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First Aid ... What do you know about it? And what is its importance?

Knowledge of first aid is part of the health education necessary for all people, knowing the correct procedures when a loved one suffers an injury helps to go a long way towards recovery.

 First aid is used to deal primarily with cases of wounds, burns, skin abrasions, stings, and sprained ankles, and may extend to include some occasional illnesses such as colds, congestion, coughs, and allergies until specialized medical assistance is provided.

 In some minor cases, such as some cuts and burns, first aid is sufficient to heal the injury without the need to see a doctor. 

This article presents the basics of first aid and the contents of a first aid kit.

Learn first aid

In many cases, knowing the basics of first aid can mean saving a life. Therefore, it is incumbent on everyone to learn how to do first aid correctly and effectively, in addition to learning how to use first aid tools. You can take specialized first aid courses at many centres and organizations in your city, such as the Red Cross, hospitals, and others.

First aid kit

At home, or on the go, the first step in dealing with injuries is to have proper first aid equipment. You can buy such equipment ready-made at the pharmacy or assemble it yourself, and then assemble it in a cupboard out of the reach of children. 

It is recommended to choose the kitchen to store the first aid kit and to stay away from the bathroom, as there is moisture that may damage the contents of the bag.

 When travelling, it can be placed in a suitable and waterproof bag, and a first aid bag can be allocated to the car or any places where you are in abundance.

 It is also necessary to periodically check the contents of the bag and replace damaged items or expired medicines.

Learn about first aid equipment

Everyone in the household must be familiar with the contents of the first aid kit, how to use it, and the directions for using the medicines inside. It is recommended to keep the first aid manual in the bag designated for it, in addition to keeping medication leaflets and device manuals.

First aid kit contents

The medical aid pack ought to contain the accompanying:

1. A sheet containing the first aid number, poison centre, and pharmacy information centre in your town.
2. Medicines for occasional medical conditions, such as antihistamines for colds and allergies, pain relievers, aspirin tablets, cream or ointment for burns, such as aloe vera gel, anesthetic spray for stings or insect bites, and topical cortisone for rashes.
3. Wound plasters of different sizes.
4. Sterile medical gauze of different sizes and adhesive tape.
5. Sterile wipes.
6. Eye lotion.
7. Topical antibiotic.
8. Medical bandages of different sizes.
9. Rubber gloves, which can be used to make an ice pack.
10. CPR first aid mask.
11. Scissors and forceps.
12. safety pins.

In addition to the above, it is recommended that the travel first aid kit be equipped with the following items:

1. Medicines for diarrhea, acidity, indigestion, and cough.
2. Hand sanitiser.
3. First Aid Instruction Manual.
4. lighter.
5. Manual flashlight.
6. Insect repellent.
7. Additional credit card.
8. Sunscreen with an appropriate coverage rate for the weather in the country of visit.
9. Thermometer.

First Aid Basics

First aid revolves around three important principles, which are to preserve life, prevent damage, and aid in healing. These goals are achieved when dealing properly with the injured person and according to the following guidelines:

1. Identify yourself and obtain the consent of the injured person to provide first aid. Avoid providing assistance, especially that requires physical contact, without consent, except in cases of fainting, the person's inability to respond, or the presence of a critical condition.
2. Identify the problem or type of injury, and immediately call 911. Be sure to answer all the specialist’s questions and not hang up until he asks you to, as the ambulance may give you some instructions to deal with the injured until the medical staff arrives.
3. Ensure that the affected person's airway is not obstructed and that they can breathe. In the event of breathing problems, perform artificial respiration for the patient and apply pressure on the chest to stimulate blood circulation.
4. Avoid moving the victim from his place unless there is a danger that requires moving away from him. Moving the patient may cause fractures or exacerbate existing fractures.
5. Avoid direct physical contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, to avoid transmission of infection.
6. Ask the patient a simple question to make sure they are aware and able to respond.
7. Make sure the area around you is safe and free from any dangers such as traffic, fire, or fights.
8. Wear rubber gloves in case the infected person bleeds to prevent infection. Also, it is recommended to put a plastic eye shield to avoid the transfer of droplets from the patient to the eye fluid.
9. Provide first aid to the injured person if you have sufficient knowledge about the correct way to deal with various injuries.
10. Stay with the injured person until the ambulance team arrives.

First aid for cuts and scrapes

Do the following to dress minor cuts and scrapes:

1. Immobilize the affected limb and then wrap a sterile medical dressing around it.
2. Make sure to cover the wound completely, and then fix the medical dressing with tape.
3. Make sure to wrap the bandage tightly, but not too tightly, so that the blood does not trap in the affected area.
4. Make sure that the blood reaches the affected limb by pinching the nail closest to it until the blood withdraws and then leaves. The blood should return to the nail within two seconds, otherwise, loosen the dressing a bit. 

First aid for burns

Minor burns can be treated according to the following guidelines:

1. Put the affected area under cold water for a quarter of an hour.
2. Avoid applying ice or very cold water directly to the burn.
3. Take a pain reliever to relieve the burning pain or apply a dedicated cream to the affected area, such as Lidocaine or Aloe Vera gel.
4. Apply antimicrobial ointment to the wound area and then bandage it with gauze.
5. In the event of severe burns, such as third-degree burns, or burns covering large areas of the body, burns of the face, feet, and pubis, or burns caused by an electrical circuit or chemicals, immediately call the emergency number.

First aid for nosebleeds

First aid a person with a nosebleed, according to the following steps:

1. Ask the injured person to sit down and bring the head back.
2. Put on rubber gloves.
3. Close the nostrils using the index and thumb fingers, and stay in this position for 5 minutes.
4. Check that the bleeding has stopped and repeated the steps if it continues.
5. Seek professional medical help if the bleeding continues for more than 20 minutes.

First aid for bee stings

To treat bee stings, do the following:

1. If the bee stinger is under the skin, scrape the area with a flat object to remove it.
2. Wash the impacted region well with a cleanser and water.
3. Apply cool water compresses to the affected area for 10 minutes.
4. You can make a paste of water and baking soda to relieve the pain in the affected area, or you can use calamine lotion.
5. Call 911 in case the victim has an allergic reaction to a bee sting, such as a rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and extremities, and help the victim take an epinephrine injection if he has an adrenaline pen for allergies.

First aid for heatstroke

In the event of exposure to high temperatures and heatstroke, take the following measures immediately:

1. Sit in the shade or in a cool place.
2. Loosen the layers of clothing you're wearing.
3. Put a cool water compress behind the neck, and wrap your body in a damp towel.
4. Call 911 if you have the following symptoms: vomiting, confusion, cerebral convulsions, or a temperature greater than or equal to 40°C.

After first aid

When you have properly treated the injured person and given first aid, follow these instructions:

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water to prevent the spread of infection, even if you wear gloves when handling the infected person.
2. Wash and sanitize the affected person's hands as well as possible.
3. Dispose of all first aid items, such as gloves and eye protection, in a biohazard bag.
4. Avoid touching the contaminated outer surface of the glove when taking it off, and remove it from the inside out so that it is turned upside down. Then, put the glove in the palm of the other hand and remove the second glove in the same way.