The document provides comprehensive information on first aid, emphasizing the importance of being a first responder to save lives in emergency situations. It details standard first aid practices for various medical emergencies such as fainting, seizures, strokes, cardiac arrests, and more, highlighting the critical role of timely care in improving patient outcomes. It also outlines essential contents of a first aid kit and offers guidelines for treating specific injuries, including burns, fractures, bites, and poisoning.

1. FIRST AID

2. Will enable you to become “first responder” in case of any life-
threatening emergency.
Will provide basis knowledge to handle common situations
which needs first aid for good patient outcomes.
Will provide you with first aid certification.

3. 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

4. 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.
First Aid has the following main objectives:
(i) Topreserve life
(ii) Toprevent the victim's condition from worsening
(iii) Topromote recovery

5. To restore and maintain vital functions. The ABC of basic life
support(Airway, Breathing, and Circulation)are always the first
priority.
To prevent further injury or deterioration.
To reassure the victim and make him or her as comfortable as
possible.

6. First responders are people who are the first to be
present after the accident, for instance bystanders,
ambulance attendants, policemen, media personnel,
hotel-staff, school teachers etc.
Why become First responders ??

7. • India: 1 out of 6 trauma victims die
• USA: 1 out of 200 trauma victims die
(due to poor pre-hospital emergency care)
• 95% of trauma victims in India do not receive optimal care during
the Golden Hour.
• 30% of those who die from head injuries could have been saved if
quality care were available to them sooner.

8. The first hour after the injury is referred to as the
“Golden Hour”.
Proper management in the ‘Golden Hour” saves lives
and reduces disability.
Creating a network of First Responders provides the
best chance that the victims will receive the best
immediate aid possible.

9.  Fainting
 Seizures
 Stroke
 Cardiac Arrest
 Bleeding &
Bandaging
 Burns
 Fractures
 Frost Bite
 Heat Stroke
 Dog Bite
 Snake Bite
 Poisoning
 Electric shock

11. Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness and is the result of an
interference with the function of the brain.
If you have seen a person fainting then:
Don’ts :
 Don’t give the patient anything to eat or drink
 Don’t allow the person who has just fainted to get up
until the victim is fully conscious
 If the area is warm, don’t crowd around the victim

12. Do’s :
 Catch the person before he/she falls
 Pinch the person and see if she moves or opens her eyes
 Examine the injuries and causes of unconsciousness
 Tilt head back and keep arms at right angle to body
 Raise the legs 8 – 12 inches. This promotes blood flow to the
brain.
 Loosen any tight clothing
 Keep the victim warm if it is cold outside

14. When someone is having is seizure, they will often experience
involuntary movement and involuntary changes in behaviour and
awareness for 60-90 seconds.
If you've never witnessed a seizure, you might be shocked,
confused, scared, worried, or all of the above. The most
important thing, however, is for you to remain clam.
Ease the person to the floor so that they don’t fall. If possible,
roll the person onto their side, so that if they vomit, they don't
choke on or inhale it.(It is best to roll them onto their left side,
however, do not become flustered if you forget this; either side
is better than leaving them on their back.)

15. • If in a seizures, the person is hitting their head against the
floor repeatedly, we should cushion their head gently with a
pillow, cushion, jacket, or any soft object, but do not restrain
their head or any other part of their body.
• Loosen any constrictive clothing unless they're jerking too
much (ties, belts, shirt collars). If the person is wearing a
necklace, unhook it if you can.
• Move furniture and other obstacles out of the way -- anything
that they might bump into, or that might fall onto them. Keep
an eye out for sharp cornered items, or things that will shatter
into sharp edges when broken.

16. • Make sure the person is breathing. If their breathing is
difficult, check that nothing is blocking their airway, like food.
• To avoid tongue bite, insert something big like a big spoon or
a handkerchief or any rolled up fabric between the teeth so
that the person doesn't bite his or her tongue,
• Do not put any small or liquid thing in the mouth while they
are having a seizure since an object may block their airway if
dislodged, becoming life-threatening.

19. The most effective management of any
stroke patient can be done if the treatment
for stroke is administered within
“three hours of the onset”
of stroke, but, to receive them, one must
recognize the warning signs and act
quickly.

20. A stroke happens when a part of the brain dies from lack of blood,
usually because one of the arteries that supply oxygen-carrying
blood to the brain has been damaged.
 Clogged vessel or Ischemic stroke: Caused by blockage of
a blood vessel in the brain, usually by a blood clot or by fatty
deposits on the vessel wall. 80% of strokes are ischemic.
 Burst vessel or Haemorrhagic stroke: Caused by a ruptured
blood vessel, preventing normal flow and allowing blood to
leak into brain tissue, destroying it. This occurs in 20% of
strokes.

24.  Before actual Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA): Some people have
chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea (feeling sick to the
stomach), or vomiting around one hour before cardiac arrest, which
is generally confused with other common problems.
 Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA): The first sign of sudden cardiac
arrest (SCA) is loss of consciousness (fainting). At the same time,
no heartbeat (or pulse) can be felt.
Some people may have a racing heartbeat or feel dizzy or light-headed
just before they faint.

