LESSON 11: FIRST
AID
WHAT IS FIRST AID?
First aid is the initial care and assistance provided
to someone who has been injured or suddenly
taken ill. It is often the first and immediate
response to emergencies before professional
medical help arrives.
First aid refers to medical attention that is usually
administered immediately after the injury occurs
and at the location where it occurred. It often
consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and
requires little technology or training to administer.
Primary Objectives of
First Aid (3P’s)
1.Preserve life
This doesn’t just refer to the injured party, but
yourself and anyone helping you. Far too often, a
helper will inadvertently put themselves in danger
and subsequently be another casualty for the
emergency services to deal with. Please take a
moment to assess the situation, and make sure there
are no threats to you before you step in.
Primary Objectives of
First Aid (3P’s)
2. Prevent the condition/injury from
worsening
If you are in no danger yourself, try to stop the
situation from becoming worse by removing any
obvious dangers (such as stopping traffic, clearing
people away from the casualty, opening a window to
clear any fumes, etc.. Also, act as quickly as you can
to stop the casualty’s condition from worsening
Primary Objectives of
First Aid (3P’s)
3. Promote recovery
Your role as a first aider is, after ensuring that
the situation can not get worse, helping the
casualty to recover from their injury or illness, or
stop their condition from getting worse. If the
injury is severe, then the best you can do is try to
keep them alive until the emergency services
arrive.
WHY
STUDENTS Students learning first aid is essential for
several reasons, as it equips them with
MUST valuable skills that can make a significant
difference in emergency situations.
LEARN First Aid Education is a valuable life skill that
prepares students to respond effectively in
FIRST AID emergencies, fosters a sense of responsibility,
and contributes to the creation of safer and
more compassionate communities.
REASONS FOR LEARNING FIRST AID
1 2 3
Immediate Promotes a Safe Prevents
Response in and Healthy Worsening of
Emergencies Environment Injuries
REASONS FOR LEARNING FIRST AID
4 5 6
Builds Enhances Community
Confidence and Teamwork and Engagement
Empowerment Leadership Skills and Service
REASONS FOR LEARNING FIRST AID
7 8 9
Prepares for
Fosters a Sense
Real World Reduces Panic
of Social
Situations and Stress
Responsibility
REASONS FOR LEARNING FIRST AID
10
Complements
Health and
Physical
Education
4 ESSENTIAL STEPS OF FIRST AID
First Aid Step 1: ASSESS First Aid Step 2: PLAN
Step 1 will help you determine what
Before doing anything else, it is vital to
course of action is the most suitable,
assess the situation appropriately and
allowing for Step 2: Plan.
accurately. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
First, call for an emergency team in your
· Make sure that safety procedures are
city/location, if this hasn’t been done
followed before trying to help anyone
already. Next, determine what you can do
· If the situation appears to be dangerous
to help until paramedics arrive. Is the
for you or bystanders, stay back and wait
person unconscious and not breathing –
for an emergency team to arrive
will you have to perform CPR? Does the
· If it is safe to approach the person,
person have an injury that is bleeding
assess their condition: Are they
intensely – will you need to stop this with
conscious? Is the person breathing? Are
pressure? Is the person choking?
they bleeding?
4 ESSENTIAL STEPS OF FIRST AID
First Aid Step 3: IMPLEMENT
Once you’ve assessed the situation and you have a plan, it’s time to implement it in Step 3.
In many instances, when the person is conscious, psychological first aid will be enough until
emergency assistance arrives. You’ll need to talk to the person, gather important information and
soothe them as much as you can.
Some situations, however, could necessitate more serious assistance. When the person is not
breathing, you’ll have to administer CPR. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency
lifesaving procedure that can restore breathing through chest compressions and, in some instances,
artificial ventilation (mouth-to-mouth breathing). CPR can double and sometimes even triple survival
rates!
Being properly trained in first aid procedures will help you decide exactly what to do, the
circumstances in which you will need to take action, and how involved you should get.
Whilst implementing your emergency assistance plan, continue to check for your safety and that of
bystanders. Emergencies can change quickly and unexpectedly!
4 ESSENTIAL STEPS OF FIRST AID
First Aid Step 4: EVALUATE
Last, you’ll need to evaluate the effectiveness of the first
aid actions that have been undertaken. You might need
to repeat the actions taken within the previous steps.
Based on your evaluation, you’ll get to decide what to do
next; continue to repeat Steps 1-3 or wait until emergency
services arrive.
