First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury.

It is usually performed by a non-

expert person to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first
aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-
saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.

While first aid can also be performed on all animals, the term generally refers to care of human
patients.

Aims

The key aims of first aid can be summarized in three key points:[4]

 Preserve life - the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives
 Prevent further harm - also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening,
this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm,
and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying
pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.
 Promote recovery - first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the
illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the
case of applying a plaster to a small wound

First aid training also involves the prevention of initial injury and responder safety, and the
treatment phases.

Certain skills are considered essential to the provision of first aid and are taught ubiquitously.
Particularly the "ABC"s of first aid, which focus on critical life-saving intervention, must be
rendered before treatment of less serious injuries. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and
Circulation. The same mnemonic is used by all emergency health professionals. Attention must
first be brought to the airway to ensure it is clear. Obstruction (choking) is a life-threatening
emergency. Following evaluation of the airway, a first aid attendant would determine adequacy
of breathing and provide rescue breathing if necessary. Assessment of circulation is now not
usually carried out for patients who are not breathing, with first aiders now trained to go
straight to chest compressions (and thus providing artificial circulation) but pulse checks may be
done on less serious patients.

The first aider is also likely to be trained in dealing with injuries such as cuts, grazes or bone
fracture. They may be able to deal with the situation in its entirety (a small adhesive bandage
on a paper cut), or may be required to maintain the condition of something like a broken bone,
until the next stage of definitive care (usually an ambulance) arrives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a lay
person to a sick or injured casualty until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain
self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid
intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving
techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST AID

FIRST AID
Is an immediate care given to a person who have been injured or suddenly taken ill.
The immediate, temporary treatment carried out in cases of emergency, sudden illness or
accident prior to the arrival of a doctor or the transportation of the patient to the hospital.

ROLES OF FIRST AID

>It is not intended to compete with nor take the place of the services of the Physician.

>It ends when medical assistance begins.

First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a non-
expert person to a sick or injured casualty until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first
aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-
saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.
While first aid can also be performed on animals, the term generally refers to care of human
patients

History
The instances of recorded first aid were provided by religious knights, such as the Knights
Hospitaller, formed in the 11th century, providing care to pilgrims and knights, and training
other knights in how to treat common battlefield injuries.[1] The practice of first aid fell largely
in to disuse during the High Middle Ages, and organized societies were not seen again until in
1859 Henry Dunant organized local villagers to help victims of the Battle of Solferino, including
the provision of first aid. Four years later, four nations met in Geneva and formed the
organization which has grown into the Red Cross, with a key stated aim of "aid to sick and
wounded soldiers in the field".[This was followed by the formation of St. John Ambulance in
1877, based on the principles of the Knights Hospitaller, to teach first aid, and numerous other
organization joined them, with the term first aid first coined in 1878 as civilian ambulance
services spread as a combination of 'first treatment' and 'national aid'[1] in large railway centers
and mining districts as well as with police forces. First aid training began to spread through the
empire through organizations such as St John, often starting, as in the UK, with high risk
activities such as ports and railways.
Many developments in first aid and many other medical techniques have been driven by wars,
such as in the case of the American Civil War, which prompted Clara Barton to organize the
American Red Cross.[3] Today, there are several groups that promote first aid, such as the
military and the Scouting movement. New techniques and equipment have helped make today’s
first aid simple and effective.

We all take certain measures to prevent accidents but despite our best efforts emergencies arise.
You trip and fall... unintentionally come in contact with exposed wiring... step on a rusty nail...
or literarily bite off more than you can chew... And when an accident happens, time is not on
your side. Besides a well-stocked and functional First Aid Kit, preparation and skills are the most
important tools you can have at your disposal.