02 Becoming a First Aider, Assessing a Casualty

BECOMING A FIRST AIDERBECOMING A FIRST AIDER

ASSESSING A CASUALTYASSESSING A CASUALTY

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The presentation slides contain herein are proprietary to the St. John Ambulance, Singapore and are for use only in the FIRST AID training courses conducted by St. John. Reproduction in any form prohibited. NOT FOR SALE

St. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION SINGAPORE FIRST AID TEACHING SLIDES Compiled by: T. K. KHOO (2010)

WHAT IS A FIRST AIDERWHAT IS A FIRST AIDER FIRST AIDFIRST AID refers to the refers to the

actions taken in response to actions taken in response to someone who is injured or someone who is injured or suddenly taken ill.suddenly taken ill. AA FIRST AIDERFIRST AIDER is a person is a person

who takes this action.who takes this action.

2SJAA – Becoming A First Aider

Responding To An EmergencyResponding To An Emergency

Key steps to becoming an effective Key steps to becoming an effective first aiderfirst aider are: are:

Be calmBe calm in your approach. in your approach.Be aware of risksBe aware of risks to yourself and others. to yourself and others.Build andBuild and maintain trustmaintain trust..Give early treatmentGive early treatment..Call appropriate helpCall appropriate help..Remember your own needsRemember your own needs..


FIRST AID PRIORITIESFIRST AID PRIORITIES

Assess a situation quickly and calmlyAssess a situation quickly and calmlyProtect yourself and casualty from Protect yourself and casualty from danger.danger.Prevent cross-infection.Prevent cross-infection.Comfort and reassure Comfort and reassure the casualties.the casualties.


FIRST AID PRIORITIES FIRST AID PRIORITIES cont’dcont’d

Give early treatment, most serious (life-Give early treatment, most serious (life-threatening) conditions first.threatening) conditions first.Arrange for appropriate help:Arrange for appropriate help:

Call ambulance 995; orCall ambulance 995; or Transfer to the care of a Transfer to the care of a healthcare professional, or home. healthcare professional, or home.


Minimising Risks of Cross-InfectionMinimising Risks of Cross-InfectionWash your hands and wear Wash your hands and wear disposable glovesdisposable glovesCover cuts and grazes with Cover cuts and grazes with water-proof dressings.water-proof dressings.Wear plastic apron and plastic Wear plastic apron and plastic glasses for eye protection.glasses for eye protection.If available, use a face shield or If available, use a face shield or pocket mask when giving pocket mask when giving rescue breaths.rescue breaths.


Minimising Risks of Cross-Infection Minimising Risks of Cross-Infection cont’dcont’d

Dispose all waste safely.Dispose all waste safely.Do not touch a wound or Do not touch a wound or the part of dressing that the part of dressing that will touch a wound.will touch a wound.Do not breathe, cough or Do not breathe, cough or sneeze over a wound.sneeze over a wound.If you accidentally prick or cut If you accidentally prick or cut your skin, or splash your eye, your skin, or splash your eye, wash the area thoroughly and wash the area thoroughly and seek medical help immediately.seek medical help immediately.


CALLING FOR AMBULANCECALLING FOR AMBULANCE Dial Dial 995995

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State:State: your telephone no.; your telephone no.; the exact location of the incident;the exact location of the incident; type and gravity of the type and gravity of the

emergency; emergency; number, gender and age number, gender and age

of casualties; of casualties; details of any hazards.details of any hazards.

SJAA – Becoming A First Aider

ASSESSING A CASUALTYASSESSING A CASUALTYApproach each casualty and assess Approach each casualty and assess using a methodical 2-stage system:using a methodical 2-stage system:

First check and treat life-threatening First check and treat life-threatening conditions (Primary Survey).conditions (Primary Survey). Then do a detailed assessment Then do a detailed assessment (Secondary Survey). Treat as appropriate. (Secondary Survey). Treat as appropriate.

9SJAA – Assessing A Casualty

ASSESSING A CASUALTY ASSESSING A CASUALTY cont’dcont’d

Primary SurveyPrimary Survey (For life-threatening conditions)(For life-threatening conditions)

Look out for Look out for DDangeranger..Check casualty’s Check casualty’s RResponseesponse..

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DD RR AA BB CC

SJAA – Assessing A Casualty

ASSESSING A CASUALTY ASSESSING A CASUALTY cont’dcont’dPrimary SurveyPrimary Survey

Follow theFollow the

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of resuscitation.of resuscitation.

irwayirway reathingreathingirculationirculation

AABBCC

(If there is severe bleeding it must be treated.)(If there is severe bleeding it must be treated.)


ASSESSING A CASUALTYASSESSING A CASUALTY

Control Severe BleedingControl Severe Bleeding

Injuries that result in severe bleeding Injuries that result in severe bleeding cause blood loss from the circulatory cause blood loss from the circulatory system so must be system so must be treated immediately.treated immediately.

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Secondary SurveySecondary Survey (For other injuries)(For other injuries)

When life-threatening conditions are When life-threatening conditions are stabilised or absent, look for other stabilised or absent, look for other injuries or conditions. Carry out a head-injuries or conditions. Carry out a head-to-toe examination. to-toe examination.

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Secondary SurveySecondary Survey (For other injuries)(For other injuries)

Find out:Find out:HistoryHistory – what actually happened, relevant – what actually happened, relevant

medical history. medical history.

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Symptoms Symptoms –– abnormal sensations the abnormal sensations the casualty feels, e.g. pain, casualty feels, e.g. pain, nausea, giddiness. nausea, giddiness.

Signs Signs – injuries or abnormal conditions – injuries or abnormal conditions the first aider detects, e.g. the first aider detects, e.g. swelling, bleeding, pallor. swelling, bleeding, pallor.

SJAA –Assessing A Casualty

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SJAA – Becoming A First Aider, Assessing A Casualty

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02 Becoming a First Aider, Assessing a Casualty