First Aid and Rescue
Definition of First Aid
First aid is the immediate and temporary care given to a person who has been suddenly taken ill or injured. It is the care administered by a concerned person as soon as possible after an accident or illness. It is this prompt care and attention that sometimes means the difference between life and death, or between a full or partial recovery.
First aid has limitations – YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR - but it is an essential and vital part of the total medical concept. FIRST AID SAVES LIVES! ...ask any ambulance officer or doctor who works in the emergency medical field.
Roles of First Aid
1. It is the bridge that fills the gap between victim and the physician.
2. It ends when the services of the physician begins.
3. It is not intended to compete with nor take the place of a physician.
Objectives of First Aid
1. Alleviate suffering
2. Prolong life
3. Prevent added injury or danger
Characteristics of a Good First Aider
1. Observant - should notice all signs
2. Resourceful - makes use of things at hand
3. Gentle - should not cause pain
4. Tactful - should not alarm the victim
5. Sympathetic - should be comforting
6. Cheerful - inspires and develops confidence
