Why First aid treatment?
Accidents and injuries are unavoidable. First aid treatment is an effective treatment you can practice anytime, anywhere. When accidents happen, and medical help seems far away from where you are, first aid treatment should be your next option, then call 999. Accidents like falling from a slippery floor lead to fractures and bleeding or burns from cooking in the kitchen.
Before thinking or planning to administer a first aid treatment, at least know a few basics or even complex techniques of first aid treatment- the aim is to prevent infections and complications of the injury.
What is a first aid kit or box?
This box contains tools needed to treat an injured person immediately before the ambulance or medical help arrives.
It helps treat minor injuries, usually found in the home, school, workplace, and community and keeps out of children’s reach.
The kit must contain materials like
Adhesive or sticky tape
Alcohol wipe
Bandage
Calamine lotion
Allergy medicine (like adrenaline injection shots)
Aloe Vera gel
Antibiotics and antiseptic ointment (cream)
Distill water to wash the injured site
Scissors and tweezers
Pain reliever like paracetamol and ibuprofen
Gauze rolls and pads
Methylated spirit
Hydrocortisone cream
Saline wound rash
Hand sanitizer
Plaster
Safety pins
These materials found in a first aid kit are needed to carry out a saving act on the victim.
You can purchase one or create one yourself but ensure it’s movable and contains the needed instrument in a box, bag, or nylon.
NOTE: hydrogen peroxide is not an advisable fluid to use on any affected parts of the body because it damages the wound healing cells; distilled water, soap, petroleum jelly, and bandages are still preferable.
Basics of first aid treatment
First aid treatment is a skill everyone should learn, not limited to any age group, the basics of first aid treatment have the acronym- DRSABCD.
Danger– ensure you keep yourself, the victim, and the people around safe.
Response– check that the victim is conscious and breathing, and put the victim in a good-ventilated place.
Send for help– immediately and ensure the victim is conscious and breathing.
Call the emergency number in your location for an ambulance and provide the answer to every necessary information requested by the healthcare providers to allow access to the situation.
Airways– blocked airways stop the supply of oxygen to the brain, which might affect the physiological well-being of the victim, and get rid of anything that seems to be blocking the airways.
Breath– take note of the chest movement by taking a closer look or placing your hands on the lower part of the chest and putting your ear closer to the mouth and the nose to feel the victim’s breath.
In some cases, the victim might be breathing and unconscious; turn the person to the side and keep the head, neck, and spine aligned for blood flow till the ambulance arrives.
CPR– is also known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The victim must lie down with the head and other body parts aligned. Gently press the chest with the heel of your hand with the other hand, and repeat this technique 30 times.
After pressing the chest, block the nose, raise the chin, and blow your breath into the mouth of the victim five times and repeat the method till the victim gain consciousness.
Defibrillation– AED- Automated Electrical Defibrillator is the treatment for defibrillation. It shocks the heart to bring it back to action.
Most importantly, ABC– Airways, Breathing, and CPR should be for everyone to access cases of injuries and accidents.
What is the importance of first aid treatment?
First aid treatment comes in handy in situations you never expected.
It prevents infections
Administering first aid treatment on an injured fellow helps to prevent contamination and treat wounds like bleeding and burns to reduce the chances of infections that might kill the healing cells.
Use clean and sterile materials for first aid treatment.
It saves lives
Most recorded death cases worldwide started as a simple accident due to the reaction from passersby and standby to victims; it is significant and priceless.
Arresting bleeds or treating an allergy reaction might prevent the victim from dying- choose to save lives.
It relieves pain
Injuries come with pain and a distressing mechanism to the body. Painkillers are in a first aid kit- pain affects the body physiologically, causing changes in blood pressure, breathing, and pulses.
Keeps children safe
Children injure themselves while playing around, which is why you need to have the basic knowledge of first aid to prevent bruises and cuts.
It saves money
Arresting bleeding helps prevent anemia- a critical medical condition with immediate attention that comes with a cost, and preventing infections fends off possible diseases like tetanus.
