Good day, Amazing Readers.
Your first aid advocate is here to make you enjoy your time.
Get chilled water and a snack while you read and learn the basics of first aid…….
WHAT IS FIRST AID?
First aid is the first skilled assistance given to an injured, wounded, or sick person before the arrival of medical personnel or before getting to the hospital.
Anyone can administer first aid. First aid is not for some or a category of people, irrespective of age, class, gender, title, or race. I always say “FIRST AID IS FOR EVERYONE”.
WHO IS A FIRST AIDER?
A First Aider is a person who has possessed adequate knowledge of first aid and can administer it on the casualty at the time needed.
HOW TO BECOME A FIRST AIDER.
AIMS OF FIRST AID
- To preserve life
- To prevent the casualty’s
condition from becoming worse
- To promote quick recovery.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD FIRST AIDER
The following are qualities a good first aider must possess:
1. Be Observant:
As a first aider, you should be able to observe people and notable changes. As an undergraduate, I could tell something was wrong just by looking at a person. On a dark evening, while watching a movie, I could hear the sound of a person wheezing, and immediately I knew someone was having difficulty breathing. Upon getting outside, I noticed the sound was coming from the next door, and I was able to help in that situation just by being observant.- Be Cheerful: A first aider who is cheerful helps a casualty to recover fast, being cheerful gives the casualty a reason to be joyous and hopefully even in their condition.
- Be Tolerant: Casualties experience severe pain and discomfort. These make them act obscenely. A great level of tolerance would help so as not to pick offense in their actions. I got to realize when I was in an accident; the pains were unbearable.
- Be Neat: Neatness is a very important quality, as this helps to guide against a lot of infections and germs. It also prevents the situation from becoming worse.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FIRST AIDER.
1. Assess the situation quickly, and safely and request help; There is not enough time to waste when it comes to emergency response. You have to be fast about everything you do, from assessment to seeking help. Help is needed as you can not do it all by yourself to avoid fatigue or tiredness.
2. Protect yourself, casualties, and bystanders (Those at the scene) from possible danger;
Checking for danger is equally
important as treating the casualty.
A. You have to be sure of your safety as
you would not want to be a casualty, hence your motive for helping will be
nullified.
B. You must ensure the bystanders or those
around the scene are free from danger. In the case of collapsed buildings, you have
to ensure people who are not affected leave the scene to avoid more injuries or
mass casualties.
C. Casualty; the casualty can either be
taken away from the danger or the danger should be taken away from the
casualty. E.g broken bottles, the casualty can be moved from the point where
broken pieces of bottles are to a safe place.
3.
To identify, the nature of illness or
injury affecting the casualty; First aid teaches about signs and symptoms that casualties
experience. Knowing these will help the first aider identify the nature of the
illness or injury affecting the casualty.
4.
To give the casualty early and
appropriate treatment, attending to the most serious condition first; There are priorities for treatment,
the 4B's. This serves as a guide to
knowing the most serious condition which are conditions that affect breathing.
5.
To arrange the casualty’s movement to the hospital or into the care of a doctor; Some casualties recover immediately first aid is administered
while some require further treatment. First Aiders knows the appropriate means
of transportation to be used for each emergency situation.
6.
To remain with a casualty until
appropriate care is available; I have met with a casualty on my way to my ICAN tutorial
after High school. He had a fracture on his ankle. I could not leave him for my
class after the first aid treatment, as treatments were administered in the car.
I ensured to stay with him till we got to the hospital and met with the doctor
in charge.
7.
To report your observations to those
taking care of the casualty, and to give further assistance if required; Still on the casualty
from the previous point with a fracture on his ankle. I told the doctor about my
observations at the scene, what happened, and the treatment I administered. He
was thankful and I collected his guardian's contact for follow-up. I left for my
class as I was preparing for my professional examination.
Linkedin: Esther Fadodun
© FADODUN, Esther Ayomide
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