First aid is the immediate care provided to an injured or ill person until more advanced medical treatment can be accessed, with the goals of preventing further harm, promoting recovery, and sustaining life. Proper first aid includes assessing the situation for dangers, checking the person's response, airway, breathing, and circulation, controlling any bleeding, treating for shock, and seeking medical help if needed. The key principles of first aid are prioritizing life-threatening issues, ensuring one's own safety, avoiding further harm, and handling each situation calmly while rendering temporary aid.

1. FIRST AID

2. What is First Aid ?
The Encyclopaedia Britannica states
First Aid as "measures to be taken
immediately after an accident not with an
idea to cure but in order to prevent further
harm being done". It uses the available
human and material resources at the site of
accident to provide initial care to the victim
of injury or sudden illness until more
advance care is provided.

3. What is First
Aid?Definition:
•First aid is the immediate care
given to an injured or suddenly ill
person.
•First aid does not take the place of
proper medical treatment.

4. First
Aid
• Immediate care given to an
injured or suddenly ill person
– Without any proper medical
equipment
– Temporary assistance until
arrival of competent medical
care
– Does not take the place of
proper medical treatment

5. Role of First
Aider
• Bridge the gap between the time of
the accident and the arrival of the
physician.
• Ends when medical assistance
begins.
• Doesn’t intend to compete with or
take place of the physician.

6. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
• To sustain the life
• To prevent suffering
• To prevent secondary complications
• To promote speedy recovery

7. OBJECTIVES OF
FIRST AID
• To prolong life
• To alleviate suffering
• To prevent further or
added injury

8. Characteristic of a Good
First Aider
• Observant-notice all signs
• Resourceful-makebest useof all
things
• Gentle-shouldn’t causepain
• Tactful-shouldn’t bealarming
• Sympathetic-should be
comforting

9. Principles of First Aid

10. PRINCIPLES
“4 C”s
• Call for help
• Calmly take charge
• Check the sense & the casualty
• Carefully apply first aid

11. Principle #1: First, do no
harm
Know what to do and know what NOT to
do

12. First Do No
Harm
• Do no harm does not mean do nothing.
• The wisdom is not just to know what to do, but what
NOT to do
• Sometimes the best thing you can do for a casualty
is to call for help.
• Provide comfort and assurance to the casualty may

13. Principle #2: First Aid
Is Not An Exact
Science And Is Open To
Error

14. First Do No
Harm
• Use treatments you know of that are most
likely to benefit a casualty
• Do not use a treatment that you are not
sure about “just for the sake of trying”

15. First Aid Is Not An Exact
Science
• First aid is practiced by people from all walks
of life
• Therefore there are great variations in terms of
methods and practice
• A casualty may not respond as you hoped no
matter how good and how hard you try

16. First Aid Is Not An Exact
Science
• Don’t feel bad if the casualty don’t respond
as you would like him to.
• If you have done your best, your
conscience should be clear.
• You may also have to deal with your own
fear in real life situations

17. Principle #3: First Aid is about
Putting First Things First

18. First Things First
• Get your priority right
• If there are too many injuries in a casualty,
treat the most urgent injuries first
• If there are too many casualties
– First, call for help
– Treat the ones with the highest chance of
survival

19. • The first step to get our priority right is to
know and recognize what is an emergency
and what is not an emergency!
• Sometimes it is very difficult, e.g. heart
attack can be silent
• Hollywood emergencies don’t always exist
in real life
First Things
First

20. Principle #4: Safety Is Of
Utmost Importance In First Aid

21. First Aid Kit
Following are the contents of a First Aid Kit :
 Cotton wool
 Adhesive tape
 Crepe bandage
 Sterile Dressing
 Bandage
 Thermometer
 Scissors
 Glove
 Soap
 Pain reliever
 Antacid
 ORS Packets

22. Action Plan
This Action Plan is a vital aid to the first aider in
assessing whether the victim has any life-
threatening conditions and if any immediate first
aid is necessary. They are DRABC .
D - Check for DANGER
 To you
 To others
 To victim
R - Check RESPONSE
 Is victim conscious?

