The document provides information on first aid and basic life support. It begins with defining first aid as the initial care given to someone who is injured or ill until full medical treatment is available. The three main aims of first aid are to preserve life, prevent worsening of conditions, and promote recovery. It then covers patient assessment using DR ABCDE, which stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure. The document explains how to provide CPR and place someone in the recovery position. It emphasizes the importance of calling emergency services as soon as possible when treating someone.

1. 1
Tutor : Benjamin Hawthorne
DipHE, EMT-R
Introduction to First Aid &
Basic Life Support

2. JOHN FURST
FIRSTAIDPOWERPOINT.ORG
2
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3. “Help given to a sick or injured
person until full medical
treatment is available”
“…provision of initial care for an
illness or injury”
The Definition of First Aid

4. Broadly, there are three main aims when
administering first aid:
– Preserve life
– Prevent worsening of the condition (if
possible)
– Promote recovery
The Aims of First Aid

5. Preserve life
This includes:
• Maintaining or supporting a person’s airway
• Checking for signs of breathing (and assisting with breathing in certain
cases)1
• Monitoring and maintaining circulation.
1 Covid19 guideline mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

6. Prevent Worsening
This includes:
• Stopping Bleeding
• Treating Shock
• Treating Other Injuries

7. Promote Recovery
This Includes:
• Reassuring an individual
• Relieving pain
• Handling someone with care
• Protecting the individual from further harm

8. A first aider has various roles and responsibilities.
They should:
• Manage the incident and ensure the continuing safety of themselves, bystanders and the patient
• Assess victims and find out the nature & the cause of their injuries
• Arrange for further medical help or other emergency services to attend
• If trained, prioritize casualties based upon medical need
• Provide appropriate first aid treatment as trained
• If able, make notes/observations of casualties
• Fill out any paperwork as required
• Provide a handover when further medical help arrives
Roles and Responsibilities of a First Aider

9. In many first aid situations, help from the emergency services will be required.
Ensure you know the best emergency service number to use.
United Kingdom: 999
United States: 911
European Union: 112
Other countries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers
Calling for Emergency Help

10. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Calling for Emergency Help
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
• Give clear, precise information about
–The exact location of the incident and any
access problems
–The number of casualties / people involved
–The nature of their injuries
–The age of the victims
–Any hazards at the incident (e.g.: spilt fuel,
fire, electricity)
• If the area is remote or difficult to access,
consider sending someone to meet the
emergency services.
• Factor in Covid19 Status

11. Incident Management
Always conduct a risk assessment before rushing into any situation. Look for any potential hazards
to yourself, bystanders or the patient (e.g.: moving traffic, fire & smoke, electricity). Never put
yourself or other bystanders in danger.
Remember, YOU are the most important person
If the incident is too dangerous to approach, stay back and await the arrival of the emergency
services.

12. Incident Management
Think about the photo on the next slide (either individually or in groups)
Take a few minutes to discuss:
1) How would you manage this incident?
2) What dangers are present or could be present?
3) What should your first action be?

13. Incident Management

14. Incident Management
Potential hazards in this situation:
• Moving vehicles
• Oil or fuel spillage
• Broken glass
• Undeployed airbags
• Risk of fire or explosion

15. Infection Control
Various diseases can be transmitted via blood and body fluids (for example HIV and Hepatitis B &
C) If possible, always wear disposable gloves when dealing with bodily fluids.
HOWEVER: This is not always practical! In an emergency situation you can improvise and use
anything to create a barrier. e.g.: a plastic carrier bag
Ensure any cuts/open injuries to your hands are covered with waterproof plasters or dressings.
Wash your hands with soap and running warm water whenever possible

16. Effective handwashing is vital to reduce the risk
of transmitting infection
Infection Control

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Patient assessment
If you find someone collapsed, you can use
DR ABCDE to help you remember what
actions to take.
● Danger
● Response
● Airway
● Breathing
● Circulation
● Disability
● Exposure

19. 19
Danger
Ensure there are no dangers to yourself, other bystanders or the patient
Ask yourself - why has the patient collapsed? Are there any hazards? Am I at risk?
Dangers could include moving vehicles, electricity, water, other people or smoke/fire
Only enter a situation if it is safe to do so. Remember, you are the most important person.

20. 20
Response
Try and wake the victim up - are they responding to you?
Kneel by their head, shout loudly in both ears and tap them on the shoulders.
If you do not get a response, the patient is unconscious. This is an emergency.
Try and attract attention to yourself/the patient by shouting for help. However, do not leave the
patient.

21. • A – Alert – will talk but may be drowsy.
• V – Responds to Voice – responds to simple commands, e.g., ‘open your eyes’ or may respond to
simple questions.
• P – Responds to Pain – will react (e.g., make a noise) to a pinch on the back of the hand.
• U – Unresponsive – there is no response at all.
Levels of consciousness

22. The airway is the tube which takes air from the mouth/nose to the lungs. When a patient is
unconscious, their tongue can fall backwards and block their airway. This can cause an obstruction
and the victim will quickly suffocate.
To open an unconscious patient’s airway, place one hand on their forehead and tilt their
head backwards.
Then place two fingers on the bony part of their chin and lift it.
This is known as the “head tilt, chin lift” maneuver.
22
Airway

