As a fitness instructor, you may come across people who aren’t quite ready for the same high-intensity workouts they usually enjoy. They may be new to fitness and need a starting point when it comes to getting their heart rate up, or they may have a pre-existing condition that’s more difficult to work out with than others. That’s where first aid comes in handy! First aid is the application of basic emergency medical care to someone who is ill, injured, or experiencing an urgent medical condition. It’s important to know how to help others if there is an emergency so that you can assist as quickly as possible without putting yourself in danger. If you ever find yourself helping someone in need, keep reading to learn about first aid skills that can help save a life during an emergency.
Basics of First Aid
You don’t need to be a registered nurse, or even have medical training, to provide first aid. The basic principles of first aid are universal, and these skills can be used in any situation where a person needs help. Most first aid courses cover the following areas:
Airway maintenance: This refers to keeping someone’s airway open and preventing choking or other problems with breathing. This may include helping someone to sit up if they’re slumped over or leaning forward. You can help someone sit up by placing your hands on their back or upper chest and pushing up while pulling the person towards you.
Cardiovascular and hemorrhage control: This refers to keeping someone from going into shock or cardiac arrest. This may include applying pressure to wounds, bandaging someone’s head if it’s bleeding, or applying a tourniquet to an extremity to prevent a loss of blood.
C - Spine injuries: If someone has an injury to their back or neck, you can help them sit up by placing one hand under their back and one hand under their neck. This will help keep them from straining their neck and causing further injury.
Helping Someone Who is Having a Seizure
If you come across someone who is having a seizure, the most important thing to do is to keep the person safe. If they are falling to the ground, try to catch them and put a pillow under their head. If you are unable to catch the person, try to make them lie on their side.
If the person is in the middle of a seizure, it is best not to offer assistance or to try to move them, as this may cause further injury. Stay with the person until the seizure ends. You can keep them warm by covering them with a blanket, and you can provide them with something to bite on to keep their teeth from chattering.
During a seizure, the person may be incontinent, so you can clean them up if necessary. If they are having a grand-seizure, you can try to protect them from injury by removing any breakables nearby.
Helping Someone Who Is Having a Stroke
If you come across someone who is having a stroke, the most important thing to do is to keep them safe. Stroke victims may be incontinent and unable to speak, so it’s important to help them to the bathroom if they need to use the toilet. If they are drooling, you can use an adult toothbrush to clean them up.
If the person is having a stroke while driving, you should call emergency services and inform them of the situation. You can also help the person to the car and open the door for them.
If the person is having a stroke at home, you can call emergency services and ask them to send someone to the home. If the person is conscious, you can help them to the bathroom and apply pressure to the wounds on their arm. If the person is having a stroke while they are sleeping, you can try to wake them up by tapping them on the face or moving their legs.
Helping Someone Who Has Been Injured
If you come across someone who is injured, the most important thing to do is to keep them safe. You can help the person to a safe location if they are unable to move or are confused by the accident. If the person is having difficulty breathing or has a head injury, you can apply pressure to their wounds to help them breathe.
If the person is having a head injury, you can help to protect their head by covering them with a blanket or towel. If they have a broken leg, you can splint the leg and apply pressure to the wound to help stop the bleeding.
If the person has a broken bone, you can cover them with a blanket and apply pressure to the wound to help prevent a more serious injury.
Conclusion
First aid is the application of basic medical care to someone who is ill, injured, or experiencing an urgent medical condition. It’s important to know how to help others if there is an emergency so that you can assist as quickly as possible without putting yourself in danger. There are many types of first aid, but some common examples include helping those who are having a seizure, stroke, or are having difficulty breathing.