Whether you work in a hospital, school, or other facility where there are many people coming and going or if you simply spend time outside on your own and come across someone who appears ill or injured, having a basic knowledge of how to help them is important. The unfortunate truth is that injuries and medical issues can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of their occupation or lifestyle. In these situations, having a basic knowledge of how to help someone who is experiencing a medical emergency or injury can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Knowing what to do
One of the first things to do in any situation is determine what your patient needs. This is not always easy to do, but it is something that should be considered before providing any form of first aid assistance. Some common first aid situations include:- Choking- Cardiac Arrest- Breathing Difficulty- Burns- Choke/Asphyxia- Dislocation/Fracture- Drowning/Hypothermia- Electrical Injury- Fractured Bones/Spinal Cord Injuries- Fractured Skull/Eyes- Foreign Bodies/Contamination- Frostbite/Hypothermia- Heart Attack/Stroke- Insect Stings- Lightning Strike/Terrorist Attack- Lightning Strike/Terrorist attack victims with metal objects in them- Poisoning- Shooting Wounds with gunshots- Stroke/Heart Attack without visible wounds- Traumatic Brain Injury- Understanding what your patient needs will help you determine which first aid supplies and techniques should be used.
CPR and AED training
CPR and AED training is one of the most important first aid tools available. Even if you are not able to save the life of the person you are assisting, providing them with CPR can at least buy them some time until professional help can arrive. If you are working with a child or infant, you should also know how to administer proper infant CPR. It is also helpful to know how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to provide life-saving electrical shock to someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest. The best course of action when someone suddenly collapses, stops breathing, or experiences a seizure is to administer CPR followed by using an AED to deliver an electrical shock to the person’s chest.There are several different types of first aid training, including:- Life support- Automated external defibrillator (AED) training- CPR with or without AED training- First aid training in large groups or team building exercises- First aid for special populations (i.e. elderly)
Tourniquet
Tourniquets are often seen in action movies and TV shows as a way to stop someone from bleeding to death. While they are effective, it is important to remember that they are not an appropriate first aid tool for the majority of injuries.There are two types of tourniquets::- Pneumatic- Cloth or fabric- Pneumatic tourniquetsare used to stop arterial bleeding (such as from a gunshot wound). They are usually placed on the upper arm or thigh. These should only be used in a life-threatening situation when other attempts to stop the flow of blood have failed. Cloth or fabric tourniquets are not recommended for use in first aid situations. They are only appropriate for use on a single limb and should not be used on a joint (such as a wrist).
BLS (Become Like Supposedly) training
BLS stands for Basic Life Support. BLS training is also known as first aid training because it teaches you how to perform CPR and use an AED. Although a person may be able to perform CPR well, they cannot use a defibrillator. BLS training is a great way to become more familiar with the different types of first aid supplies and how to use them. It is also an excellent way to practice your teamwork skills and communication skills.
Strokes
There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain become blocked and no longer supply the brain with oxygen. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and leaks blood into the surrounding tissues or into the space around the brain. If you are assisting someone who is having a stroke, you should follow the steps outlined in the Stroke Recognition and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) protocols. You should also call 911 immediately for help.
Foreign Body Removal
Foreign bodies can be extremely dangerous and put the person who ingested them in extreme danger. Even if the person does not appear to be in any immediate danger, they may still be in pain and need medical attention as soon as possible. Foreign bodies are very common in people who have accidentally ingested something they weren’t expecting (such as a piece of food or a toy). The person who may have ingested the object will often try to ignore the pain or may only mention it as a passing thought. If the person does mention the object, the first aid technician should not ask any questions but instead move quickly and remove the object.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different types of injuries and medical emergencies that could happen to anyone regardless of age or occupation. Having a basic knowledge of how to help these people is important and can literally mean the difference between life and death.