A Quick Guide For First Aid

If you need help send for it immediately. If an ambulance is needed, arrangements should be made for it to be directed to the scene of the accident.

Use the memory prompt SCENE to help ensure the scene is safe and that you are ready to provide first aid.

S - Stop
C - Check for Danger
E - Exposure Protection
N - No Obvious Risk
E - Establish Priorities.

Patients should be seated or lying down when being treated, as appropriate.

Note:
Take care not to become a patient yourself while administrating first aid. Use protective clothing and equipment where necessary.

Wash your hands if possible. Do not remove clothing sticking to the burns or scalds or burst blisters. All burns and scalds are to be treated with cold water for at least 10 minutes. When the burn is comfortable, a sterile dressing should be applied and the patient should be referred to hospital.

Avoid contaminating yourself with the chemical. Flush with plenty of clean cold water for at least 20 minutes. Remove any contaminating clothing which is stuck to the skin. Apply a sterile dressing to exposed, damaged skin and send to hospital.

Recognise choking. This may be mild or severe. For a mild obstruction, encourage the patient to cough to help relieve the obstruction. If the patient is responsive with a severe obstruction alternate with 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts (chest thrusts in infants) until relieved. If the patient becomes unresponsive begin CPR at the chest compression stage.

Do not touch the patient until the current is isolated. If the patient is not breathing normally, start resuscitation and continue until patient starts to breath normally and then treat any burn until the Emergency Services arrives.

Wash hands if possible. If it is a chemical in the eye, wash out the open eye continuously with clean water for as long as possible. Loose foreign bodies in the eye should be washed out with clean cold water. Should the foreign bodies still remain, cover the eye with a pad.

Remove the patient to a cooler environment and place them in a position of comfort. Give small amounts of cool water or isotonic drinks if the patient is responsive. Sponge with luke warm water. If the patient does not respond to rest and fluids or you suspect heat stroke, call the emergency services. Remove as much of the patients clothing as possible and wrap them in a wet sheet. Fan them vigorously and use cool packs under the arms and around the neck. Hose with cool water or immerse in cool water. Place in the recovery position if the patient becomes unresponsive and continue to cool until the emergency services arrive.

Patients with minor injuries of a sort they would attend to themselves if at home may wash their hands and apply a small sterilised dressing from the first aid box.

Protect the patient from injury but do not agitate or restrain them. Protect the head and move objects away that may cause harm. DO NOT put anything in the patient’s mouth. After the seizure place the patient in the recovery position. Reassure the patient and allow them to sleep whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

Control by direct pressure (using fingers and thumbs) on the bleeding point. Apply a dressing. Raising the bleeding limb (unless it is broken) will help to reduce the flow of blood. It is advisable to wear protective gloves when applying first aid to a bleeding patient.

Help the patient into a lying position and loosen constricting clothing. Raise the patient’s legs if no injuries are present. Allow patients with breathing or heart problems to sit up in to a position of comfort. Do not allow patients to smoke, drink or eat. Suspected spinal injuries or fractures to the lower limbs should be treated in the position found.

Do not move the patient unless they are in a position which exposes them to immediate danger. Obtain expert help, call for an ambulance.

Articles used from the first aid box should be replaced as soon as possible.

An entry of each case dealt with must be made in the accident book.