23. A - Check AIRWAY
 Is airway clear of objects?
 Is airway open?
B - Check for BREATHING
 Is chest rising and falling?
 Can you hear victim's breathing?
 Can you feel the breath on your cheek?
C - Check for CIRCULATION
 Can you feel a pulse?
 Can you see any obvious signs of life?

75.  Electricity can be very dangerous unless used with care.
When an accident occurs with electricity, the First Aider
must remember that it is not safe to touch the casualty until
the power has been turned off.
 The signs and symptoms include surface and internal burns
and breathing and heart beat stopped. The best way to treat
the person electrocuted is to cut off the power supply and
remove the victim from the source with non-conductive
material.
 Carry out the DRABC exercise and cover the area affected
with clean dressing and send him/her to the hospital
immediately if necessary.
ELECTRIC
SHOCK

77. Bleeding
Cuts, scrapes and puncture can result in bleeding.
Severe bleeding can be life threatening. To stop
bleeding ;
 Direct pressure
 Elevation - Lie victim down and raise the injured
part above the heart and handle gently if you suspect a
fracture.
The blood gets thicker after bleeding for a few minutes.
This is called clotting.
Bandaging is done to stop bleeding and to stop dirt
infecting the wound. Change the bandage at least once a
day and tetanus injection needs to be taken if required.

78. Warning :
❑ If bleeding from a limb doesn’t stop, apply
pressure with hand to pressure point.
❑ If embedded object in wound, apply pressure either
side of wound and place pad around it before
bandaging.
❑ Wear gloves, if possible to guard against infection
❑ If the victim becomes unconscious, follow CAB

79. EPISTAXIS(NOSE BLEED)

80. DOS:
• Make the patient to sit up with head slightly bent
forward.
• Press the nostril together, hold for several minutes
• Apply a wet towel with cold water/ice over the nose.
• Loosen the clothing at neck
• Place narrow strip of gauze and insert it into the nose
slowly with pen or pencil until a tight plug is formed.
• Call physician, if bleeding is excessive or continuous.

81. DONTS:
• Don’t pack your nose with tissue
• Don’t blow your nose after a nose bleed.
• Don’t bend over
• Don’t pick your nose
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t let the patient talk, cough, laugh or blow
the nose. Activity or excitement increases
bleeding

82. Nasal
pack

85. Snake Bite
Most of the snakes are harmless. Snakebites generally occur
on the limbs and most often on the legs. Always assume the
bite to be from a venomous snake. Suspected snakebite must
be treated with a pressure immobilization bandage.
Do’s :
• Keep the bitten limb below the level of the heart
• Allow the affected area to bleed freely for 15 – 30 seconds
• If the bite is on the limb, apply a firm roller bandage two
inches away from the wound.
• Wash the affected area with soap and disinfect the area
• The bandage should be loose enough for a finger to slip
through
• Constantly check airway, breathing and blood circulation

89. Dog Bites
The aim of First Aid in case of dog bite is to prevent
rabies, to reduce the risk of infection and to get
medical aid as soon as possible.
Do’s :
★ Wipe the saliva away from the wound using a clean
cloth or handkerchief.
★ Do not come in contact with the saliva that gets
wiped away.
★ Wash the wound thoroughly with plenty of soap
and water.
★ Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing.
★ Get medical aid or send the patient to the hospital
as soon as possible.

