Objectives and Principles of First Aid

First Aid training to have real value must be entirely practical. Its only purpose to reach is to teach non-medical personnel how to apply common sense in helping their injured fellows. First Aid is not an abbreviated course in medical theory- rather it is intended to be a simple practical guide for effective action in time of emergency.

The objectives of First Aid are to preserve a life, to minimize the effects of injury, and to relieve pain and distress.

Before carrying out First Aid treatment it is necessary to find out what is wrong.

Listen carefully to the story of how the accident occurred; it may give valuable clues as to the probable nature of the injuries.

Ask the injured person to tell where he or she is hurt.

Examine the casualty quickly but systematically.

Look for bleeding to indicate wounds.

Feel the scalp for "bumps."

See if he or she is able to raise his head and move his neck without any pain. If he can do this his neck is not broken.

Ask him or her to lift each arm and leg separately. If a limb cannot be moved, run a hand gently along it looking for areas of tenderness or swelling.

Ask him or her to take a deep breath and cough. If he can do so without pain he is unlikely to have broken ribs or serious chest injury.

Ask him or her to "pull in his or her stomach" and "blow it out again." If he or she can do this without distress, he is probably free from "internal" injury.

Without moving or lifting the casualty run a firm hand down the centre line of his back. A tender spot may mean a broken spine.

In examining an injured person, it may be necessary to remove some clothing. Do not remove or destroy clothing unnecessarily, but if further access to a part is essential, do not hesitate to cut off the clothing sufficiently for the purpose. When removing a jacket, shirt, or trousers, always slip garment off the sound limb first, then off the injured limb.

A wound is any cut that bleeds. Wounds may be single or multiple, large or small, deep or shallow, ragged or clean cut, depending on whether they are caused by knives, bullets, flying glass, power-saw, rusty nail, can-opener, dog bite, or a sewing needle.

Robert. A . Mustard
"First Aid for Beginners."
Associated Content.