Essential First Aid Skills
Accidents or illnesses can occur anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. First aid is the immediate care provided to an individual in emergencies like accidents to prevent injuries from worsening, help with faster recovery and even save lives.
The onset of the pandemic has made life difficult for everyone. The fear of catching the virus and more indoor time has led people to indulge in online self-learning. Besides math and science, online platforms now offer courses related to healthcare and wellness, from nursing to reputable first aid courses.
First aid is a topic not generally given heed to but is of exceptional importance. Some basic skills everyone must know in case of crises are:
● Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR:
CPR is one of the most popular yet significant forms of first aid. It helps provide oxygen through artificial ventilation to the brain and keep it functioning until required sustenance is provided to a person suffering from a cardiac arrest. A person who collapses out of the blue and is not breathing is a victim of cardiac arrest. CPR is performed by interlocking your fingers and placing your hands on the person’s chest, compressing it with your body weight by pushing it 2-2.5 inches inward.
● Treating Burns:
There are three degrees of burns. The first step to treat any burn is to run it through cold water or any cold liquid available for at least 10 minutes to ensure minimal impact of the injury. After cooling the wound, you should immediately wrap it with gauze/cling film/ a clean plastic bag to reduce pain and exposure to infection.
● Heimlich Maneuver:
This process involves locking your hands around a person’s abdomen below the ribs and pulling upwards and inwards to clear the blockage in their windpipe and stop them from choking. If the correct technique is known, one can perform it on themselves. This method is used to prevent a choking person from brain damage.
● Nursing a Sprain:
The first step to treat someone who tripped and has most likely suffered a sprain is to apply an ice pack. Besides this, a splint such as a rod, piece of wood, stick, etc., can be used to retain the bone in a particular position as movement would only increase pain and impact of the injury.
● Control the Bleeding:
A person who suffers from wounds as superficial as a cut or a rip of their skin causing them to bleed profusely can eventually die if not provided with first aid. To stop bleeding, you can prepare a tourniquet using anything at one’s disposal, such as a t-shirt or a piece of rope.
First-aid in workplaces is the need of the hour. Governments decide the number of trained first aiders required based on the risk parameter of the environment. A trained first aider has completed a nationally accredited first aid course. For example: in Australian workplaces, as a rule, besides a first aid room, one of these people should be present:
● Per 50 workers in a low-risk environment (e.g., an office)
● Per 25 workers in a high-risk environment (e.g., a factory)
● Per 10 people in a remote, high-risk environment (e.g., a mine)
Having these abilities will do no good if not put into action. Since some of these skills can save lives, taking up first aid-related courses is vital. Organizations like The Red Cross, etc., highly recommend these courses. They help you assist someone in need with no restriction based on caste, race, or status and keep you calm, composed, and confident in case of an accident.
Author Bio: Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