90. INSECT BITE
• Check the site
• Remove the left out by using sharp
instruments like needle or forceps
• Observe any allergic reaction like pain and
itching

92. Foreign body in
eyes:• Foreign body in the eyes may be dust, small particles of wound, stone,
coal, glass or an insect.
Signs/Symptoms: Pain, redness, burning, tears.
Management:
• Pull down lower lid and remove unembedded object with clean tissue if it
lies on the inner surface of lower lid.
• If object has not been located, pull upper lid forward and down over lower
lid.
• Object can be removed from surface of upper eyelid by turning lid back
over a swab stick or similar object and lifting off the foreign body with a
clean tissue.
• Finally, flush the eye with water.
• If object is suspected to be embedded, apply a dry, protective dressing over
eye, and call physician or take patient to hospital emergency room.
• Keep victim from rubbing the eye. For chemical burns, flood eyes with
water.

94. Foreign body in the
nose:
• Usually peas, beans, piece of pencil are put into the
nose by children.
Signs/Symptoms: uncomfortable, complains of pain,
inability to breath
Management:
• Make the victim to sit
• Ask the victim to breathe through mouth to prevent
foreign body to aspirate in to respiratory tract from
nose.
• Make the patient sneeze by passing the end of a
piece of thread in the opposite nostril.
• Do not attempt to remove it with a pin or a hook.
• Seek medical help

96. Foreign body in the ears:
• Peas, beans, piece of slate pencil can be pushed by
children during play. Sometime insect also can be
present.
Signs/symptoms: pain blocked ear, ringing in the ear
Management:
• Put warm oil in the ear to float out an insect.
• Do not attempt to remove any other form of foreign
body as the tympanic membrane may be damaged
during such attempts.
• Take the patient to a doctor.

97. Fractures and Sprains
Fracture refers to an injury affecting the skeleton and can
be caused by the application of direct and indirect force.
The general signs and symptoms are:
★ Pain at or near the site of injury increased by
movement.
★ Movement may be difficult or impossible
★ Swelling and later bruising of the injured part
★ Deformity at the site of the fracture
★ Shock may occur

98. Types of Fractures

99. Do’s :
★ Check the danger, response, airway, breathing and the blood
circulation of the victim (DRABC)
★ Always control severe bleeding before immobilizing any
fractures
★ Place sufficient padding to support fracture site
★ Immobilize fracture sites by using splints
★ Do not force bones back into the wound
★ Give proper padding before the patient is shifted to the hospital
★ Apply ice pack on the affected area to reduce pain and control
swelling

100. Poisoning
Poisoning is any substance that causes injury, illness or
death when introduced into the body. There are different
types of poisoning:
Ingested poisons are introduced through the mouth by
eating or drinking poisonous substances.
Inhaled poisons are introduced through the lungs by
inhaling industrial gases, fumes from fire, chemical
vapors and petrol and engine exhaust.
Absorbed poisons are absorbed through the skin via
contact with poisonous sprays such as pesticides and
insecticides.

101. Do’s :
• Check the danger, response, airway, breathing and
the blood circulation of the victim
• Give milk or water to dilute down the poison
• Monitor vital signs and prevent shock
• Observe the amount and color of vomitus
• Check for foreign matter in his or her mouth and
remove it so that he/she can breath freely
• Place the patient in the recovery position and wait
for medical assistance.
• Send to hospital
Don’ts :
• Don’t induce vomiting.

102. Burns
A burn is damage to the skin caused by contact with dry heat. It
may be caused by fire, flames, steam, hot liquids, hot metal,
sunlight, electricity or chemicals. The degree of burn varies:
(i) First Degree (Superficial) - Involves only top layer of the skin
and is red and dry and the burn is generally painful. The area may
swell. Most burns are first degree burns.
(ii) Second degree (Partial - Thickness) - Involves both the
epidermis and dermis. The area is red and blisters may open and
weep fluid, making the skin appear wet. These types of burns are
usually painful and the area often swells.
(iii) Third Degree (Full Thickness) - Destroys both the layers of
the skin with muscles, bones, blood vessels and nerves. These
burns may look brown or charred with tissues underneath
sometimes appearing white.

