1. American Academy of
CPR & First Aid, Inc.

2. FIRST AID
What is First Aid?
Initial help given to a person who is sick or injured.
STEP ONE:
Evaluate the situation.
Look for dangers to yourself and to the victim. You cannot help the victim by putting
yourself at risk.
Make the area safe for yourself and the victim .
STEP TWO:
Call Emergency medical services (EMS). Be prepared to give the operator your location
Provide emergency aid
Get help from others Reminder: always use gloves if avaiable

3. Positioning the victim:
Do not move victim unless necessary.
Following are situations where victims need to be
moved:
If the area is a danger to you or the victim
If the victim is face down and needs CPR. Turn victim
face up
If the victim is unconscious, but breathing then place
the victim in recovery position.
If you think victim has a spinal injury (back or neck
injury). Do not to move the victim.
If the victim is unresponsive (unable to answer your
questions) and is having diffficulty breathing,
vomiting or if you must leave the location to get
help, place the victim in the modified recovery
position.

4. Recovery position
 extend one of the victim’s arms above the
head and roll the body onto one side.
 Use the extended arm as a pillow. Bend
both legs to keep the body on its side.

5. Wounds, Abrasions and Bleeding
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Clean the wound or abrasion with clean running tap
water for at least 5 minutes or until the wound is totally
clean (no dirt or other matter on the wound).
If tap water is not avaiable use bottled ( non-carbonated)
drinking water.
To stop the bleeding: apply firm steady pressure directly
on the wound until bleeding stops.
If gauze, cloth or sanitary pads are avaiable, place
directly over the bleeding area and apply steady pressure.
Continue until bleeding stops. As the gauze, cloth or
sanitry pads become soaked replace with dry ones if
avaiable.
Once the bleeding has stopped, Apply an elastic bandage
over the dry gauze, cloth or sanitary pad
Apply triple antibiotic ointment on abrasions (scrapes) to
prevent infections.

6. Road Accident
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Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to
the victim(s).
Make the area safe for yourself and the victim e.g. Switch
off the ignition
Check the victims. Evaluate all victims quickly and give aid
to those with major injuries or not breathing first.
DO NOT move the victim unless it is absolutely
necessary. Treat the victim in the position where you find
them.
ALWAYS assume that there is a neck (spinal) injury
If you think victim has a spinal injury (back or neck injury)
Do not move the victim. If the victim is unresponsive
(unable to answer your questions) and is having difficulty
breathing, vomiting or if you must leave the location to get
help, place the victim in the modified recovery position.
Monitor and record the victim’s vital signs (pulse,
breathing, response to your questions)
Be prepared to give CPR, if needed

7. Fire
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Call 911
DO NOT put your safety at risk
DO NOT attempt to fight a fire.
Pull the nearest Fire alarm.
Many buildings have maps on the
backs of doors with marked alarm
locations and exits.
• DO NOT use elevators under any
circumstances.
• STOP, DROP and ROLL if you or
anyone else is on fire. (If possible
wrap the victim in a coat, curtain,
blanket, rug or other heavy fabrics.

8. Smoke and Fumes
• Never enter a burning or smoke
filled room
• Smoke and fumes in a confined
space create an environment that is
low in oxygen and may be polluted
by carbon monoxide and toxic
fumes.
• If trapped in a burning building, get
down on your knees and crawl
across the smoke filled room (Air is
cleanest at the lowest level).
• Go to a room with a window and
close the door.
• Encourage and assist others to
evacuate (leave) the area.

9. Electrical Injuries
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Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself
and to the victim.
Make the area safe for yourself and the victim
HIGH VOLTAGE current found in power lines and
overhead high-tension (HT) cables, is usually fatal.
Immediately notify the authorities if there is high
voltage electrocution, such as fallen power lines.
LOW VOLTAGE current is found in homes and
workplaces.
DO NOT touch the victim if he/she is in contact with
the electrical source because you risk electrocution.
Break the contact between the victim and electrical
supply by switching off the current at the main switch
or fuse box or unplugging or disconnecting the
appliance.
If unable to reach the plug or main switch, then stand
on a dry insulating material such as a wooden box, a
plastic mat, or a telephone book.
Using a wooden stick push the victim’s limbs away
from the electrical source or push the source away
from the victim.

