First aid
You need to be able to cope should you meet someone who has suffered an injury
You need to be able to administer first aid to that person or persons
You need to be able to keep you and bystanders safe
You need to be able to prioritise should there be multiple casualties
What is First Aid?
When meeting a potential casualty you must perform a primary survey.
The primary survey is to work out:
Who needs help (if multiple casualties)
What needs sorting first
The order of what you do in this survey is summarised by the acronym: DR ABC
Danger - is it dangerous for you to help?
Response - is the casualty unconscious?
Airways - check air can get into the body
Breathing - does the casualty need CPR?
If all above is OK then:
Circulation - check for bleeding
The DR ABC order is important.
There is no point stopping bleeding if the casualty is not breathing. *
*Unless it is a very severe bleed
Is CPR needed?
The primary survey is what you do as a first aider when finding a casualty.
After establishing there is no danger to you, that the casualty is unresponsive, if their airways are open but their breathing is not good enough, then CPR is needed.
How to perform CPR
CPR is where you take over the functions of the lungs and heart and enable oxygenated blood to be pumped around a body that would otherwise not be able to.
N.B. An AED referred to in the video is also known as a defibrillator (CLICK HERE to learn more)
What to do with a burn/scold
A burn (dry heat) or scold (wet heat) is damage to the skin caused by heat.
The burn/scold needs to be cooled as soon as possible to stop damage going deeper into the skin.
Don't forget to look out for sunburn. Ensure sun cream is administered every hour.
What to do when someone is choking
Typically we can recover from choking ourselves through coughing.
However sometimes we need help.
What to do to treat severe bleeding
Airways and breathing are most important but when they are stable, bleeding is the next most important thing to treat.
Dealing with someone who becomes cold to the core: hypothermic
We need to keep out bodies at 37degrees C. If out temperature drops by just 2degrees, we are in big trouble.
Here are the signs and treatments of someone with hypothermia.
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion
If you are hiking in hot weather, carrying heavy bags over difficult terrain, you may start to overheat.
Heat stroke is where you internal temperature goes too high and your body cannot reduce it.
Here are signs and treatments for someone with heat stroke.
Not having enough fluids in your body
Ironically, drinking lots and lots of pure water can in fact reduce the fluid in your body.
Your body needs salts to absorb fluids and drinking lots of pure water takes salts out. Not good.
It's a fine balance between drinking and salt intake.