What is FIRST AID its Aims & Principles & History
What is First Aid
FIRST AID is the initial care of a suddenly sick or injured person before the arrival of the qualified medical personnel.
Although first aid is a complex knowledge, it can be delivered by lay people.
Emergency Contact Nos.
History of First Aid
Most likely, elements of first aid were known to pre-historic people.
Medicine in Ancient World (Egypt, Greece, Rome, China) was at high level, but access to medical knowledge – limited.
History of first aid is mostly related to battles.
1099 – first documented historical fact about first aid. Group of knights of the Order of St. John provided first aid to pilgrims and knights. They trained other knights how to treat battlefield injuries.
Aims of First Aid
- To save LIFE, LIMB or ORGAN of a casualty / suddenly ill person
- To prevent / minimize complications of injury / illness.
- To promote prompt recovery of injured / suddenly ill person.
Why YOU need First Aid skills
- Illness and injury may occur anywhere, anytime to anybody with no respect to time, region, nationality, sex, age, habits, etc.
- Human brain can survive just for short time with no oxygen.
- Simple interventions can save life/limb/organ
- Early interventions define overall outcome of emergency event.
- Illness and injury may occur anywhere, anytime to anybody with no respect to time, region, nationality, sex, age, habits, etc.
- Human brain can survive just for short time with no oxygen.
- Simple interventions can save life/limb/organ
- Early interventions define overall outcome of emergency event.
- Recall, if you HAVE already used first aid skills in your everyday life.
- Think where you can apply the acquired knowledge on FIRST AID after you finish this training course?
Principles of First Aid – A
“A”
A – Airways.
- Airways must be opened
- PATIENT: no oxygen – no life.
“B”
B – Breathing.
- When oxygen reaches lungs it enters into gas exchange cycle “body tissues – ambient air”.
- If victim does not breath spontaneously – YOU have to do that for him.
“C”
C – Circulation.
- Once oxygen is in blood stream – it must reach bodily organs, CO2 must leave the body.
- If victim does not have spontaneous heart beats – YOU have to restore circulation.
Useful Definitions
BLS –
Basic Life Support – complex of life saving procedures and techniques aiming to safe life and promote recovery before the arrival of specialized medical care
ABC –
Open Airways, Check Breathing, Check Circulation – complex of life saving techniques focused on the victim’s airways, breathing and circulation.
CPR –
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (“cardio” = heart, “pulmonary” = lungs, “resuscitation” = revive) includes four main parts: Airways, Breathing, Circulation, (Defibrillation).
Chain of Survival
Chain of Survival is the modern concept of the elements of emergency cardiovascular care, and summarizes the present understanding of the best approach and treatment of person with sudden illness/injury.
Links of Chain of Survival:
- Early recognition of life threatening situation and activation of emergency medical system.
- Early CPR.
- Early defibrillation.
- Early advanced (definitive) care (medical professionals).
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