When someone is sick or injured, first aid provides them with immediate, potentially lifesaving care until full medical help is available. Knowing what the principles of first aid are could help relieve pain, promote a better recovery or save someone’s life.
Taking a first aid course is the best way to be prepared for an emergency. Training with the appropriate first aid equipment can help you take action and manage an emergency situation with confidence. Anyone can learn first aid.
In this guide, we look at:
- What is first aid – and why is it important?
- What are the assessment principles of first aid?
- What should be included in a first aid kit?
- What equipment do you need for first aid training?
What is first aid – and why is it important?
When someone is injured or sick, they require immediate assistance. First aid is the steps you take to help someone in the first minutes after they experience injury or illness.
First aid can help a person feel better or it may help their recovery and healing process. In some cases, first aid may save their life.
First aid is used in a wide range of circumstances, including minor wounds through to loss of consciousness and life threatening injuries.
The situation may require a simple action such as putting someone in the recovery position or running a burn under cold water. A life threatening situation could require a skilled action such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), applying a tourniquet or removing an airway obstruction.
What are the assessment principles of first aid?
First aid officers should follow the basic principles of first aid in an emergency situation. These principles are:
- Preserve life
Performing a risk assessment and checking the area for danger is an important first step. You should not put your own life in danger to provide first aid. However, if you can safely do so, you should remove the injured person out of harm’s way to prevent further injury or death. - Prevent deterioration
Once you have taken steps to protect the lives of yourself, the injured person and any bystanders, the next priority is to prevent deterioration of the person’s condition. That involves preventing them from doing anything that would worsen their wound. For example, preventing the person from moving around and placing them in a position that protects the injury from further harm. - Promote recovery
Finally, you should take steps to promote recovery. That may involve applying treatments to increase the time of recovery, assist the healing process or reduce the risk of long term complications.
This principle is why wound care is important. Knowing how to properly treat different types of wounds and injuries can improve outcomes and may even save a life.
It’s also important to know the signs of an infected wound and the best ways to prevent an infection when giving first aid.
What do you need to be aware of when providing first aid?
In addition to the principles of first aid above, there are a number of other practices that are required for a first aid response.
First aid requirements include:
- Responding immediately to the situation. A faster response can lead to better recovery outcomes and may save someone’s life.
- Calming the situation down and reassuring the injured person as well as any bystanders.
- Communicating with bystanders and asking for their assistance if necessary.
- Calling 000 for medical assistance and ambulance services if appropriate – or asking a bystander to make the call.
- Following the DRSABCD action plan:
- Danger – check for danger
- Response – check if the person is conscious and breathing
- Send for help – if there is no response, call 000 for emergency services
- Airways – place in recovery position, check for airway obstruction and remove
- Breathing – look and listen for signs of breathing
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – if the breathing is not normal, start chest compressions and mouth breaths
- Defibrillation – use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available
- Applying the correct treatment. This could be anything from a tourniquet, to a snake bite bandage, or Epipen.
What should be included in a first aid kit?
First aid kits should be readily available and fully stocked. Buying a ready-made kit is convenient, but you can also customise your kit with first aid kit refills to ensure you have the proper equipment for the kinds of risks faced.
For example, workplaces dealing with chemicals should have an eye wash station on site as well as a burn treatment kit. People who work in remote locations should have access to a snake bite kit.
For schools and workplaces, the size of the first aid kit should be appropriate for the number of people present.
Workplace first aid kits should contain:
- A range of different sized bandages and wound dressings
- Cleansing alcohol swabs
- Ice pack
- Burn gel
- Sodium chloride wash solution
- Splinter forceps
- Thermal blanket
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Disposable gloves
- Any other items appropriate for the risks faced
For more information on the codes of practice for first aid kits in the workplace, see the full guide from Safe Work Australia.
What equipment do you need for first aid training?
Having access to appropriate first aid equipment during training can improve the learning experience and better prepare people for handling emergency situations.
Essential training equipment includes:
- Adult and child CPR manikins
- Training AED devices
- Placebo inhalers
- Training epinephrine autoinjectors
- Training tourniquets
- Cardboard splints
If you are interested in training others to know the assessment principles of first aid, check out our article on how to become an accredited first aid trainer.
The importance of using first aid training supplies
In a situation where emergency treatment is required, it’s crucial that the response is quick and appropriate. The best way to make sure this happens is through hands-on practical training with the right training supplies.
People who have practiced with equipment that simulates real life situations are better prepared for dealing with a first aid emergency.
LFA First Response provides first aid training supplies Australia wide to promote faster and more effective first aid treatment.
Place an order online today or call our team on 1800 681 544 to discuss your needs.
