Simple First Aid Techniques

Hello friends in the @steem4nigeria community. I'm here to participate in this creative and educative contest titled "Simple First Aid Techniques," and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to @eveetim For this contest.

First aid can be defined as the immediate or temporary treatment carried out in cases of emergency, sudden illness, or accident before the arrival of the doctor or the transportation of the patient to the hospital. First aid is important because it preserves and saves lives, prevents worsening of conditions, and promotes recovery of the victim in need of the first aid.

The simple first aid I know and I learned includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), wound and dressing, burn treatment, and fracture immobilization.

CPR should be used to resuscitate a person who has cardiac arrest or has difficulty in breathing; it can be used even in acute myocardial infarction (death of the middle layer of the heart).

Wound care should be carried out when there are cuts, scrapes, surgical incisions, or bleeding on a patient's skin.

Burns treatment Should be carried out if a person is exposed to heat, chemical, or electrical injuries.

Fracture immobilization is carried out when there is a suspected break in the continuity of bones in or outside the body.

Note that in every procedure you carry out, you must wash your hands and use your surgical gloves and facemask to avoid the spread of infections.

CPR procedures:

• Clear the airway and place the patient on his back

• wipe away foreign substance out of his mouth

• Place the palm of one hand under the chin and tilt to bring it forward (this position prevents obstruction of the airway by the tongue).

• Give 30 chest compressions.

• Tilt the head of the victim and pinch the nose.

• Place your mouth over the victim's mouth and give two full breaths. You can use a clean kerchief as a barrier between your mouth and the victim's mouth. Remove your mouth and allow the victim to exhale.

• Repeat the procedure until the victim is revived or help arrives.

Wound care procedures

• First of all, you have to visualize and inspect the area to know the degree of the wound, if it is just a simple cut or a deep wound.

• The wound must be covered immediately with a clean dressing to prevent infections.

• Clean the wound inside out (from the inside of the wound to the surface of the skin) with a sterile cotton wool swab.

• Repeat the procedure until the wound is clean.

• Apply antiseptic if you have, e.g., hydrogen peroxide or Savlon.

• Cover the wound with gauze and bandage.

Burns procedures:

• Put out the flames from the victim's body or surroundings immediately.

• After the flames are extinguished, lay the patients down on a bed or couch and examine the burnt area to assess the level of burns on the skin.

• Do not try to remove any clothing that may be sticking around the burnt area.

• Cover the area with a clean piece of material.

• Keep the burn dry and do not attempt to apply any lotion on it.

• Try to reassure the victim that everything will be fine, as he/she may be restless and afraid. You can offer them a tea to sip to keep them comfortable while waiting for the arrival of the doctor.

• You can also give pain relief if the victims cannot endure the pains.

Fracture immobilization procedures:

There are different areas in the body where fractures can occur, such as the head, spine, leg, and arms, etc., and therefore different procedures to be carried out, so I will talk about the procedures for arm fractures.

• The victim/patient should be kept lying down or kept in a comfortable position suitable for the fracture site.

• Any visible wound should be covered immediately to avoid the spread of infections.

• If bleeding is present, it must be stopped immediately in order to prevent shock and other complications.

• Immobilize the injured part either by using a bandage or mechanical splinting to mobilize the arm, and you can use a splint like a scarf, towel, cardigan, or jacket to prevent direct pressure on the injured part.

• You then arrange transportation of the victim to the hospital using an ambulance, car, stretcher, or any vehicle of your choice.

Not really, but I have assisted doctors and nurses to carry out first aid procedures, and here is one of my experiences: it was a wound dressing procedure where a man's toe was completely destroyed because he mistakenly cut the toe with his cutlass while farming. It was actually a little cut, but since the man was a diabetic patient, the cut became gangrenous and spread all over the man's big toe, and when the man could rush to the hospital, it was too late because it had spread, and the doctor had to amputate his toe so it wouldn't expand to other toes and then began to dress his wound. I almost fainted in the process of the amputation, but I didn't.

I think everyone should learn basic first aid skills because this knowledge can save lives, not just anyone's life, but also the lives of their loved ones at home before rushing them to the hospital. It promotes quick recovery even before you arrive at the hospital, and you may not spend too much money on the bills because you have already done part of their job. It boosts our confidence even when we are in danger because it will empower us to take action and not panic in critical moments. I hope this article will educate and bring impact to someone reading it today.

Thank you.

In this contest I invite

@ngoenyi
@dorismos
@bossj23