Principles of first aid Preserve life:

Prevent deterioration:

Promote recovery:

Airway Breathing

Stop bleeding Treat shock Treat other injuries

Reassure Relieve pain Handle with care Protect from harm

Circulation

Assess dangers

Make safe

Give emergency aid

Get help

Clear up

Look after yourself

Action in an emergency

The first person at the scene of an incident should:

Danger

Make the area safe

Response Airway Breathing

Reassure the casualty and bystanders Use bystanders to help Prioritise and respond to the immediate needs of the casualty Send for help

Circulation

Inform next of kin, if possible

Complete reports to include: Details of the incident

As soon as possible:

Location of the incident Date and time of the incident Who was involved What was done Who was notified

If possible, wear disposable gloves, improvise with polythene bags or consider whether the casualty can help, eg apply pressure to bleeding. Remember:

Wash your hands carefully afterwards.

Infection control

Clean surfaces with bleach diluted 1:10 with water. If possible, keep any minor wounds covered with a plaster. Buy and use a resuscitation face shield. Dispose of soiled items appropriately.

Recovery position

A – Alert – will talk but may be drowsy. V – Responds to Voice – responds to simple commands, eg ‘open your eyes’, or may respond to simple questions.

P – Responds to Pain – will react (eg make a noise) to a pinch on the back of the hand.

U – Unresponsive – there is no response at all.

Levels of consciousness

Causes of unconsciousness:

Fainting Imbalance of heat Shock Heart attack/ angina pectoris Stroke Head injuries

Asphyxia/hypoxia/ near drowning Asthma Anaphylaxis Poisoning Seizures Diabetic emergencies

Primary survey

Check for danger.

Emergency life supportfor adults and children

1 Check for response. Speak loudly and clearly to the casualty. Ask questions like ‘are you all right?’.

If there is no response, shout for help. Do not leave the casualty.

Emergency life supportfor adults and children2 Open the airway.

3 Check for normal breathing. Look, listen and feel.

Emergency life supportfor adults and children4 If breathing normally, place in the recovery position.

CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES

Basic life support

Carry out a primary survey:

Emergency life supportfor adults and children

CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES

For childrenIt can be more beneficial to give five initial breaths followed by cycles of 30:2 compressions and breaths. One-handed compressions may be more suitable.

Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation

Emergency life supportfor adults and children1 If not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 chest compressions.

2 Open the airway.

Emergency life supportfor adults and children3 Give two rescue breaths. Continue with

30 compressions and two rescue breaths until: Qualified help arrives to take over. The casualty starts to breathe normally. You become too exhausted to continue.

Chain of survival

Fluid loss – bleeding, burns, severe diarrhoea or vomiting

Cardiac problems – heart attack, electrocution

Anaphylaxis – severe allergic reaction to stings, types of food, environmental features, poisons

Shock: causes

Pale, cold, clammy skin

Shock: signs and symptoms

Weak, dizzy, light-headed Nausea or vomiting Thirsty Yawning Anxiety or irrational behaviour Rapid, weak pulse Rapid, shallow breathing Dropping level of consciousness

Treat the cause and prevent the condition getting worse by:

Shock: treatment

Correct positioning of the casualty Reassurance Keeping the casualty fairly warm Monitoring breathing if necessary Do not give anything to eat or drink

Direct pressure

Bleeding

Elevate

Dress

Elevation sling

Slings

Arm sling

Slings

Choking

Heart attack position

Fractures

Nose bleeds

Duty of care for other people’s children

Whilst first aiders would not normally give medication, youth leaders working with other people’s children have a duty of care equivalent to that of a ‘responsible parent’

They are often required to look after or carry medicines for young children and sometimes need to administer them

Leaders should always seek parental permission before doing so

First aid kits

A guide to the contents of a kit: 1 pair of disposable non-latex protective gloves 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings 2 sterile eye pads 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile 6 safety pins 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings

First aid kits

You may like to include: Resuscitation shield Scissors Extra gloves Adhesive tape Steripods

Guidance leaflet (a leaflet supplied with the kit or that you make yourself which includes brief instructions on emergency treatment)

Individually wrapped moist cleaning wipes for the first aider’s hands