunate harm or injury that results in psychological or physical
damage or hurt; and subsequent alterations in health and lifestyle
Traumatic injuries –
►are injuries that occur as a result of energy transfer from external source to human
body

Accident proneness
Certain personality characteristics and other several factors can predispose
to accidents
►Accident proneness is a tendency toward involvement in accidents; are factors
affecting safety
Personal safety is influenced by several factors:
►Age, - adolescents are more prone
►sensory & perceptual alterations, (elders)
►lifestyle,
►mobility, and emotional state.

Traumatic injuries
Classifications, based on
►Severity of injury
►Causes of injury
►Mechanisms of injury
Mechanisms of injury as
►Is vital to the initial assessment and may
raise suspicions about the patients injury
pattern.
►Blunt vs. Penetrating trauma
►Causes of injury
♫ Intentional Vs Unintentional
►Severity of injury
♫ Minor Vs Major trauma
Extent of the injury is determined
by
♫ Type of energy applied
♫ How quickly it is applied
♫ To what part of the body it is applied

Trauma severity ….
Minor trauma
 single system injury that does not
pose threat to life or limb and can be
appropriately treated at a basic
emergency care .
Major trauma
 serious multisystem injuries that require
immediate intervention to prevent
disability.
 The major causes of death following accidents (trauma) are head injury, chest
injury, and major vascular injury.

Distributions of Deaths and prevention approach
Peak Environment Injuries Approaches to Reduce Mortality
First peak Instantly at Pre-
hospital(golden
hour)
Devastating head
and vascular
injuries
Comprehensive injury prevention
program:
Safe road construction
Seat belt, helmet, drunk driving laws
Handgun control
Violence prevention
Second peak Minutes to Hrs
after hospital
arrival
Major head, chest,
and abdominal
injuries
Rapid transport to appropriate hospital,
prompt resuscitation and identification
of injuries needing surgical intervention
Third peak occurs several
days to weeks
most often the
result of sepsis
and multiple organ
failure.
At this stage, outcomes are affected by
care previously provided.

Injury prevention ….
is an effort to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by
external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur.
is a component of safety and public health, and its goal is to improve the
health of the population by preventing injuries and hence improving quality
of life.
safety interventions has demonstrated that its techniques are effective in reducing
accident rates and promoting efficiency.

Injury prevention…
Injury prevention can be directed at human factors (behavioral issues),
vectors of injury, and/or environmental factors and implemented according
to the four Es of injury prevention
►Education
►Enforcement
►Engineering
►Economics (incentives)
Recently added E’s - evaluation and empowerment.

Injury prevention …
Prevention can be considered as primary, secondary or tertiary.
►Primary prevention refers to elimination of the trauma incident completely.
►Secondary prevention recognizes that an injury may occur but serves to reduce the
severity of the injury sustained.
►Tertiary prevention involves reducing the consequences of the injury after it has
occurred.

Common types of injury prevention
Traffic and automobile safety - are a major component of injury prevention.
►Engineering: vehicle crash worthiness, seat belts, airbags, locking seat belts for child
seats.
►Education: promote seat belt use, discourage impaired driving, promote child safety
seats.
►Enforcement and enactment: passage and enforcement of primary seat belt laws,
speed limits, impaired driving enforcement
Pedestrian safety - is the focus of both epidemiological and psychological
injury prevention

Cont’d…
Bicycle safety
Boat and water safety
Child passenger safety
Consumer product safety
Firearm safety
Fire and burn safety
Home safety
3.Others - The following are some common focus areas of injury
prevention efforts:

GENERAL SAFETY RULES TO
PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

General Safety Rules
Walk in halls and on stairs - never
run
Keep to the right-hand side of the
hall
Approach swinging doors with
caution
Use handrails going up and down
stairs
Keep halls and stairs free of
obstacles
Check labels on all containers
prior to using contents

Pick up litter and place it in the
proper container
Follow instructions of your
supervisor for resident care
Report injuries promptly
Never use damaged or frayed
electrical cords
Ask for an explanation of things you
don’t understand
Wipe up spilled liquids immediately

Elevate side rails for residents at risk
of falling, per facility policy
Check linen for personal items
contained in folds prior to sending
to the laundry
Never use malfunctioning
equipment
Report unsafe conditions
immediately
Elevate side rails for residents
at risk of falling

End the
First Aid for Western Wild life?? Emergency medical service in
Africa ??

Rolling a Person from a Face-Down to a Face-Up
Position
• Move an ill or injured person only if:
–The person’s position stops you from giving care for a life-
threatening injury or illness.
–The person is blocking access to someone with a more serious
injury or illness.
–The scene is becoming unsafe.

Rolling a Person from a Face-Down to a Face-Up
Position
• To roll a person from a face-down to a face-
up position:
1. Support the head while rolling the person.
2. Try to roll the person as one unit (head, back,
and legs at onetime).
3. Open the airway with a head-tilt/chin-lift once
the person is facing upward.
4. Check the person’s ABCs.

“ABCH ”system
• recovery position

When to Stop Giving Care
• Once you begin providing care to an injured or ill person, you must
continue to give the appropriate care until:
– Another trained First Aider or EMS personnel takes over.
– You are too exhausted to continue.
– The scene becomes unsafe.

Take-home Messages
• In general make full use of your senses to obtain maximum information
– Look, Listen and Feel/Smell.
• If the cause of the condition is still active, remove the cause.
• Essential Points (actions) to be considered while giving first aid/emergency care:-
92
– To sustain (preserve) life:
• Emergency resuscitation
• Control bleeding and shock
• To prevent worsening of problem (cxn).
– Cover wounds
– Immobilize fractures
– Handle gently and carefully at all times
– Move as little as possible, Protect from cold
• To promote healing and recovery
– Place in correct, preventive & comfortable position
– Reassure
– Give any other treatment needed
– Relieve pain

Take-home Messages
• Finally: Convey the causality with out delay to health facility.
• A brief report should accompany the causality.
• A tactful message should be sent to the family if necessary, to tell the family
for:-
– what was happened
– where he/she has been taken, unless it has been done by the
other.(police,…)
93

Introduction to basic First Aid

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