This document discusses the importance of first aid and provides guidance on rendering first aid. It defines first aid as the initial assistance given to an injured or ill person before professional medical help arrives. The goals of first aid are to save lives, relieve pain, prevent conditions from worsening, prevent infection, and promote professional help. It outlines the ABC priorities of first aid as ensuring an open airway, checking for breathing and providing rescue breaths if needed, and assessing for circulation and performing chest compressions if needed. The document also provides guidance on first aid for specific medical emergencies like fractures, nosebleeds, and diabetic emergencies. It emphasizes the importance of first aid in emergency situations to save lives and promote recovery.

1. FIRST AID
IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID

2. DETAILS
I AM KHOBOTLE MPHO. I AM A
THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT
LESOTHO COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION.

3. INTRODUCTION
FIRST AID IS THE INITIAL ASSISTANCE OR TREATMENT PROVIDED TO AN INJURED
OR ILL PERSON BEFORE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP.
FIRST AID IS THE PROPER TREATMENT GIVEN TO THE CASUALTY.

4. WHY DO WE RENDER FIRST AID?
• TO SAVE LIVES
• TO RELIEVE PAIN
• TO PREVENT THE CONDITION FROM WORSENING.
• TO PREVENT INFECTION.
• TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL HELP.

5. MAJOR TECHNIQUES OF FIRST AID
ABC PRIORITIES OF FIRST AID
A – AIRWAY: ENSURING THAT THE PERSON’S AIRWAY IS CLEAR AND CAN BREATHE
PROPERLY .
B – BREATHING: CHECKING IF THE PERSON IS BREATHING AND PROVIDE RESCUE
BREATHS IF NECESSARY.
C – CIRCULATION: ASSESSING THE PERSON’S PULSE AND PERFORMING CHEST
COMPRESSIONS IF NEEDED TO MAINTAIN BLOOD CIRCULATION.

6. FIRST AIDER
QUALITIES OF A GOOD FIRST AIDER
• KNOWLEDGEABLE: HAVING GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF FIRST AID
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES.
• EMPATHETIC: SHOWING UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION TOWARDS
THE INJURED OR I’LL PERSON.
• EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR: CLEARLY CONVEYING INSTRUCTIONS AND
INFORMATION TO THE PERSON IN NEED.
• QUICK THINKING: ACTING PROMPTLY AND DECISIVELY IN EMERGENCY
SITUATION.

7. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
• BLEEDING
• BURNS
• FRACTURE
• DIABETIC EMERGENCY

8. FIRST AID FOR FRACTURE
• STAY STILL, DO NOT MOVE INJURED AREA.
• SUPPORT THE INJURED AREA BY USING MAKESHIFT SPLINTS OR PADDED OBJECTS
TO IMMOBILIZE THE FRACTURE.
• APPLY ICE PACK WRAPPED WITH A CLOTH TO THE AFFECTED AREA TO REDUCE
PAIN.
• REASSURE THE PERSON UNTIL MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL HELP IS OFFERED.

9. FIRST AID FOR NOSE BLEEDING
• KEEP THE PERSON IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, LEARNING
SLIGHTLY FORWARD TO PREVENT THE BLOOD FROM FLOWING
DOWN THE THROAT.
• PINCH THE NOSTRILS TOGETHER GENTLY, USING THE THUMB
AND INDEX FINGER .
• MAINTAIN CONSTANT PRESSURE FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
• BREATHE THROUGH THEIR MOUTH AND SPIT OUT ANY
BLOOD THAT IS COLLECTED IN THE MOUTH.
• AFTER TEN MINUTES, RELEASE THE PRESSURE AND CHECK IF
THE BLEEDING HAS STOPPED.
• IF THE BLEEDING PERSISTS SEEK MEDICAL HELP.

10. FIRST AID FOR DIABETICS EMERGENCY
IF A PERSON EXPERIENCE HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW BLOOD SUGAR) OR HYPERGLYCAEMIA
(HIGH BLOOD SUGAR) WHICH MAY REQUIRE GLUCOSE OR INSULIN GIVE SWEETS OR
CHOCOLATE INCASE OF INJECTION.

11. CONCLUSION
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE FIRST AID TO AN INJURED PERSON BECAUSE LIFE
CAN BE SAVED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALSO, PROPER FIRST AID CAN
PROMOTE QUICK RECOVERY AND REDUCE RISK OF LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, FIRST AID EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE CONTROL OF
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR A
FIRST AID PROVIDER TO BE CREATIVE SO THAT HE OR SHE CAN IMPROVISE WHEN
SOME FIRST AID ITEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

12. REFERENCES
• HTTPS://WWW.MAYOCLINIC.ORG/FIRST
• HTTPS://WWW.NSC.ORG/SAFETY-FIRST
• HTTPS://WWW.VERYWELLHEALTH.COM
• HTTPS://WWW.BETTERHEALTH.VIC.GOV.AU