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If a wooden stick is unavaiable, place a piece of rope
or cord around the victim’s ankles or under victim’s
arms and then pull away from the electical source.
If a wooden stick or rope is unaavaiable then pull the
victim by any loose, dry clothing (sleeve , pant leg or
hem of shirt) being careful not to touch the
body. Remember, you risk electrocution by touching
the vitim’s body.
Once the power is off, evaluate vicitm for breathing
and pulse.
Begin CPR if victim has no pulse or is not breathing.
Call 300/ emergency medical services.
All victims of electric shock need medical
assistance. Internal injuries may have occured that
are not visible.
• Arrange to take or send the victim to a hospital so
that they may be evaluated by professionals

11. Burn: Electrical and Chemical
• Skin is an organ which acts as a natural barrier to the infection
and to fluid loss. Burns disrupt this barrier causing exposure to
infection and fluid loss.
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Causes of burns:
Dry burn - flames, friction, contact with hot object.
Scald burn - steam, hot liquids.
Electrical burn - low-voltage: household appliances, highvoltage: power cables, lightning current
Cold injury - frostbite, contact with freezing metal or freezing
vapors i.e. liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen.
Chemical burn - industrial chemicals or fumes or household
chemicals ( caustic soda, bleach , oven cleaner )
Radiation burn - sunburn, over exposure to ultraviolet rays
from sunlamp or exposure to radioactive source (x-rays)

12. • • Types of burns:
First-degree burn: It damages the outermost
layer of skin. It is characterized by
redness, swelling and tenderness.
Second-degree burn: It damages the
epidermis (2nd layer of skin). It is
characterized by redness, tenderness and
blisters.
Third-degree burn: it damages all the layers of
skin. It is characterized by loss of pain
sensation. There may be damage to the
nerves, fatty tissue, muscles, and blood
vessels. These burns need immediate medical
attention.

13. • • First aid response for burns:
 Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to
the victim.
 For severe burns or burns to the airway or electrical burns,
call EMS or dial 300
 Apply plenty of cold liquid for at least 10 minutes
Put on a disposable gloves if available.
 Carefully remove the clothing around the burn, unless it
sticks to the burn.
 Cover the burned area with sterile dressing or folded
triangular bandage, part of a sheet or plastic wrap, to
protect it from infection and to prevent fluid loss.
 Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse
and breathing
Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary.
 DO NOT burst any blisters
 DO NOT apply lotions, ointment, or adhesive tape to the
burned area
 DO NOT remove anything sticking to the burn

14. Heatstroke
 • Heatstroke refers to a condition where
your body overheats.
Causes of heatstroke:
Prolonged exposure to heat
High fever
Drugs
Signs of heatstroke:
Headache, dizziness
Confusion
Hot, flushed dry skin
Body temperature above 104 F (40 C)

15.  First aid response to heatstroke:
 Move the person to a cool place.
 Call EMS or 300.
 Wrap the person with a sheet and apply cool
water on the sheet, until the temperature falls
below 100.4 F.
 Once the temperature has returned to normal,
replace the wet sheet with a dry one. Monitor
and record vital signs – level of response, pulse
and breathing.
 Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary

16. Insect bites and stings
• Usually an insect sting causes a
localized allergic reaction.
• Stings from a bee, wasp, or hornet are
painful rather than dangerous.
• Stings in the mouth or throat are
potentially dangerous because they
may obstruct the airway.
• Signs of insect sting:
Pain, redness and swelling which starts
within minutes to hours after an insect
sting.
Allergic reaction may progress
to anaphylactic shock

17. • First aid response to an insect sting:
For victims showing signs of anaphylactic
shock or victims who develop mouth or
throat swelling after a bite – call EMS or
300
If the stinger is visible, then with
remove with a blunt knife.
DO NOT use a tweezers, because it may
inject more poison into the person.
Apply an ice pack or cold compress.
Elevate the affected part
Follow up with a doctor if pain and
swelling persists

18. Poisons & chemicals
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Poison/toxin is a substance that causes temporary or
permanent damage to the body.
Types of poisons:
Swallowed - drugs, alcohol, cleaning products, food
poisons
Inhaled- fumes from the cleaning products, fumes from fire
Injected- venom from stings and bites or drugs
Absorbed through the skin- cleaning products, plant
poisons
Splashed- cleaning products, home and gardening products
Signs of swallowed poisons:
Vomiting
Look for containers near the victim
Pain or burning sensation in mouth and throat

20.  First Aid response to swallowed
poison:
 If the person is conscious, then ask about the
exposure or ingestion history.
 Give frequent sips of cold milk or water.
 Call EMS 300
 DO NOT attempt to induce vomiting.
 Monitor and record vital signs – level of response,
pulse and breathing.
 Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary
Obtain medical help if symptoms continue or
worsen
If the person is unconscious then call EMS or 300
and start CPR.

21. Drowning
 Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to the
victim.
 Make the area safe for yourself and the victim.
 If possible stay on land and pull victim from the water with
your hand, a stick, or a rope.
 If victim is unconscious you may have to wade or swim to the
victim and bring to shore.
 Evaluate for breathing and pulse.
 Begin CPR if breathing and or pulse is absent.
 Start CPR with 2 effective ventilation followed by
compressions, complete 5 cycles (2 minutes) and then
activate emergency services. If two people are present then
send one person to activate emergency services and the
other to start CPR.
 Once the victim is out of the water, place the victim in a
position so that his/her head is lower than the rest of the body
to reduce the risk of inhaling the water and protect body from
the wind to prevent his body from getting colder.
 Remove wet clothing if possible and cover the victim with dry
materials (blankets, towels, clothes)
 Arrange to take or send the victim to a hospital. As with
electrical injuries the victim may have suffered injuries that are
not obvious.

