How to do  Basic First Aid

 We have all come across an accident or an incident at home that required you to conduct first aid, and maybe you probably had no idea how to go about it. Here is some few tips on how you can go about helping someone recover.

First aid is the initial process of assessing and addressing the needs of someone who has been injured or is in physiological distress due to choking, heat attack allergic reaction drugs or other medical emergencies. This steps allows you to quickly determine a person’s physical condition and the correct course of treatment.

1. PERFORM THE 3 Cs

• CHECK THE SURROUNDINGS. Evaluate the situation. Are there things that might put you at risk of harm? Are you or the victim threatened by fire, toxic smoke or gasses, an unstable building, live electrical wires or other dangerous scenario? Do not rush into a situation where you could end up as a victim yourself.
• CALL FOR HELP. Call out for help 3 times before you begin assisting the casualty. If someone is with you or approaches, instruct them to call the authorities and be prepared to relay information to them so they can update the responders. It is not recommended that you leave the casualty unless absolutely required, but put them in the recovery position if you need to leave them for any reason.
• CARE FOR THE PERSON. Caring for someone who has just gone through serious trauma includes both physical treatment and emotional support. Remember to stay calm and try to be reassuring; let the person know that help is on its way and that everything will be alright. Other ways to reassure the casualty include asking for their name, if they know what has happened, and then about their interests.

CARING FOR AN UNCOSCIENCE PERSON.

1. DETERMINE RESPONSIVENESS. If a person is unconscious, try to rouse them by speaking to them or by tapping at the shoulder. Do not be afraid to speak loudly or even shout. If they do not respond to activity, sound, touch, or other stimulation, determine whether they are breathing.
2. CHECK FOR BREATH AND PULSE. If unconscious and unable to be roused, check for breathing: look for a rise in the chest area listen for the sound of air coming in and out; feel for air using the side of your face. If no signs of breathing are apparent, place two fingers under the chin and gently guide the face pointing upwards to open up their airways. If any debris such as vomit can be seen, it is appropriate to move them onto their side to allow it to get out, which is achieved with the recovery position.
3. IF THE PERSON REMAINS UNRESPONSIVE, PREPARE FOR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR] this is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures

Unless you suspect a spinal injury, carefully roll them onto their back and open their airway if you suspect a spinal injury, leave the person where they are, provided they are breathing.

• Keep the head and neck aligned.
• Carefully roll them onto their back while holding their head.
• Open the airway by lifting the chin.

4. PERFORM 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS AND TWO RESCUE BREATHS AS PART OF CPR. In the center of the chest, just below an imaginary line running between the nipples, put your two hands together and compress the chest down approximately 2 inches (5.1 cm) at a rate of 100 compressions per minute (or to the beat of “Staying Alive”). After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths, done by opening the airways, closing the nose and fully covering the mouth hole. Then check vitals. If the breaths are blocked, reposition the airway. Make sure the head is tilted slightly back and the tongue is not obstructing it. Continue this cycle of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until someone else relieves you.
5. REMEMBER YOUR ABCs of CPR. The ABCs of CPR refer to the 3 critical things you need to look for.

• Does the person has an unobstructed airway?
• Is the person breathing?
• Does the person show a pulse at major pulse points? [ wrist or carotid ]

6. MAKE SURE THE PERSON IS WARM AS YOU WAIT FOR MEDICAL HELP. Drape a towel or a blanket over the person if you have one; if you don’t, remove some of your own clothing (such as your coat or jacket) and use it as a cover until medical help arrives. However, if the person has a heatstroke, do not cover him or keep him warm. Instead try to cool him by fanning him and damping him.

As you administer first aid, be sure to be aware of these things that you SHOULD NOT do in any case:

1. Do not feed or hydrate an unconscious person. This could cause choking and possible asphyxiation.
2. Do not leave the person alone. Unless you absolutely need to signal or call for help, stay with the person at all times.
3. Do not prop up an unconscious person’s head with a pillow.
4. Do not slap or splash with water an unconscious person’s face. These are movie gimmicks.
5. If the person appears in danger due to an electric shock, you may attempt to move it, but only with a non-conductive object.