How
it is performed
Put your safety first and deal with any danger.
If it is safe, apply first aid and dial 999
for an ambulance if necessary. First aid can
involve anything from dressing a small cut,
controlling bleeding in large wounds, or providing
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a
person who is not breathing and whose heart
has stopped beating. The
following advice is not intended to replace
professional instruction in first aid and
resuscitation (CPR).
The Recovery
position
The Recover
Position ensures that an unconscious person
maintains an open airway that the tongue
cannot be swallowed, and any vomit or fluid
will not cause choking.
Ensure
the person is lying on their side, supported
by one leg and one arm. Keep airway open
by tilting their head and lifting the chin.
If the airway
is not open and the person is not breathing,
begin: ABC of resuscitation. A-airway B-breathing
C-circulation
Airway
To open the
airway, lift the chin with one hand, while
pushing down on the forehead with the other
to tilt the head back. Once the airway is
open, look for chest movement and listen
and feel for breathing by placing an ear
close to the person’s mouth.
Breathing
If opening
the airway does not cause the person to
begin to breathe spontaneously, Artificial
Respiration must be started: -
- Tilt the
head back lift up the chin, and pinch
the nostrils together.
- Seal mouth
over the person’s mouth and take a dead
breath.
- Breathe
slowly into the person's mouth, and check
their chest rises.
- Repeat
until the person starts breathing or assistance
arrives.
Circulation
If there
is no heart beat and no pulse i.e. no circulation
and if no trained medical help is available:
- start, External Chest Compression,
Place the
heel of hand on the middle half of their
breastbone, and the heel of the other hand
on top of the first. Lock the fingers and
keep off their chest.
Keeping elbows
straight, press downwards firmly and quickly
with hands then relax and repeat compression.
Press down approximately 2 inches. The rate
of compression should be approximately 100
compressions per minute. Do 15 compressions,
and then give artificial respiration twice.
Then repeat until assistance arrives.
Following,
is first aid advice on: -
Burns
The burn
should be cooled with cold water. Cover
the burn with a sterile dressing of non-
fluffy material, cling film, or a plastic
bag. Do not put creams on the burn. Seek
medical help for the burn unless it is very
minor.
Poisoning
Put the person
in the recovery position if they are unconscious,
call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Do not
give the person anything to drink unless
a health professional advises. If there
are no symptoms consult the poisons unit
at your local hospital Electricity Turn
the electricity supply off. Initiate resuscitation
ABC if the person is not breathing and call
an ambulance. Seek medical help unless the
shock is very minor.
Drowning
Once the
person is on land, initiate resuscitation
ABC, if the person is not breathing. If
the person is unconscious put in the recovery
position. Call an ambulance immediately.
Bleeding
Apply a clean
dressing to the wound with firm pressure.
Raise the wound (if there are no fractures)
to decrease the flow of blood. Seek medical
help for the bleeding unless it is minor.
Wrap any severed body part e.g. a finger
in a plastic bag or cling film, wrap in
soft material and keep cool. Preferably,
place in ice; never put the severed body
part in direct contact with the ice.
Heart Attack
If breathing
and heartbeat stop, call an ambulance and
initiate resuscitation ABC immediately.
If the person becomes unconscious, but is
breathing, place in the recovery position.
Fractures
If the person
is unconscious or has difficulties in breathing
or is bleeding severely these should be
dealt with first. Do not move the person
and gently support the injured part by hand
until help arrives.
| 
Accidents & First Aid
- Bleeding - Burns - Heart Attack
