(first aid) is the practice of providing simple care to someone who may have a non-threatening injury or illness. It is the foundation of all other emergency care and is essential for anyone who cares for people in any capacity, such as coaches, athletes, parents, teachers, camp counselors, or anyone who works with children. When you’re working with children, first aid is even more important because they’re less likely to recognize the severity of their own injuries. It’s imperative that caregivers be familiar with basic first aid practices so that they can provide assistance to others in need of care in a timely manner.
First aid
First aid is the practice of providing simple care to someone who may have a non-threatening injury or illness. It is the foundation of all other emergency care and is essential for anyone who cares for people in any capacity, such as coaches, athletes, parents, teachers, camp counselors, or anyone who works with children. When you’re working with children, first aid is even more important because they’re less likely to recognize the severity of their own injuries. It’s imperative that caregivers be familiar with basic first aid practices so that they can provide assistance to others in need of care in a timely manner.There are two stages of first aid: assessment and treatment. The assessment phase involves determining if help is needed and the appropriate response. The treatment phase focuses on providing needed support until professional help arrives.
Assessment
The first part of any first aid assessment is to determine if help is needed and the appropriate response. When it comes to children, there are some general signs to look for in order to determine if help is needed. A child who is displaying any of the following may require assistance from an adult:
Blue or pale skin — This could mean that the child is suffering from low blood pressure, low blood sugar, or another condition that requires care.
Loss of consciousness — This may indicate that the child has suffered an injury to the head or spine.
Loss of speech or language — This may indicate that the child has suffered a brain injury.
Loss of movement — This may indicate that the child has suffered a spinal cord injury.
The best practice for assessing a child is to use a “scenario-based approach,” meaning that the caregiver should ask themselves, “If I were in this situation with this child, what would I do?” This approach gives you the opportunity to put yourself in the child’s shoes and make a more informed decision about how to proceed. If you are not sure what to do, you can always call 911 and let them assist you with the assessment.
First aid treatments
When a child is injured, the first aid treatments should be specific to the type of injury that occurred, as well as the specific location of the injury. For example, if a child has a laceration on the palm of their hand, you should treat it differently than if they have a laceration on their leg. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may want to apply a bandage or splint, or even use an adhesive patch.There are several treatments for common injuries that are specific to certain areas of the body. You can find an overview of common injuries and their treatments in the table below.
Even more than just children — first aid for adults
First aid is important for everyone, not just children. Adults, however, may not be as familiar with the first aid measures used to treat common injuries in children. The most important thing is to recognize the danger of each injury and treat it appropriately. This will allow you to provide care until medical help arrives.When assessing an adult for first aid, you should ask them the same questions you ask children.
For people with disabilities
People who are visually impaired can use touch to help them assess an injury. They can also use their sense of touch to help treat injuries such as burns. People who have hearing loss can use visual cues and communication devices to assist them with first aid treatments.
For emergency services
It’s important to remember that you should never attempt to treat an injury unless you’ve been trained to do so. If you see someone suffering from an injury, the best thing to do is call 9-1-1 for help. You can also use the telephone dialing instructions provided by your carrier or visit the emergency preparedness section of this website for more information.
For our camp environment
If an injury occurs at a camp, first aid should always be administered by a trained professional. You should also have a first aid kit in the event that you need to treat minor injuries. The contents of your first aid kit will vary depending on the type of camp you are running.
For our camp counselors
Camp counselors are responsible for the health and safety of the campers. Therefore, they should be trained in basic first aid. Ideally, counselors should have the basic first aid skills necessary to provide initial assistance or medical direction until emergency medical services are able to respond to the situation.
For our adult campers
Adult campers may not be as familiar with first aid as children. This can lead to unnecessary stress on the adults, as well as an increased risk of injury. Therefore, adult campers should be trained in first aid. Ideally, adult campers should have the basic first aid skills necessary to provide initial assistance or medical direction until emergency medical services are able to respond to the situation.
For our child residential campers and adults
If a child or adult sustains an injury while on a residential camping trip, first aid treatment should be administered until emergency medical services can respond to the situation. Ideally, campers should have the basic first aid skills necessary to provide initial assistance or medical direction until emergency medical services are able to respond to the situation.
For our campers with disabilities
Injuries sustained by campers with disabilities are often more severe than injuries sustained by other campers. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for these types of injuries. Some of the common injuries that campers with disabilities are more susceptible to include burns, bites, and head injuries due to falls.