Basic Rules of First Aid: Part 3

The way in which you approach the situation in any type of emergency, is of vital importance. This is especially true in a major incident, where it is impossible for one first aider to treat all the casualties at once.

- It should be remembered that in First Aid common sense is as important as actual knowledge of the subject.

- Serious accidents rarely produce only a single injury, but frequently more than one

- Continuous severe bleeding must be arrested first. Ask help from patient if conscious or from bystander

- The correct treatment of one injury may differ from the treatment of other injuries.

- Decide which injury must be attended to first, and then continue to treat other injuries according to priority

What to do in an emergency.

Protect
Alert
Assist

1. Follow the above rules

2. If it is a conscious victim, ask to accept your help and reassure the person

3. Always remain calm, no matter what the situation. If a sense of calm is communicated to the casualty, it will reduce their anxiety and fear considerably and convince them that there is little reason for panic. This is undeniably vital for the person helping as for the injured or sick individual.

4. Under no circumstances should comments been made that will upset the casualty any further

5. It is better to do nothing but reassure the injured or sick person if you are not absolutely sure of what to do. Any action might worsen the victim's problem

6. Ask bystanders to move back to avoid obstruction when medical assistance arrives

Know what to do

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Remember, the noisiest patient is rarely the most severely injured!

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What to do in an emergency

Examine the victim:

• Check the pulse
• Check breathing
• Check respiratory breathing
• Check if airways are obstructed: e.g. tongue, food, vomitus, blood,
• Check if there is bleeding
  Loosen the victim's clothes to avoid constriction and improve blood flow
  Ask if there are any medical professionals (Doctor, Nurse or anybody with knowledge of first aid) around

What not to do in an emergency

• Do not move the casualty, unless absolutely necessary (only when victim is exposed to further danger)
• If you have to move the victim, avoid any abrupt or unnecessary action.
• If you suspect that the victim has a neck or spinal injury or fracture, do not move the victim
• If the victim is unconscious, do not shake him or try to give him medicine or liquids
• Do not make any comments about the state of the victim, even if he or she is unconscious
• Stay with the victim until medical help arrives
• Never leave the patient alone at any time
• Do not touch wounds with bare hands
• Do not attempt to remove blood clots. It is a natural cover to prevent blood loss

Keep your home free from accidents

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Part 4 to follow

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