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Basic first aid is the initial process of evaluating and addressing the issue of an injured person or someone experiencing a physiological crisis due to suffocation, heart attack, allergic reactions to medication, or other medical emergencies. Basic first aid helps to quickly assess the body's condition and determine the appropriate treatment for the victim. While it's always important to seek professional medical help as soon as possible, performing the correct first aid procedures can make a crucial difference. Follow our complete guide, or refer to specific instructions for the listed situations above.
Steps
Apply the 3C Principle
Assess and Inspect the Scene. Evaluate the situation. Are there any dangers to you? Are you or the victim at risk from fire, toxic gases or smoke, structural collapse, live wires, or other hazards? Do not rush if you might end up in the same situation as the victim.
- If approaching the victim would put you in danger, seek professional help immediately. They are trained to handle these situations. First aid is useless if you cannot perform it safely without harming yourself.
Emergency Call. Dial the relevant authorities or immediately call emergency services if you suspect someone is severely injured. If you are the only one present at the scene, try to assist the victim with breathing before seeking help. Do not leave the victim alone for an extended period of time.
Care for the Victim. Someone who has suffered serious injuries needs both physical and emotional care. Stay calm and provide a sense of security. Let the victim know help is on the way and reassure them that everything will be okay.
Care for the Unconscious
Assess Response. If a person is unconscious, try to wake them by gently rubbing their hands, bare feet, or speaking to them. If they do not respond to movement, sound, touch, or other stimuli, you must check if they are still breathing.
Check for Breathing and Pulse. If the victim is unconscious and unresponsive, check for breathing: look for chest rise, listen for the sound of air moving, and feel for breath by positioning your face near theirs. If no obvious signs of breathing are present, proceed to check for a pulse.
If the person remains unresponsive, perform CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation). Unless spinal injury is suspected, carefully roll the victim onto their back and open their airway. If the victim is still breathing and a spinal injury is suspected, leave them in their current position. If vomiting occurs, turn the victim to their side to prevent choking.
- Keep the head and neck straight.
- Carefully roll the victim onto their back.
- Open the airway by lifting the chin.
Perform the chest compression cycle of 30 compressions and two rescue breaths in CPR. At the center, just below the imaginary line running between the chest's top and bottom, interlace your hands and compress the chest about 5 cm deep at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths and reassess the victim. If they are choking, reposition the airway. Ensure the head is tilted slightly back and the tongue is not obstructing the airway. Continue the cycle of 30 compressions and two rescue breaths until another person relieves you.
Remember the ABC order for CPR (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). These three elements are essential to monitor during first aid. Regularly check these factors while performing CPR.
- Airway: Is the victim choking?
- Breathing: Is the victim still breathing?
- Circulation: Are the main pulses (wrist, carotid artery, groin) present?
Keep the victim warm while waiting for medical assistance. Cover the victim with a towel or blanket. If unavailable, you can use your own clothing (such as a jacket) to keep them warm until medical help arrives. However, if the victim has heatstroke, do not cover or warm them. Instead, cool them down with a fan and increase the humidity.
Things to avoid during first aid. Be sure to remember what not to do in any situation:
- Do not give food or drink to an unconscious person. This could cause choking and asphyxiation.
- Never leave the victim alone. Unless absolutely necessary to move to get help, stay with the victim the entire time.
- Do not place pillows under an unconscious person.
- Do not slap or splash water on an unconscious person. These actions are only seen in movies.
Handling Common Issues in First Aid
Protect Yourself from Bloodborne Pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens can cause illness and harm, threatening your health and well-being. If a first aid kit is available, sanitize your hands and wear sterile gloves. If none are available, protect your hands with gauze or cotton. Avoid direct contact with another person's blood. If unavoidable, wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible. Additionally, handle any residual contaminants carefully.
First, Control Bleeding. After ensuring the victim is breathing and has a pulse, the next priority is to manage bleeding, if present. This is one of the most critical steps in saving a victim of severe injury. Apply direct pressure to the wound before attempting any other bleeding control methods. For more details, refer to our linked articles.
- Gunshot wounds. Gunshot injuries are serious and unpredictable. Learn special precautions when treating gunshot victims.
Next, Address Shock. Shock, which often results in a reduction in circulatory blood volume, typically follows physical trauma and sometimes psychological trauma. A person in shock may have cold, sweaty skin, pale face and lips, and an anxious or unstable mental state. If untreated, shock can be fatal. Anyone who experiences a severe injury or life-threatening situation is at risk of shock.
First Aid for Broken Bones. Generally, broken bones can be managed with the following steps:
- Immobilize the broken area. Ensure that the broken bone does not move or affect other parts of the body.
- Reduce pain. This is often done by wrapping ice in a cloth and applying it to the injury.
