WHAT IS A FIRST AIDER??

INTRODUCTION

                  First aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to a person who is injured or suddenly taken ill. The person who provides this help is a first aider. This chapter prepares you for being a first aider,psychologically and emotionally, as well as giving practical advice on what you should and should not do in an emergency situation.
                  The information provided will help you to provide effective first aid to any casualty in any situation. However, to become a fully competent first aider, you should complete a recognised first aid course. Completing a course will also strengthen your skills and increase your needs.


          AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

1. To understand your own abilities and limitations.
2. To stay safe and calm at all times.
3. To assess a situation quickly and calmly and summon the appropriate help.
4. To assist the casualty and provide the necessary treatment, with the help of those around where necessary.
5. To pass on relevant information to the emergency services, or the person who takes responsibility for the casualty.
6. To be aware of your own needs.

                First aid refers to the actions taken in response to someone who is injured or suddenly taken ill. A first aider is a person who takes this action while taking care to keep everyone involved safe and to cause no further harm while doing so.

           Follow the actions that most benefit the casualty, taking into account your own skills, knowledge and experience, using the guidelines.

• This chapter prepares you for the role of first aider by providing guidance on responding to a first aid solution and assessing the priorities for the casualty. There is advice on the psychological aspect of giving first aid and practical guidance on how to protect yourself and a casualty.

FIRST AID PRIORITIES:

1. Assess a situation quickly and calmly.
2. Protect yourself and any casualties from danger - never put yourself at risk.
3. Prevent cross infection between yourself and the casualty as far as possible.
4. Comfort and reassure casualties at all times.
5. Assess the casualty: identify, as far as you can, the injury or nature of illness affecting a casualty.
6. Give early treatment, and treat the casualties with the most serious (life-threatening) conditions first.
7. Arrange for appropriate help: call for emergency help if you suspect serious injury or illness; take or send the casualty to hospital; transfer him into the care of a healthcare professional or to his home. Stay with a casualty until care is available.

• Chapter 2, Managing an Incident - provides guidelines on dealing with events (ex: traffic or water incidents or fires).
• Chapter 3, Assessing a Casualty - looks at the practical steps to take when assessing a casualty(sick or injured person's) condition.

HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF:

• When responding to an emergency you should recognise both the emotional and physical needs of all involved, including your own. Your should look after your own psychological health and be able to recognise stress if it develops.
• A calm, considerate response from you that facilitates trust and respect from those around you is fundamental to you being able to give or receive information from a casualty or witnesses effectively. This includes being aware of, and managing, your reactions, so that you can focus on the casualty and make an assessment. By talking to a casualty in a kind, considerate, gentle but in firm manner, you will inspire confidence in your actions and this will generate trust between you and the casualty.Without this confidence he may not tell you about an important event, injury or symptom, and may remain in a highly distressed state.
• The actions described in this chapter aim to help you facilitate this trust, minimise distress and provide support to promote the casualty's ability to cope and recover. The key steps to being and effective first aider are as follows:

1. Be calm in your approach.
2. Be aware of risks (to yourself and others).
3. Build and maintain trust (from the casualty and the bystanders)
4. Give early treatment, treating the most serious (life-threatening) conditions first
5. Call appropriate help
6. Remember your own needs.

BE CALM

     It is important to be calm in your approach. Consider what situations might challenge you and how would deal with them. In order to convey confidence to other and encourage them to trust you, you need to control your emotions and reactions.

     People often fear the unknown. Becoming more familiar with first aid priorities and the key techniques in this book can help your feel more comfortable. By identifying your fears in advance, you can take steps to overcome them. Find out as much as you can, for example, by going on a first aid course, asking other how they dealt with similar situations or talking your fears through with a person your trust.

STAY IN CONTROL

      In an emergency situation, the body responds by releasing hormones that may cause a "fight, flight or freeze" response. When this happens, your heart beats faster, your breathing quickens and you may sweat more. You may also feel more alert, want to run away or feel frozen to the spot.

      If you feel overwhelmed and slightly panicky, you may feel pressured to do something before you are clear about what is needed. Pause and take a few slow breaths. If you know how to calm yourself, you will be better able to deal with your anxiety and so help the casualty.