Learn the basic knowledge of first aid treatment today.
Common injuries and accidents for first aid treatment
Bleeding
It is a common type of accident. It prevents further blood loss and ensures using disposable gloves to avoid infections.
The wound could be an object that pierced the skin.
Before administering first aid treatment, ensure you remove the object, but if the object is deeply inserted, ensure it stays fixed till help arises.
Apply less pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding, after which you add the pad and bandage. Use adhesive to hold it from falling off while awaiting help.
Burns or scald
Relief the burnt area with lukewarm water for 8 to 10 minutes under running water; it will help relieve the burning sensation.
Take off any materials or wears on the wound and ensure the body temperature is normalized. Burn can lead to hypothermia or hyperthermia.
Cover the burnt area with clings to avoid Infections, after which you give the victim a painkiller medication like paracetamol to ease the pain.
Burn is of four different types, which are:
Superficial epidermal burn– the epidermis gets burnt with a red color, blister, and swollen appearance.
Superficial dermal burn– epidermal and parts of the skin middle layer- dermal gets damaged with pale color; it has blisters and is usually painful.
Deep dermal burn– is the total damage to the dermis and the epidermis leaving out the subcutaneous skin layer, usually red and blotchy; the skin gets blistered and swollen with pain.
Full-thickness burn– the three layers of the skin get damaged, and usually appear pale, darkened, brown, or white. The skin texture turns waxy or leathery with no blister but painful sensations.
NOTE– Keep yourself and the victims away from contamination.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction; about 60% of the population is allergic to one thing or another, usually dangerous and rapid; capable of killing the victims, call 999 immediately.
Victims can develop swollen skin, face, and throat and difficulty breathing. If the victim has an adrenaline self-injection, assist with it.
The victim must be laid down with proper ventilation, remove the allergen (food or animal fur), and requires trained persons. Doctors are needed to carry out a close examination to arrest complications.
Choking
It is the blockage in the windpipe or airways.
Children and adults can experience choking- individuals give squeaky breath and bluish skin due to low oxygen supply to the brain.
Inform the victim to cough out the object and never attempt to remove the blockage unless you can see it; if it is stuck, try the blowback method.
In the process of removing the object, the victim can get unconscious. Bend the person forward with your hand supporting the chest. Press the chest slowly and give seven sharp blows with the heel of your other hand on the back.
In cases when the blowback isn’t working, try the abdominal thrust method. Stand behind the fellow with your hand around the waist of the person, and bend him forward. Put a fist with your hand and place it above the belly button, do the same for the other hand and pull inward and upward. Try this 15 times.
However, first aid treatment should be learned and known by everyone, never can tell or predict where or when an injury can happen. Learn the basics of first aid treatment today. Stay safe.
First aid treatment FAQs
What is the first aid treatment for a heart attack?
Heart attack is one of the common life-threatening diseases that can happen at any time. The person should be kept in a comfortable position and given aspirin to chew to sustain stability till help arises. You can likewise use the person’s medication for them if it’s available.
What are the basics of first aid treatment?
The basics of first aid treatment are for good treatment. It includes checking for danger, the victim’s consciousness, sending for help, clearing the victim’s airways for proper breathing, ensuring the victim is breathing, CPR, and defibrillation.
What is a first aid kit?
A first-aid kit contains all the materials used for first-aid treatment. Materials like tape, allergy medicine, aloe vera gel, alcohol wipe, antibiotic ointment, distilled water, tweezer, bandage, calamine lotion, gauze rolls, hand sanitizer, latex-free gloves, pain reliever, saline wound rash, safety pins, hydrocortisone cream.
What is first aid treatment?
First aid treatment is the immediate treatment given to an injured person before being taken to the hospital to prevent the worst conditions and to save lives. First aid treatment requires a little training and a step between life and death.
What type of injury needs first aid treatment?
First aid treatment treats accidents or injuries such as bleeding, anaphylaxis, burns, fracture, heart attack, poisoning, shock, snake bite, scorpion sting, choking, drowning, and many more. First aid comes in handy.
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