First Aid

First Aid priorities

1^st follow Drs ABCD

2^nd manage bleeding

3^rd manage burns

4^th manage shock

5^th manage other injuries

Drs ABCD
Danger	Check area is safe for you, others, patient => Then approach the casualty from their head to avoid approach of their limbs
Response	Check response – talk and touch COWS: Can you hear me? Open your eyes? What’s your name? Squeeze my hand?   If not yet respond, shake their shoulders.
Send	Send for help – call 000 for an ambulance & get the nearest defibrillator (via app or webpage)
Airway	Open mouth – check for foreign material and keep airway clear if possible
Breathing	Check for normal breathing – look, listen, touch if chest still moves up & down
CPR	Either 100-120 compressions per minute without breath (because disease transmission via mouth-to-mouth isn't worth it.) or 30 compressions : 2 breaths (pinch nose, tilt head, lift chin & breath)
Defibrillation	Attach defibrillator (AED) and follow prompts

--  If response, leave the casualty in the position you find him/her.

--  If unconscious, carefully place the casualty into the recovery position and ensure their airway is clear & open.

--  If unconscious with suspected spinal injury, carefully place the casualty into the H.A.IN.E.S recovery position to protect the airway.

 

There are several variations of the recovery position, each has its own advantages. No single position is perfect for all casualties.

How to CPR

 

An ex of real-life CPR & defib

Another example

 

First Aid for Respiratory Arrest

If a casualty stops breathing, but has a strong & regular pulse, there is no need for CPR & defib.

The goal is to establish an open airway using head tilt-chin lift or
jaw thrust when spinal injury is suspected.

If an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway device is available, consider using these means to assist in airway maintenance.

Administering artificial respiration is when the first aider are breathing for the patient. Avoid excessive ventilation and make sure that you see the complete chest rise and fall with each breath. If you have access to supplemental oxygen, use it. You may use 100% oxygen initially, but it is best to titrate the level of supplemental oxygen necessary to achieve blood oxygen levels of 94% or higher (based on pulse oximetry). Likewise, if you have access to quantitative waveform capnography, you can use it to monitor end tidal carbon dioxide.

Remember that a person who is in respiratory arrest may enter cardiac arrest at any moment. Therefore, it is important to check for pulses.

If the patient enters cardiac arrest, you should commence CPR asap.

Emergency call triple zero (000)

Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26

 

 

Download Emergency App

For other responses, see Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines