First Aid is the initial assistance, immediate response or treatment that is provided to a person or victim who is injured or suddenly becomes ill. First aid is usually given until emergency or professional medical services arrives at the scene and take control of the situation. First aid includes CPR, wound care, control of bleeding, treatment of burns and bandaging. In this section, bandaging will be the focus of the familiarization as part of wound and injury care.
Before starting first aid.
Before you start providing first aid, you must remember the 3P’s of first aid.
P – prevent further injury. know your skills, capabilities, and preparedness before providing first aid. As a first aider, your task is to save lives and not to cause further harm.
P - preserve life. It is also important that the patient’s life is not the only important in the situation but your life also as a responder.
P – promote recovery. Immediately call EMS or professional help before doing the first aid depending on the severity of the situation. Remember that you are providing first aid to buy time for the patient until the emergency or professional medical services arrives.
It also important to ensure that the scene is safe for the patient and the responder. Persons giving first aid should not become a casualty. If the scene is not safe, the patient(s) must be transferred carefully and properly to the safe location before giving first aid. Check also the number of patients and administer intervention by prioritizing how life-threatening the situation is.
Wounds
Wounds are defined as the break in the continuity of tissue whether internal or external. It includes scrapes, abrasions, scratches, puncture, and cuts. There are closed wound, where the break of the tissue is internal without breaking the skin, and open wound that includes the breaking of the skin. Closed wounds are treated by resting the affected areas, application of ice or cold compress, placing compression and elevating the affected area. Open wounds treatment involves controlling the bleeding by direct pressure or elevation, preventing further contamination or infection, and immobilizing injured part.
Taking care of injuries and wounds through bandaging
Bandages are used to apply pressure to bleeding wounds, covering wounds and burns, immobilizing fractures, sprains and strains. Different kinds of bandages are gauze, elastic, tubular and triangular bandage. In this content, triangular bandage will be used as the first aid tool.
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