22. Shock
• Shock is a life threatening condition.
It occurs when the circulatory system
(heart and/or blood vessel system) fails,
and it cannot supply oxygen to the
important organs i.e. brain, kidneys,
and heart.
Signs of shock:
 Rapid pulse / heart beats
 Pale, cold, clammy skin and sweating
Weakness and dizziness
 Gray-blue skin (cyanosis), especially
inside the lips, nail bed and earlobes
 Rapid, and shallow breathing, which
progresses to gasping for air.
 In later stages, pulse is weak (faint) and
eventually heart stops working

23.  Causes of shock:
• Severe blood loss (more than 1
Liter).
• Severe diarrhea and vomiting
• Severe burns
• Severe infection
• Severe allergic reaction
(anaphylactic shock)
• Low body temperature
(hypothermia)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Drug overdose
• Spinal cord injury

24. First aid:
 Treat the underlying cause, and activate
EMS.
 Raise victim’s legs (above the level of the
heart) to improve the blood supply to
the vital organs. unless you suspect a
spinal injury or broken bones.
 Cover the victim to maintain body
temperature.
 If victim begins to vomit - place them on
their left side.
 Monitor and record vital signs – level of
response, pulse and breathing.
 Be prepared to administer CPR, if
necessary & call 300.

25. Anaphylactic Shock
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Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic
reaction which occurs within seconds or
minutes, of exposure to the
trigger/allergen and is potentially fatal.
 Causes of anaphylactic shock:
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Drug reaction (injection or by mouth)
Stings of insects (bees for example)
Ingestion of certain food (peanuts for example)
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Signs of anaphylactic shock:
Anxiety
Skin rash
Swelling of the tongue and throat
Rapid, and shallow breathing( wheezing)which
progresses to gasping for air.
Signs of shock
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26. Fainting
 Fainting refers to a brief loss of consciousness, due to
decrease blood flow to the brain.
 Causes of fainting:
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Lack of food/fluids
Reaction to pain
Exhaustion
Emotional stress
Prolonged periods of physical activity/inactivity (sitting or
standing) in a warm environment.
 First aid response for fainting:
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When a person feels faint, ask them to lie down
Raise their legs and support ankles on your shoulders. This
should improve the blood flow to the brain.
Once the victim is fully recovered encourage them to drink
plenty of fluids.
If the victim does not regain consciousness, then activate
EMS and administer CPR.

27. Fractures
 A fracture means that there is a break or
crack in a bone.
 Causes of fractures:
o Direct force i.e. heavy blow to the body
o Indirect force i.e. twisting or wrenching (usually occurs
when the bones are weak)
 Types of fractures:
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Open fracture:
Skin above the fracture is broken i.e. one of the broken bone
ends may be sticking out of the skin or there is a wound at
the fracture site.
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Since the skin is broken, there is a high risk of infection.
 Closed fracture:
• Skin above the fracture is intact.
 Stable fracture:
• The broken bone ends do not move.
 Unstable fracture:
• The broken bone ends can easily move out of position.
• As a result can cause severe damage to the blood vessels,
nerves, and organs.

28.  First aid response for fractures:
 Closed fracture:
 Support the injured part.
 Bandage the injured part to the closest
parallel unaffected part of the body.
 For the lower limb fractures, bandage the
injured leg to the uninjured.
 For the upper limb fractures, immobilize
the arm against the trunk.
 Arrange to transport to the nearest
hospital or doctor’s office.
 Check the circulation (pulse point nearest
the fracture) every 10 minutes.
 If circulation is weak , loosen the bandage

29. Open fracture:
 Place on a disposable gloves, if available.
 Cover the wound with clean pads or sterile dressing.
 Apply gentle pressure to control bleeding.
 Secure the dressing and padding with a bandage.
 Bandage the injured part to the closest parallel unaffected part of the body.
For the lower limb fractures, bandage the injured leg to the uninjured. For
the upper limb fractures, immobilize the arm against the trunk.
Arrange to transport to the medical facility.
Check the circulation every 10 minutes. If circulation is weak then loosen the
bandages. Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse and
breathing.
Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary.
DO NOT move the person until the injured part is secured and supported
DO NOT allow the person to eat or drink until cleared by the physician

30. Nosebleed
• Bleeding from the nose occurs when small
blood vessels inside the nostrils are
ruptured.
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Causes of nose bleed:
Sneezing / upper respiratory
infection
Picking the nose
Blowing the nose
High blood pressure

31.  First aid response for nosebleed:
 Place person in seated position.
 Ask the person to breathe from the mouth and to pinch the
soft part of the nose for up to 10 minutes.
 If the bleeding has not stopped, then the person can
repeat the pinching of the nose for 10 minutes.
 This procedure may be done for a total of thirty minutes.
 Advise him/her to rest quietly for few hours and try not to
swallow, cough, spit or sniff, because it may restart the
nose bleed.
 If the nose bleed is due to an injury (head or nose injury)
arrange for medical attention