25. When the heart stops, the lack of oxygenated blood can cause brain damage in only a few
minutes.
Death or permanent brain damage can occur within four to six minutes.
Time is critical when you're helping an unconscious person who isn't breathing.
“Take immediate action”
 Call the emergency number in your area, if you encounter someone who has
collapsed or is found unresponsive.
 Perform CPR. Quickly check the unconscious person's breathing. If he or she isn't
breathing normally, begin CPR.
• Push hard and fast on the person's chest — about 100 compressions a minute.
• If you've been trained in CPR, check the person's airway and deliver rescue breaths
after every 30 compressions.
• Keep doing this until a portable defibrillator is available or emergency personnel
arrive

27. Wash the wound with running water.
• Running water will not only clean the wound, but help to stop the bleeding.
• Run cold water over the cut to constrict the blood vessels and stop the bleeding.
• Doing the same with hot water will cauterize the cut, allowing the blood to clot.
• Don’t use both hot and cold water - just one or the other should do the trick.
• You can use an ice cube instead of cold water to close off the arteries. Hold the ice
to the cut for a few seconds until the wound closes up and stops bleeding.
• If you have multiple small cuts on your body, taking a hot shower will clean off all
the blood and cauterize the multiple gashes concurrently.

29. Hold a tissue to your nose.
The first thing to do is make sure you pinch the bridge of
your nose. Grab the closest tissue or paper towel and hold
it up to your nose to stop the blood from getting
everywhere. Pinch your nose to prevent a long lasting nose
bleed.

31. 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.

32. (i)First Degree (Superficial) - Involves only
top layer of the skin, skin 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.

33. 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
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin,
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or
acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Use caution when giving aspirin
to children or teenagers.

34. Dont's :
• Don’t place a burn under extreme water pressure
• Don’t remove the cloth that is stuck to the burnt area.
• Don’t apply egg whites,butter ointment, oil etc. in the area affected.
• Don't use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause a person's body to
become too cold and cause further damage to the wound.
• Don't break blisters. Broken blisters are more vulnerable to infection.

36. 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 increasedby movement.
• Movement may be difficult orimpossible
• Swelling and later bruising of the injured part
• Deformity at the site of thefracture
• Shock mayoccur

38. Stop any bleeding. Hold a clean, preferably sterile, absorbent
material over the injury and apply gentle yet direct pressure
(without applying over the break). If there is a large object
penetrating the skin, do not remove it. It may be clotting the
wound. Removing it could cause severe bleeding.
Immobilize the injured area. Don't ask the person to move their
fractured limb; help them get comfortable where they are. Do
not try to move the limb or bone to its original position, unless
circulation is cut off. Do not move a person with a hip or pelvis
fracture. If they must be moved, however, strap the legs
together with a towel or blanket in between them and place the
person gently on a board.

40.  Use covered ice packs to numb the pain and reduce swelling. Grab any
available ice packs and wrap in a light towel. Place gently over the site of the
fracture. This will help contain the bleeding, reduce swelling, and help numb
the pain.
 Treat the person for signs of shock. Shock is dangerous because it routes
blood and oxygen away from vital organs. This physiological state, if left
untreated, can ultimately cause organ damage.
Symptoms of shock include:
• Cool, clammy skin
• A weak but rapid pulse
• Nausea
• Glassy, unfocused eyes

43. Frost-bite occurs when body tissues freeze after
exposure to below zero temperatures.
The signs and symptoms include white, waxy looking
skin that is firm to the touch but the tissue
underneath feels soft and pain followed by numbness.

44. Do’s :
Cover frostbitten toes, ears with warm hands.
The area affected can be warmed by breathing on them or placing them
in a warm area of
the body or by dipping the affected area in warm water (40
degree centigrade).
Cover the area affected.
Don’t's :
Do not rub as tiny ice crystals in the tissues may cause more
damage.
Never rub snow on the area as this may cause further freezing and do
not apply direct heat as this may re-warm the area too quickly.
Do not let the patient walk.
Do not break blisters if any.

46. 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
• Body is hot and dry.
• Skin is red with no sweating.
• Fast pulse rate
• Dilated pupils
• Confusion and sometimes there might be loss of consciousness.

48. 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.

49. 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.

52. 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 :
 Straight away, wash the wound thoroughly with plenty of soap and
water. (at-least for 10-15 minutes).
 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.
 Cover the wound with a dry, steriledressing.
 Get medical aid or send the patient to the hospital as soon as
possible.

54. • Most of the snakes are
harmless, so remain
CALM !!!
• 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.

55. 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.
 The bandage should be loose enough for a finger to slip through
 Constantly check airway, breathing & blood circulation and Start
resuscitation if needed.
 Shift the patient immediately to the hospital and see to it that the person is
at rest during transport.
 Instruct the person to avoid all movement on the area affected.

56. Don’t’s :
Do not Wash the affected area as the venom may be
needed to find anti-venom.
Do not try to suck the venom out by yourself.
Do not try to cut around the bitten area.
Do not try to capture the snake.

58. 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 vapours and petrol and engine exhaust.
 Absorbed poisons are absorbed through the skin via contact with
poisonous sprays such as pesticides and insecticides.

59. 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 colour 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
Don’ts :
Don’t induce vomiting.

61. Electricity can be very dangerous unless used with care. When an
accident occurs with electricity, the First Responder 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 along with fractures in case of falls.
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.
Manage the patient as per his/her condition.