What Is First Aid?

First aid is the term that is used to describe the emergency assistance that is given to an individual who is sick or injured. The first aid responder will assist while they are waiting for professional treatment. This usually happens when an individual first gets hurt, and 911(emergency services) is being called.

Usually this is the first level of care that an individual or group will receive from the people who are at the site where the injury occurs. To assist anyone at the injury site, people must be trained in first aid, in order to know the proper way to respond. The individual giving first aid is not a specialist or medical professional, so they can only assist with limited assistance.

The first aider goes through specific training that teaches them how to respond in an emergency for both, the injured and the scene around the injury area. Their job is to prevent further injury to anyone in the area while the group is waiting for emergency services. In some cases the individual may try to resuscitate someone using CPR or an automated external defibrillator (AED) if this is an area they were trained in.

First Aid skills will vary depending on the classes that an individual has taken. Once classes are taken, an individual is certified with specific skills. They can only work within the areas they have been certified within. Here are the basic areas:

A person with basic first aid skills will know how to respond to certain common injuries or illnesses. They will know how and when to apply a proper bandage, how and when to administer a splint and how to keep a person stabilized until help comes. They will also know how to dress a wound and keep it isolated until the injured can get to the hospital. This individual will not know how to resuscitate an individual who has a heart attack unless they have CPR skills in addition to basic first aid.

Additionally, this individual will most likely know how to get someone to call 911 while they administer the assistance. Some common conditions they may see can be anything from a minor burn, a structure that falls on someone, an electrical wire that is down and touching an individual or minor cuts. They will also understand what to do in the case of snake bite or poisoning. In the event that an individual is injured by shock, a basic first aider will know what to do.

Some people who are skilled in basic first aid will also have skills in CPR. This skill gives them the opportunity to help when an individual has a heart attack. This individual will understand the signs of stroke and heart attack, and they will be able to administer the assistance that someone needs while they are exhibiting the symptoms. If the individual has passed out and still has a pulse, a person with this basic skill will keep the individual breathing (if possible) until help arrives.

A person with these skills could assist if someone starts showing signs and symptoms in the workplace, in a gym, in their home or any other public or private situations. In some CPR classes a student is taught how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) for resuscitation.

Because of terrorist’s attacks and natural disasters this is a level of basic first aid that is also an advanced skill. Depending on their training, an individual will know how to clear an area in a disaster, they will be able to identify where shelters are near the area, and they may understand how to distribute food and clean water to those in need. The individual with these skills may find themselves doing everything from answering the phone in a call center, to helping families reconnect with each other.

In any given moment someone can be injured in a car accident, in the workplace or at home. A quick response through first aid can literally mean the difference in saving a person's life. In some situations just knowing how to comfort a victim is a good asset to have and combined with knowing what to do in the emergency can help an individual get the care they need.

Safety is always an issue; when there is a need for first aid and most people go into a scene trying to help, but can sometimes make the situation worse. If you have been trained to address an emergency you will know exactly what to do and how to help other people give assistance.

Another important part of first aid is the first aid kit. In it you will have basic supplies in case you need to help yourself or someone else in an emergency situation. It is suggested that a fully stocked first aid kit be kept at home and in your car at all times. It is important to restock supplies and take inventory frequently so you have what you need when you need it.

No matter where you work, it is essential to have basic first aid skills. It is important to train more than one person at your workplace, depending on the size of your business, so you have more than one person who knows what to do.

Workplace safety is a high priority in most organizations and training employees in first aid will insure that the risk of unsafe behavior is lowered. When employees are training it is a great time to go over safety policies, how to avoid injury and how to help each other.

All workplaces should have an evacuation plan in case of a fire, natural disaster or terrorist attack, and having people trained in first aid will help them stay calm in an emergency, instead of going into a panic. You will be able to evacuate if necessary and they will be more prone to help each other as they leave.