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July 25, 2023

First Aid Basics: Essential Skills Everyone Should Know

First aid is the immediate care that a sick or injured person receives before getting professional medical help. It can prevent a person’s condition from worsening, reduce pain and suffering, and even save lives.

Knowing some basic first aid skills can help anyone deal with common emergencies and injuries, such as bleeding, burns, choking, sprains, fractures, and cardiac arrest.

In this article, we will discuss some essential first-aid skills which everyone should learn and practice.

Assessing the Situation

The first thing to learn about first aid is assessing the issue and protecting personal safety.

Before approaching someone, who needs help:

Check for potential dangers such as fire, smoke, traffic, electricity, or violence. If the scene is unsafe, do not enter it and call for help instead.
If the location is safe, approach the person and check if they are conscious and breathing. If they are not, contact emergency services immediately and start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). CPR has been explained later in this article.
If they are aware, ask them what happened and if they have any pain or medical conditions.
Until assistance arrives, try to make them feel comfortable.

Managing Severe Bleeding

Another crucial first aid skill is the ability to manage serious bleeding. Cuts, punctures, and knife wounds are just a few examples of injuries that can cause bleeding. If left untreated, bleeding can lead to shock, infection, and death.

Follow these steps to stop bleeding:

Cover the wound with a fresh bandage or towel and apply direct pressure. Elevate the injured part above the level of the heart to reduce blood flow.
If the bleeding does not stop or soaks through the cloth or bandage, apply more pressure and layers of fabric or bandage on top of the existing ones. Do not remove the original ones, which may disturb the clotting process.
Apply a tourniquet above the wound if the bleeding is coming from an arm or leg and it is not under control with direct pressure. A tourniquet is a device that tightens around a limb to stop blood flow. You can use a belt, a scarf, or a piece of cloth as a tourniquet. Tighten it until the bleeding stops, and mark the time of application. Loosen it slightly every 15 minutes to check for signs of circulation. Wait to remove it until medical help arrives.
Monitor the person for signs of shock, such as pale skin, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, nausea, or confusion. If the person is in shock, lay them down with their legs elevated and cover them with a blanket to keep them warm.

Treating Burns

Burns are injuries that damage the skin and underlying tissues due to heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation exposure. It can cause pain, swelling, blistering, infection, and scarring.

Here are the steps to treat burns:

Remove the heat source or stop contact with any chemical or electricity. If the person’s clothing is on fire, smother it with a blanket or water.
Cool the burn with running water for at least 10 minutes or until the pain eases. Do not use ice, butter, oil, or creams, as they may worsen the burn.
Use a clean towel or bandage that does not stick to the wound to cover the burn. Do not pop blisters or peel off dead skin, as this may increase the risk of infection.
Seek medical attention if the burn is large (bigger than your palm), deep (affecting all layers of skin), or involves sensitive areas (such as the face, hands, feet, and genitals). Also, seek medical attention if chemicals, electricity, or radiation cause the burn.

Dealing with Choking

When something blocks the airway and prevents breathing a person may choke. Choking is a life-threatening situation. Food, objects, vomit, or an allergic reaction-related throat swelling can all cause choking.

To deal with choking, follow these steps:

Ask the person if they are choking and if they can cough or speak. If they can, encourage them and do not interfere.
If they cannot cough or speak and show signs of choking (such as clutching their throat), Stand behind them and wrap your arms around their waist; as you stand behind them, encircle their waist with your arms.
One hand should be made into a fist and held just above the person’s navel. Grab your fist and thrust it inward and upward sharply into their abdomen with your other hand. Keep repeating this until the object comes out or they breathe.
Lay them down if they lose consciousness or stop breathing on their back and start CPR.

Performing CPR

CPR is a technique that combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to restore blood circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs when a person’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing.

To perform CPR on anyone aged 12 years and above, follow these steps:

Check if the person is responsive and breathing. If they are not, call for emergency services and ask for an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if available.
Place the person on their back on a firm surface and kneel beside them. Place the heel of one hand on the centre of their chest and your other hand on top of the first hand. Keep your fingers interlocked and your arms straight.
Push hard and fast on their chest, 100–120 compressions per minute, roughly. The depth of each compression should be at least 5 cm (2 inches). Between each compression, let the chest fully recoil.
To open their airway, tilt the person’s head back and elevate their chin after 30 compressions. Squeeze their nostrils and seal your mouth over theirs. Watch their chest lift as you blow briefly into their mouth. Give two one-second rescue breaths.
Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths until the person starts breathing, until AED arrives, or medical help takes over.

Using an AED

An Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a device that can deliver correction of an irregular heartbeat using an electric shock when it stops beating or beats irregularly. You can find an AED in many public places, such as airports, malls, schools, and offices.

