First Aid and Emergency Care: Things That You Should Know

There is always nothing that can be compared to emergency situations, because time is incredibly valuable. In general, simple knowledge about first aid and reacting to emergencies can have a good impact on the result of an unexpected accident or acute pathology. It is the hope of this guide to equip you with the necessary know-how regarding emergency situations that require your intervention and give handy tips as to how best to deal with these situations.

Understanding First Aid

What is First Aid?

First aid is a treatment given to the injured or sick person before reaching a health care provider or before the arrival of a professional caregiver. The primary objectives of first aid are to:

•  Preserve life
• Prevent the condition from worsening
• Promote recovery

Importance of First Aid

Basic life support measures should ideally be known by every member of any given society. It can:

• Lessen the intensity of an injury or sickness
• Alleviating or treating all forms of pain I found to be valuable.
• Minimizing those complications and risk of infections
• To be specific, it will help to save lives in different critical situations.

Basic First Aid Skills

Assessing the Situation

Before doing any first aid, one has to make a quick check or a brief survey of the place. Ensure that for each story you look for any danger to either the victim or yourself. The first step when in a position to aid the concerned person is to first of all confirm that the area is secure enough for anyone to approach.

Calling for Help

This is in agreement with the status quoting that in most situations, the key intervention is dialing an emergency center. Make sure to be as precise as possible when it comes to the location establishing the incident as well as describing the emergency and the state of the individual.

Performing CPR

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a form of emergency medical treatment that is provided in instances of cardiac arrest. It entails pumping the chest and giving rescue breaths so as to ensure that blood together with oxygen continuously flows to the brain and other mandatory body organs.

Steps for CPR:

1. Check responsiveness and breathing.

2. Call emergency services.

3. Begin chest compressions: With the right hand, center a heel upon the victim’s chest; with the other hand clasp the wrist of the right hand; then depress the center of the chest firmly and rapidly.

4. Provide rescue breaths: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest and the other hand on the top of the first, both hands interlocking, and lean forward so the chin tilts up – 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths.

5. Proceed with ventilation until assisted by the fire department or until the person regains consciousness.

Treating Bleeding

Thus, it is imperative to control the bleeding so as to avoid shock and the development of additional issues.

Steps to Control Bleeding:

1. Calm down the wound with the help of a clean cloth or a bandage.

2. Try to position the injured part high above the level of the heart, if possible.

3. That is, applying pressure on the wound until the bleeding is under control.

4. Depending on the time of the injury and other factors, bleeding can be profuse and fail to cease after several minutes, one should seek professional assistance.

Managing Burns

Burns can be classified, and this determines the kind of treatment that should be administered.

Steps for Treating Burns:

1. Rinse the burn under clean, running water for at least 10 minutes.

2. To further protect the burn, apply a sterile, non-adherent dressing, or clean handkerchief if none of these are available.

3. Do not apply ice, creams, or ointments.

4. You should consult a doctor for more serious cases of burning, and this is where the burning is extensive, located on the face, palms, and joints.

Handling Fractures

Injuries are sensitive and they have to be well managed, especially in cases of fractures.

Steps for Managing Fractures:

1. Any leg should be immobilized using a splint or a sling as much as possible.

2. Icing decreases swelling and develops less pain.

3. Treat for any spinal cord injury – do not move the person if you suspect that they have this.

4. Consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and the right treatment to be administered.

EMS Specific Emergencies

Choking

Choking happens when the respiratory tract is blocked by an object; the victim cannot breathe.

Steps to Help a Choking Person:

1. Advise the patient to cough to try and expel the lodged object.

2. Perform back blows: Turn the person forward and tap his back five times between the blade bones.

3. Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver): Jostle the person, place one’s hand above the belly button, and push in and up.

4. Mutter until the object is coughed up or the patient loses consciousness. If unconscious, begin CPR.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is one of those forms of emergency that should be looked at by a doctor as soon as possible.

Signs of a Heart Attack:

• Pain/ discomfort in the chest

• Shortness of breath

• Also, shooting pain and numbness of the arms, back, neck, or jaw.

• Nausea or lightheadedness

Steps to Help During a Heart Attack:

1. Call emergency services immediately.

2. Reassure the person and ensure that they stay as still as possible, preferably in a seated position.

3. Give aspirin in the case where the person has no allergic reaction as it has properties that discourage blood clotting.

4. rove patient status and be prepared to do CPR if needed.

Stroke

A stroke may be described as a cerebrovascular accident or any event which negatively affects the blood supply to the brain in the body.

Signs of a Stroke (FAST):

• Face drooping

• Arm weakness

• Speech difficulty

• Duration before calling for an ambulance

Steps to Help During a Stroke:

1. Call emergency services immediately.

2. So, sit close to the person, preferably ensuring they are in a comfortable position and then calm them down.

3. There is an emphasis on the start of the above symptoms.

4. Specific and general avoidance instructions include not feeding or offering a drink to the suspect/ defendant.

Seizures

Seizures are much dreaded but don’t always mean you are going to die.

Steps to Help During a Seizure:

1. Do not get angry and prevent the injured person from worsening their condition.

2. Remove any dangerous items that might be on the scene.

3. Put underneath the head an item that is soft in nature.

4. Finally, do not prevent the person from moving their arms and legs, and do not place anything in the patient’s mouth.

5. Upon seizure, lay the person down on their side and observe the breathing pattern.

6. If a seizure lasts more than five minutes or there is another one immediately after the first, the person should go to a doctor.

Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis need to be intervened.

Signs of Anaphylaxis:

• Difficulty breathing

• Face, lip, or throat edema

• Hives or rash

• Nausea or vomiting

Steps to Help During an Allergic Reaction:

1. Call emergency services immediately.

2. Give an epinephrine auto-injector if one is available, known as an EpiPen.

3. Stabilize the person and observe his or her breathing pattern.

4. Consult a doctor even if one starts to feel better after administering an epinephrine auto-injector.

Fundamental Requirements of a First Aid Kit

At the top of any list of things to have in your car and at home is a good well-stocked first-aid kit. 

Here are some essential items to include:

• Singed or small adhesive bandages with different shapes

• It may include sterile gauze pads to dress the sterile rubber impressed over proximal fragment and adhesive tape.

• Antiseptic wipes and ointment

• Scissors and tweezers

• Disposable gloves

• CPR face shield

• Instant cold packs

• Elastic bandages

• Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and other over-the-counter medicines for pain relief.

• First aid manual

First Aid Training

However, viewing this guide is basic first aid knowledge and it is advised to be a part of a certified first aid course. Training is very effective as the participants get to practice all that they need to do in case of an emergency and also get all the confidence they need.

Conclusion

Having first aid and emergency care knowledge is important to everyone, as they can help to save lives. If you grasp the principles of first aid and apply them when it is necessary, you can save a person’s life, at least improve his or her condition. Of course, the fundamental aims of management are the safeguarding of life, prevention of the deterioration of the condition, and the achievement of a cure. Control your nerves, think on your feet, and get help whenever possible. Know more for health and medical aspects and must practice these things and you will be saving lives.