- Create a splint. This can be done using a stack of newspapers and sturdy tape. A broken finger can be splinted by using an adjacent finger.
- Create a sling if necessary. Tie a shirt or pillowcase around the broken arm and drape it over the shoulder.
Assisting a Choking Victim. Choking can cause death or permanent brain damage in just minutes. Refer to the guide below to help a choking victim, whether an adult or a child.
- One of the methods to assist a choking person is the Heimlich maneuver. This is done by hugging the victim from behind, clasping your hands, and placing them just above the navel and below the rib cage. Apply upward pressure to force air out of the lungs and repeat until the airway is cleared.
Learn How to Treat Burns. For first and second-degree burns, immerse or pour cold water (not ice) on the burn area. Avoid using creams, butter, or other ointments, and never pop blisters. For third-degree burns, cover the area with a moist cloth. Remove any clothing or jewelry from the burned area, but do not try to remove clothing that is stuck to the wound.
Be Cautious of Head Injuries. If the victim has experienced a blow to the head, watch for signs of brain injury. Common symptoms include:
- Loss of consciousness after the trauma
- Confusion or memory loss
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Prolonged sleepiness.
Handling a Spinal Injury Victim. When a spinal injury is suspected, it is crucial not to move the victim's head, neck, or back unless they are in immediate danger. Be extremely careful when performing rescue breaths or CPR. Read this article to learn what actions to take.
Handling Less Common First Aid Situations
Assisting a Person Having a Seizure. A seizure can be a frightening experience for those who have never witnessed one before. Fortunately, helping someone during a seizure is relatively straightforward.
- Clear the space around the person to prevent them from injuring themselves.
- Call for emergency help if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or if the person stops breathing afterward.
- Once the seizure ends, help the person lie on the floor and place their head on a soft or flat surface. Turn them on their side to help with breathing, but do not hold them down or try to stop their movements.
- Be calm and reassuring as the person regains consciousness, and do not allow them to eat or drink until fully alert.
Assisting Someone Having a Heart Attack. Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack, including a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or pressure, overall discomfort, or nausea, can be incredibly helpful. After giving the person an aspirin or nitroglycerin to chew, you need to take them to the hospital immediately.
Identifying a Stroke Situation. Once again, recognizing the signs of a stroke is crucial. These include temporary loss of speech or understanding, confusion, loss of balance or dizziness, severe headaches with no warning, and more. Take anyone suspected of having a stroke directly to the emergency room.
Dealing with Poisoning. Poisoning can result from natural toxins (such as a snake bite) or chemicals. If an animal is the source of the poisoning, try to safely kill it, bag it, and bring it to a poison control center.
Advice
- If possible, wear rubber gloves or other protective gear to shield yourself from another person's bodily fluids.
- In the context of this article, you'll gain knowledge primarily through reading the steps. However, consider enrolling in a first aid and/or CPR training course if possible – it will provide you, the reader, the opportunity to learn hands-on by practicing broken bone and joint dislocation stabilization, treating moderate to severe wounds, and even performing CPR. This way, you'll be better prepared to assist someone in need. Additionally, the certification you receive will protect you in case of legal action – the Good Samaritan Law offers protection in these situations, and the certification further strengthens that safeguard.
- If a victim has been stabbed, do not remove the object unless it is blocking their airway. Removing it can worsen the injury and cause more bleeding. If you must remove it, make sure to stabilize and hold the object in place.
Warnings
- Moving a person with a spinal injury can increase the risk of death or paralysis.
- Never put yourself in danger! It might seem unkind, but remember that being a hero doesn't mean much if you end up losing your life in the process.
- If you're unsure what to do, wait for professional help. If it's not a life-or-death situation, making a mistake could make things worse for the victim. Review the training notes under the 'Advice' section for more information.
- Do not move the victim unless there is an immediate danger. Moving them could worsen their condition. Wait for emergency responders and hand over the victim to them.
- Administering aspirin to anyone under 16 years old is dangerous, as it could cause damage to their brain and kidneys, potentially threatening their life.
- Do not touch someone who is being electrocuted. Turn off the power or use a non-conductive object (such as wood, a dry branch, or dry clothing) to separate the electrical source before touching the victim.
- Never attempt to realign a broken bone or dislocated joint. Remember, this is first aid – you're preparing the person for transport. Unless you're absolutely sure of what you're doing, trying to reposition joints or bones usually makes things worse.
- Consent is required before touching the victim or providing any assistance! Check the local laws. Giving first aid without consent could result in a lawsuit. If someone says 'Do not resuscitate,' respect that (provided there is evidence). If a person is unconscious and at risk of death or serious injury, and there's no sign of a 'Do not resuscitate' request, proceed with treatment based on implied consent. If unsure whether the victim is conscious, tap their shoulder and ask, 'Are you okay? I know how to help' before proceeding with first aid.