Here are the steps to using an AED:

Turn on the AED, then follow any voice or visual cues. The AED will guide you through the process and tell you what to do next.
Expose the person’s chest and wipe it dry if it is wet or sweaty. Attach the electrode pads to the person’s chest as shown on the pads or the AED screen. Ensure that nobody physically contacts the person.
The AED will analyse the person’s heart rhythm and tell whether a shock is needed. The machine will instruct you to push the shock button if a shock is required. Ensure no one touches the person, and say “clear” before pressing the button.
After delivering the shock, the AED will tell you to resume CPR or check for signs of life. Follow the AED instructions until the person starts breathing or medical help takes over.

Fractures and Sprains

These are common injuries that can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. If you suspect someone has a fracture or a sprain, act quickly and carefully to prevent further damage.

One of the best ways to do this is to immobilize the injured area using a splint or any available material to provide support and stability. It will help reduce the swelling and ease the pain until you can get professional medical attention.

Recognizing Signs of Stroke and Heart Attack

Strokes and heart attacks require immediate medical attention. Understanding the warning signs and symptoms of these conditions can be helpful if you take prompt action and potentially save a life. The most common symptoms include sudden numbness, difficulty in speaking, severe breathlessness, or chest pain. However, these may vary depending on the severity and location of the damage.

How to provide first aid for strokes and heart attacks?

Check the affected person’s breathing and pulse. If they aren’t breathing or don’t have a pulse, start CPR. However, use CPR only if you are trained and confident.
Loosen any tight clothing around their neck, chest, or waist that may restrict their breathing or blood flow.
Assist them in finding a comfortable place to sit or lie down. If they are having a stroke, lay them on their side with their head slightly raised and supported. If they are having a heart attack, help them sit up with their knees bent and their head and shoulders supported.
Utilise a blanket or clothing to keep them warm.
Do not give them anything to eat or drink unless they have medication prescribed for angina (chest pain) or diabetes (low blood sugar) and they are conscious and able to swallow.
Monitor their condition and watch for any changes. Be prepared to perform CPR again if they stop breathing or have no pulse.

Allergic Reactions

When the body’s immune system reacts inappropriately to allergens, allergic reactions occur and respond to a usually harmless substance. According to the type of allergy, symptoms might range from moderate to severe, and the amount of allergen, the person’s sensitivity, and their medical history.

Some common allergens include:

Food such as peanuts, eggs, shellfish, or milk
Insect stings or bites such as bees, wasps, or ants
Medications such as antibiotics, painkillers, or vaccines
Venomous vegetation, such as oak, sumac, and ivy
Latex such as gloves, balloons, or condoms

To assist someone suffering from an allergic reaction:

Ask them if they have any known allergies or an adrenaline autoinjector (such as an EpiPen) with them. If they do, help them to use it as instructed.
Help the person lie down and raise their legs if possible. It can help prevent shock.
Monitor their breathing and pulse. If the person isn’t moving or breathing, start CPR.
If an insect sting or bite causes the reaction, remove the stinger if visible by scraping it with a fingernail or a credit card. Do not use tweezers since they may squeeze more venom into the wound.

Poisoning

Poisoning occurs when someone swallows, inhales, injects, or absorbs a substance that is harmful to their body. Poisoning can be accidental or intentional. Poisoning can cause various symptoms depending on the type and amount of poison, the person’s age, weight, and health condition.

Some common poisons include:

Household products such as cleaners, detergents, bleach, or antifreeze
Medications such as painkillers, antidepressants, or sleeping pills
Drugs such as alcohol or nicotine
Plants such as mushrooms, berries, or flowers
Chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, or paint

To help someone who is poisoned:

Follow the instructions from the emergency operator. Only give something to the person if told to do so.
If the person is conscious and alert, try to keep them calm and comfortable.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them in recovery (on their side with one arm under their head and one leg bent at the knee).
If the person has no pulse or is not breathing, begin CPR.

Basic First Aid Kit

A well-stocked first aid kit is crucial for handling common emergencies and injuries. The kit should contain essentials such as adhesive bandages, sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, adhesive tape, scissors, gloves, and a CPR face mask. You should also include items specific to your needs, such as medications, allergy treatments, or emergency contact numbers.

Familiarise yourself with the kit’s contents and how to use them appropriately by reading the instructions or taking a first aid course. You should also regularly check the kit and replace expired or used items.

A final word

These are some of the basic first-aid skills that everyone should know and practice. They can help you handle common emergencies and injuries with confidence and competence. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical care.

Always seek medical attention when needed and follow up with your healthcare provider after providing first aid. You can also learn about first aid by taking a certified course from a reputable organization, such as St John Ambulance Malaysia, Malaysian Red Crescent Society, or Malaysian Civil Defence Force.

Sources

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