First Aid Course - Articles on Basic and emergency first aid

First aid is the immediate help given to somebody who has been injured, or who suddenly becomes ill, before medical help is available. First aid is of two types - one where minor injuries can be dealt with and the other to provide basic care to a seriously injured individual before medical help can be obtained.

First aid has three key aims:

1. to keep the injured or ill person alive;
2. to stop the condition worsening; and
3. to promote the recovery of the patient.

These aims can be met with simple skills that require little or no special quipment, but you must always put your own safety first. If you become a victim yourself, you will not be able to help the person and will make the situation worse.

This section give detailed information on how to practice first aid quickly, calmly and effectively. Reading this section gives you the underpinning knowledge to carry out first aid, but the term first aider is generally applied to somebody who has completed a set standard of training with an accredited training provider, such as the British Red Cross.

Taking a practical course in first aid is the best preparation for dealing with an emergency. However, even if you are untrained there are simple measures that you can take at an mergency scene that can save lives.

This section aims to provide you with clear instructions to help you deal with common first aid situations, should they arise. Each spread in this chapter covers a particular aspect of first aid. First aid for children and infants often requires different techniques, and these are clearly explained when they need to be done.

First Aid Articles describe how to assess a casualty so that appropriate treatment can be given while you wait for professional medical help to arrive. There are also practical discussions of emergency procedures, including checking for breathing and circulation, placing a person in the recovery position, and life-saving techniques such as giving rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) if breathing has stopped, and chest compression if both breathing and circulation have ceased. Using these techniques will ensure that vital organs such as the brain receive enough oxygen to keep the person alive until medical help is at hand.

Further articles describe how to deal with other life-threatening situations or injuries, such as drowning, choking, shock, burns, poisoning and severe bleeding. Asthma, heart attack, epilepsy and allergic reactions may also require emergency treatment.

Specific injuries such as head and eye injuries, broken bones and spinal injuries are also covered in this section. Although these may not be immediately life- threatening, first aid may help someone recover more quickly and avoid permanent damage.

Most first aid situations will involve no more than minor cuts and bruises, but you should be equipped to deal with major accidents or emergencies, and you will need to understand andpractice the techniques detailed in this section to give first aid effectively. You should also keep a well-stocked first aid box that is accessible in an emergency but kept out of the reach of children.

I like firstaid section most in this site - we always ignore the basic knowledge for any injury. Thanks --- georgy

Knowing the basic of Firstaid is very essential for our daily life. Thanks for including this section. - gel

looking for a doctor that will take total care -- denise