First Aid Care
Accidents and injuries are unpredictable. You may be the first person at the scene of a mishap or casualty and have to give aid and assistance. Knowledge is the key to giving proper first aid care.
A person trained in first aid care can:
Help save lives - gives them the confidence to control themselves so they can take immediate action.
Allow the rescuer to provide the victim comfort - bring immediate relief to the patient and stabilize them until emergency help arrives.
Provide tools to prevent the situation from becoming worse and collects relevant information for emergency personnel. If a first aid kit is not available household items may be used.
Creates confidence to care - builds skills and abilities in first aid care.
Encourages healthy and safe living - better able to assess surroundings and be safer.
What is first aid care?
First aid care is the initial essential medical support given to someone during a medical emergency. Individuals educated and trained in first aid care can quickly help victims in distress, taking swift action to assist the person in need.
What are the main aims of first aid care?
The objective of first aid care is to minimize injury and prevent future impairment. If this care is lacking, the injured person’s situation will deteriorate, often very quickly. First aid care stabilizes a suffering person’s condition until emergency medical help arrives. In some instances, first aid care may be necessary to sustain life.
Having basic first aid knowledge provides swift and effective care to someone in an unforeseen accident or experiencing an ailment. Acquiring an awareness of, and expertise in first aid care makes a significant difference to a maimed individual waiting for an ambulance or professional help to arrive.
What are the steps of first aid?
Before giving first aid care to an individual, assess the scene. Look for potential dangers, so you do not become another victim. Try to remove the person and yourself from any imminent hazards. If necessary, call 911 or emergency phone numbers in your country.
When possible, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and after providing first aid care. It is essential to avoid direct contact with blood, vomit, or other bodily fluids. Wearing gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) is ideal.
If the person is conscious, obtain consent from the person and ask them for permission to provide care. Then determine if the person has any life-threatening conditions like severe bleeding or inability to breathe.
Look to see if there is anyone else around that can help or yell “help”! If someone is close by, ask them to get a first aid kit or other needed items. It is important to know where the first aid kit is and be familiar with the contents and how to use them. It is best to have a first aid kit in your home, car, and workplace.
If the person is unresponsive, determine if they are breathing. If not, begin CPR and continue until they show signs of life or until emergency medical help arrives. Seek certification in giving CPR to different age groups (adults, children, and infants).
What are the 5 steps to first aid?
Recognize the problem and determine the responsiveness of the injured or ill person. Loudly ask, “Are you okay?” Ask if they are allergic to anything or on medication.
Get help! Call 911 if you think you should. Emergency Medical Services can help determine how serious the situation is by asking you a series of questions.
If they are unconscious, yell for help and look for any medical identification such as a bracelet or necklace.
Be kind and calm. Show compassion and give assurance that you will care for them.
Be a steward of the person. Do no further harm by moving them unless there is danger.
What are the Principles of First Aid
Preserve life
Prevent deterioration or escalation of the injury or illness
Promote recovery
Take immediate action
Calm down the situation
Call for medical assistance
Apply relevant treatment
Protect the unconscious
Other first aid care, treatments, and procedures are required, depending on the injury or illness. Civilians can train to address less severe conditions. Life-threatening situations usually require highly trained medical personnel.
If you have a survival kit, here are 10 golden rules to remember:
10 first aid care basics:
Remember the Three P’s (Preserve life, Prevent further injury, Promote recovery).
Check the scene for danger before providing help.
Treat cuts and scrapes by applying gentle pressure, disinfect, and use bandages.
Treat sprains by applying ice and compression intermittently and elevate the limb.
Treat heat exhaustion by using cool liquids, cool clothes, and shade.
Treat hypothermia by using warm fluids and warm coverings.
Treat burns by determining the severity and then cover the wound with a loose cloth.
Treat severe allergic reactions with an Epipen (ask the person if they have one) Benadryl can address milder allergies.
Treat fractures by keeping the area stable, immobilized, and applying a cold pack.
If an injured person stops breathing, perform CPR.
Give first aid care for several common injuries. You can address some conditions initially with a first aid kit (may not require calling 911), including:
Cuts or scrapes
Burns
Blisters
Insect or spider bites
Splinters
Nosebleeds
Sunburns
Skin rashes
More severe injuries and conditions that need first aid care and also may require qualified medical emergency personnel (call 911) include:
Seizures
Choking
Dehydration
Spinal or head or neck injuries
Electric shock
Eye injury
Poisoning
Puncture wounds
Sunstroke
Allergic reaction
Sudden swelling
Sprains
Fractures
Dog bites
Strokes
Heart attacks
Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org/first-aid) lists many medical conditions and emergencies and gives instructions on how to treat them. It is beneficial information for yourself and to help someone who requires first aid care.
Connects to the R72 Vest + Modular Bags... and detaches in a zip!
Oxford Waterproof material
The 126-piece Modular R72 First Aid Kit includes: Scissors
Tweezers
Vinyl Gloves
Safety Pins (10)
Sterile Eye Pads (4)
Standard Adhesive Bandages (30)
Waterproof Fingertip Bandage PE (5)
Butterfly Bandages (15)
PBT Bandage (2)
Elbow/Knee Bandage (5)
Triangular Bandage (2)
Whistle
Stainless Steel Knife Card
Elastic (Ace) Bandage (2)
Alcohol Swabs (6)
Silicon Tourniquet (2)
Adhesive Tape (2)
Adhesive Wound Dressing (2)
Sterile Guaze Swab 2" x 2" (4)
Sterile Gauze Swab 3" x 3" (3)
Sterile Gauze Swab 4" x 4" (2)
Emergency Foil Blanket (2)
Cotton Swabs (15)
Medical Mask (2)
Lodine Antiseptic Wipes (4)
Manual