104. Do’s :
• Immediately immerse the burnt area in cool water
or by applying clothes soaked in cool water.
• Remove jewellery and constrictive clothing before
swelling or blisters occurs.
• Cover the area with a dry, sterile dressing and not
cotton or other fluffy material.
• Drop, Cover and Roll if caught fire or cover the
person with a blanket immediately
Don’ts :
• Don’t place a burn under extreme water pressure
• Don’t remove the cloth that is stuck to the burnt
area.
• Don’t apply butter ointment, oil, ice in the area
affected

105. Heat Stroke
It strikes suddenly with very little warning. When the body's
cooling system fails, the body temperature rises fast. This creates an
emergency condition.
The signs are: the temperature of the body is very high, hot and dry.
The skin is red with no sweating and fast pulse rate, dilated pupils,
confusion and sometimes there might be loss of consciousness.
Do’s :
• Lower the body temperature by removing/loosing the clothing or
fanning the person.
• Put ice pack or cold compresses to the neck, under the armpits
and to the groin area.
• Drink lots of fluid and those who perspire more should drink as
much fluid as possible.
• Stay away from places that are hot.

106. • Wash the site with soap and water
• Apply ice pack to relieve pain
• Seek medical attention

107. drowning

108. • Drowning is the condition when the
victim inhales or ingests water thtough
his/her respiratory tract or alimentary
tract.
• Death occurs within 24 hrs due to suffocation
• near drowning: means patient nearly died from
drowning. Survives for more than 24 hrs.

109. • Causes:
• Suicide
• Seizure, unconscious near water
• Drowning in swimming pool
• Small children have drowning in bath
tubs
• Fall during boating

110. • Body is wet, cold hands and legs
• Bluish discolouration of body especially lips
• Shivering,restlessness, unconsciousness,
confusion
• Frothy discharge from mouth, vomiting
• Increased / decreased rate of breathing/absent
breathing/gasping
• Abnormal sounds ( gurgling)
• Decreased heart rate
• Algae, foreign materials attached in body No
breathing and no pulse( cardiac arrest)

111. Types
Wet drowning:
• Water is inhaled inside lungs
• Lungs cannot exchange gases properly
•Breathing and circulation is stopped
Dry drowing:
Water doesn’t enter the lungs due to immediate
spasm of the upper airways
No air entry from upper airways

112. First aid management
• During drowning:
• Your safety first: don’t just jump in the water
• Throw a light object (life jacket,woodden piece
,rope) for the patient to catch
• Rescue the patient from under water
• Lie the patient in flat surface
• Remove all the wet clothes and make the
patient warm

113. •Assess the patient
•LOOK: ALERTNESS(AVPU
SCALE) CHEST
MOVEMENTS,
• LISTEN ( HEART SOUNDS)
• FEEL ( AIR PASSAGE THROUGH
NOSTRILS)

114. No pulse no respiration:
• Start CPR
Patient breathing but has difficulty:
• Maintain ABC
• Manage if injuries

115. Maintain Airway Patency:
• left lateral position
• clear secetions, foreign bodies
• Don’t insert anything in mouth(eg spoon)
• Head tilt, chin lift , jaw thrust to prevent
toungue fall
• Loosen tie ,clothing around the neck
• Remove artificial dentures if possible

116. Remove excess water from lungs and abdomen:
• By turning upside down
•Or pressing over the abdomen
Reassure the patient
Immediately transfer to hospital

117. Complications:
• Cardiac arrest
• Pulmonary edema , pneumonia
• Stroke, cerebral edema
• Renal failure
• Metabolic changes
• infection

119. Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)
ORS has been a lifesaver in
case of dehydration (loss of
salt and water in the body).
ORS is prepared by dissolving
a pinch of salt in a glass of
water (the amount of salt
added should just be enough
for the water to taste like tear
drops) and one tablespoon of
sugar to it. ORS helps in
restoring back the electrolyte
balance of our body and re-
hydrate it.