23. This action can save a life!
23
Airway

24. 24
Breathing 1
Keep your hands on the person’s head/chin. Place your cheek above their mouth and look at their
chest.
Look, listen and feel for normal, regular breathing for up to 10 seconds.
Irregular shallow gasps are not normal breathing. This is a phenomenon known as ‘agonal
breathing’ and should be ignored. Patients who have just suffered a cardiac arrest may display
agonal breathing.
1 Covid19 guidelines mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

25. 25
Circulation:
Firstly, Feel for a pulse, you can check:
• The Neck ( Carotid Pulse)
• The Wrist (Radial Pulse)
• The Chest ( Heartbeat)
Also Look at the Fingers and Lips are they blue?
Press and hold the skin on the chest with an index
finger for 5 seconds and count how long it takes for
the pressure mark to fade. Anything more than 2
seconds is abnormal!
If you really can not find a pulse or any evidence of
circulation you must immediately start CPR!
Delegate to someone if you can, ringing an
ambulance! you must seek professional help!

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What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique to help people who suffer a “cardiac
arrest” (their heart stops beating).
It involves doing chest compressions and rescue breaths1 to keep the patient alive until a
defibrillator arrives.
A defibrillator is an electrical device which can be used to help restart someone’s heart.
CPR on its own is unlikely to restart someone’s heart, however it will increase the chance of a
defibrillator being successful.
1 Covid19 guidelines mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

27. 27
Commence CPR
While an ambulance is being called, you should
immediately commence CPR
1. First, you should give 30 chest compressions
2. Place your hands in the centre of the person’s
chest, over the breastbone (sternum)
3. Interlock your fingers
4. Push down 30 times at a rate of 100 - 120
compressions / minute
If it helps sing the well-Known children's Song :
Baby Shark

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CPR: Chest Compressions
Ensure your elbows are locked and your shoulders positioned above the chest.
Push down to a depth of 5 – 6cm
Ensure you release fully after each compression. Do not ‘lean’ on the victim’s chest.

30. CPR: Rescue Breaths
If you have been trained in CPR and are willing to, give two rescue breaths after every thirty chest
compressions.
Tilt the patient’s head backwards, life their chin and then pinch their nose
Make a seal over their mouth and breath in for approximately one second. Do not over-inflate the
patient’s chest – you are not blowing up a balloon!
1 Covid19 guidelines mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

31. • Continue the cycle of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths until help arrives.
• If there is more than one first aider, swap over doing chest compressions every two
minutes.
• If a defibrillator arrives it should be used immediately.
CPR
1 Covid19 guidelines mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

32. For Children:
It can be more beneficial to give five initial breaths followed by cycles of
30:2 compressions and breaths.
For Babies and small infants – use your index and middle finger to
press down to a third of the chest capacity.
For small children – use one hand for compressions, again to a third of
the child's chest capacity
 For a larger child – Use two hands like in adult CPR.
Use your own judgement based on the size and weight of a child.
1 Covid19 guideline mean assisting with breathing is optional if covid19 is suspected

33. You only continue to do this part of the
assessment if your patient has a heartbeat and is
breathing.

34. Disability:
If your patient has someone with them or are known to you, this part of the assessment is
easier, if not you may need to try to investigate to find out what factors may have caused the
Individual to Collapse?
It could be:
 Diabetes? - Is their blood sugar low or high?
 Suffering from anaphylaxis? - have they been exposed to something that causes an allergic
reaction?
 Asthmatic issues? - do they need their inhaler or respiratory medication?
 Have they had a head trauma? Are you aware of a stroke or head injury?
 Have they had a heart attack? - do they have a known heart condition or are on blood
thinning medication?
 Have they consumed alcohol?
 Have they taken drugs?

35. Exposure :
Once you have exhausted all the above reasons for a collapse, you must begin to visually inspect the
patient.
•Have they got a wound that may be bleeding?
•Are they feeling hot or cold?
•Are there any obvious visual issues that may cause a loss of consciousness?
There are multiple reasons why someone can become unconscious and it is important to have a little
knowledge to that can buy precious time to preserve lives, If you cannot resolve something with a simple
solution you should place the patient into the recovery position and continue to observe for
deterioration until help has arrived.
You must always be ready to give CPR as an individual's health may decline rapidly and unexpectedly.
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36. What is the Recovery Position?
The recovery position is a safe position for patients who are unconscious. The recovery position
helps to protect the victim’s airway. For this reason, the recovery position is also known as the Safe
Airway Position (SAP).
The recovery position should be used when the patient is unconscious but breathing normally.
If the patient is not breathing normally then CPR should be commenced immediately.

37. The Recovery Position
1. Kneel by the victim’s waist
2. Place the hand nearest you at right angles
3. Grasp the hand furthest to you, place the
back of their hand against their cheek closest
to you
4. Lift the leg furthest away from you at the
knee and place their foot on the floor
5. Using their knee as a lever, pull the person
onto their side
6. Ensure their head is still tilted back and they
are on their side

38. The Recovery Position
Once the person is in the recovery position call for emergency medical help if this has not
been done already!
Recheck the patient’s airway and breathing every few minutes until the ambulance arrives.
If they stop breathing, immediately inform emergency medical services and commence
CPR.
Keep the patient warm and dry if you can until medical help arrives.

39. The Recovery Position

40. • Inform next of kin, if possible and if they are not present.
• Always complete a detailed report which should include:
– Details of the incident
– Location of the incident
– Date and time of the incident
– Who was involved
– What was done
– Who was notified
As soon as possible:

41. Any Questions