First Aid and Emergencies
Course Description:
This course aims to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required to provide first
aid in emergency situations, especially in a healthcare setting. The course focuses on responding
to common injuries, illnesses, and medical emergencies that can occur in various environments.
Students will learn basic life-saving techniques, including CPR, wound care, management of
fractures, burns, poisoning, and the proper use of emergency medical equipment. By the end of
this course, students will be able to assess emergency situations, provide immediate care to
patients, and recognize when to seek advanced medical help.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the principles and importance of first aid in emergencies.
Perform life-saving techniques, including CPR and basic wound management.
Recognize and manage a variety of common medical emergencies, including shock,
fractures, burns, and poisoning.
Safely and effectively communicate and collaborate with emergency responders.
Demonstrate the appropriate use of emergency medical equipment.
Ensure the safety of both the patient and the first aider during an emergency.
Course Content Outline:
Week 1: Introduction to First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS)
Lesson 1: Introduction to First Aid
Definition and principles of first aid
Roles and responsibilities of an auxiliary nurse in emergencies
Importance of personal safety and infection control
Assessing the situation and the patient (primary and secondary survey)
Emergency action plan and when to seek help
Lesson 2: Basic Life Support (BLS)
Understanding the Chain of Survival
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children, and infants
Basic airway management (clearance and positioning)
Performing rescue breathing and chest compressions
Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
Key Learning Outcomes:
Understand the role of a first aider in an emergency situation.
Perform CPR and BLS techniques on adults, children, and infants.
Gain confidence in using an AED.
Week 2: Managing Common Injuries and Medical Emergencies
Lesson 3: Wound Care and Bleeding Control
Types of wounds (abrasions, lacerations, punctures, etc.)
Stopping bleeding and applying dressings
Managing severe bleeding (tourniquets, pressure points)
Preventing infection in wounds
Principles of sterile techniques in first aid
Lesson 4: Fractures and Musculoskeletal Injuries
Recognizing different types of fractures (open, closed, compound)
Principles of immobilization and splinting
Treating sprains, strains, and soft tissue injuries
Using splints, bandages, and slings
Assessing for signs of shock due to fractures
Key Learning Outcomes:
Demonstrate appropriate techniques for controlling bleeding and dressing wounds.
Understand how to immobilize fractures and musculoskeletal injuries.
Apply basic first aid techniques for sprains, strains, and fractures.
Week 3: Handling Medical Emergencies
Lesson 5: Burns and Scalds
Types of burns (thermal, chemical, electrical, radiation)
Classification of burns (first, second, third-degree)
Initial treatment for burns (cooling, covering, and avoiding infection)
When to seek advanced medical help for burns
Lesson 6: Managing Medical Emergencies
Recognizing signs and symptoms of shock (hypovolemic, septic, anaphylactic)
Treatment of shock (positioning, fluid replacement, monitoring vital signs)
Recognizing and managing allergic reactions (use of epinephrine)
Asthma and breathing difficulties: first aid for an asthma attack
Managing seizures and fainting
Poisoning (ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure)
The role of first aid in poisoning and overdose cases (activated charcoal, antidotes, and when to
call for emergency help)
Key Learning Outcomes:
Recognize the different types of burns and provide initial care.
Effectively manage shock and allergic reactions.
Understand how to respond to medical emergencies such as seizures, fainting, and
poisoning.
Week 4: Emergency Protocols and Special Situations
Lesson 7: First Aid for Special Populations
First aid considerations for infants, children, and the elderly
Adaptations of CPR for infants and children
Recognizing and responding to common childhood emergencies (choking, fever, respiratory
distress)
Special considerations for the elderly (falls, cardiac emergencies, frailty)
Lesson 8: Handling Accidents and Trauma in the Workplace
Emergency response in healthcare settings
Protocols for managing workplace injuries (needle stick injuries, falls, burns)
Communicating with emergency medical services (EMS)
Documentation and reporting of injuries and emergencies
Lesson 9: Mental Health and Crisis Management
First aid for emotional and psychological crises (stress, anxiety, panic attacks)
Recognizing signs of mental health emergencies (self-harm, suicide risk, violent behavior)
Providing emotional support during emergencies
The role of a nurse in managing emotional trauma and mental health crises
Key Learning Outcomes:
Provide age-appropriate first aid for infants, children, and elderly patients.
Apply workplace emergency protocols in a healthcare setting.
Manage psychological and emotional crises, ensuring both physical and mental well-being.
Recommended Reading:
Textbooks:
First Aid Manual by the American Red Cross
First Aid, CPR, and AED by the American Heart Association
Basic Emergency Care: Approach to the Adult Patient by the American College of Emergency
Physicians
Supplementary Reading:
First Aid for Nurses by Jean S. Oswalt
Emergency Nursing: The Profession and the Practice by Marjorie Schubert
