first aid

first aid Action taken by anyone encountering sudden illness or injury in order to save life, mitigate harm or assist subsequent treatment. Properly administered first aid can save lives and improve the extent and speed of recovery. If the victim appears to have a broken bone or internal injuries, they should not be moved. If the victim is unconscious, their head should be turned to one side to prevent choking. Check that the victim has an open airway – if not, they may have respiratory failure (asphyxia). Asphyxia may be caused by the obstruction of air passages, in which case the Heimlich manoeuvre is recommended. For asphyxia caused by fumes or gas, such as carbon monoxide, the victim should be moved to a clear atmosphere before administering artificial respiration. The best method of artifical respiration is mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Place the victim on their back, put one hand under the victim's chin and the other on the forehead. Tilt the victim's head back by lifting with the hand under the chin and pressing down on the forehead. If the victim is a child, take a breath, place your mouth over both the nose and mouth, and blow gently. Remove your mouth and listen for air entering the child's lungs. Take a breath and repeat every three seconds until the child begins to breathe. If the victim is an adult, pinch the nostrils shut, take a deep breath, cover the mouth tightly and breathe hard. Repeat this procedure every five seconds. If the victim has swallowed a poisonous substance, identify the poison and then call the emergency services. They may recommend inducing vomiting with syrup of ipecac. In the case of animal bites and stings, the wound should be cleaned with soap and water before applying antiseptic and a bandage. For poisonous snakebite, the wound should be cooled with ice to slow down the absorption of poison. A few snakebites require anti-venoms. In order to stop the victim bleeding severly, apply direct pressure preferably with a sterile dressing. If bleeding continues, apply pressure to the artery that supplies blood to the area. To treat shock, place the victim on their back with their legs raised slightly, and place a blanket over the body to prevent heat loss. In the case of first- and second-degree burns, cold water should be applied before dressing with sterile bandages.