First Aid Tips

First Aid Tips

In the year 2013 alone 2,38,562 people died due to road traffic accidents. While the lack of proper roads, rash and negligent driving and the apathy of pedestrians can partly be blamed for this high number, a large portion of these deaths can be attributed to the fact that most accident victims do not get proper medical attention and first aid on time. So, would you know what to do if you or someone else was in an accident? Well, in this post I tell you all you need to know about performing first aid on an accident victim.

1. Check yourself first: If you have been injured in the accident, first check yourself for any injuries. Try to assess how well you can move your limbs, and if you experience symptoms such as dizziness etc. Remember you need to be fit enough to help the others.

2.Check the other person(s) for injuries: If other people are injured, first assess the extent of his/ her injuries. For e.g. is he bleeding from the head, neck, arms legs, abdomen back etc. Treat the quietest person first, they are usually more seriously injured or cannot breathe. People who can talk or scream, on the other hand, can breathe therefore can be treated a little later. Ask for the patient’s name, if he responds, it means he is able to understand the situation and has most likely not suffered a severe head injury.

3. Look for signs of breathing: Next, check if the person is breathing and if he has a pulse.

4. Call for help: Immediately call for an ambulance or rush the person to a hospital. Once you know more about the patient’s condition you will in a better position to tell the doctors about his/her condition.

5. Check for obstructions in the person’s mouth and throat: If you do not hear any breath sounds, check his/her mouth for any obstructions. If there is something obstructing the airway, use your index and middle finger to clear the airway.

6. Perform life saving techniques: If there is no pulse, start CPR or EAR. Keep the person’s neck straight to start EAR (External Air Resuscitation) or CPR (Cardio pulmonary resuscitation).  There are 3 types of EAR; Mouth-to-mouth, Mouth-to-Nose, Mouth-to-Mask. You could read more about how to perform EAR and CPR here.

7. Ways to help him/her in grave situations: If there is bleeding from the mouth or the patient is vomiting, turn the person to his/her side. This will avoid any chances of the person choking. Place the person’s arm that is under him straight out and the arm closest to you across his chest.

8. Deal with open wounds: If there are extensive wounds, try to control the bleeding using pressure to the area using a cloth. Press down with your palms rather than your finger tips.

9. Always suspect spinal injuries:  If the person’s neck is in an awkward position (not normally placed) or the person is unconscious, do not move the patient. Get help immediately. This could mean that the person’s neck is broken, and moving him/her in such a situation can cause more harm than good.

10. Keep the person warm: Usually accident victims feel excessively cold due to shock. Therefore keeping them warm is essential to survival. You can use whatever you have to do this, such as a T-shirt, jacket, etc.

11. Avoid feeding the person: Do not give the person any water, food or other fluids through the mouth, it could lead to the patient choking.

(This article written by the help of  "THE HEALTH SITE".

By:

     Tayyaba Babar