First Aid course - British School of Osteopathy 01.05.2013
Today I was refreshed on how to carry out first aid, which I was pleased to do because my first introduction was 6 years ago and I had forgotten several key points. It was primarily a resuscitation course,however we covered other important first aid tasks such as recovery positioning, aiding people who may be choking, fitting or having epileptic or an asthmatic attack.
The first step in first aid is assessing for danger by checking the surroundings are safe and shout for help if available. Next assess if the individual is breathing by listening at their mouth and watching the rise and fall of their chest. After ringing emergency services and finding that the patient is not breathing, resuscitation starts - 30 chest compressions with the application on the sternum) at a rate just faster than one per second. This is followed by two "mouth to mouth" breaths and the 30 chest compressions is repeated.
Anyone who is at risk of vomiting or swallowing should be put in a recovery position. If the casualty is supine, put their right hand (dorsum up) under their left cheek, bend their right knee up and, using the right knee and right elbow, roll the person onto their left hand side.
If the casualty is conscious, upright and choking, carry out up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades in an upwards motion. If choking persists, the first aider must stand behind the casualty, place one hand on top of the other above the person's belly button and squeeze-thrust in an upwards motion.
If someone is fitting, make them comfortable to prevent them from hurting themselves. Most fits diminish in 30seconds - ask the person if this is normal for them if you do not know the patient. If it is not normal, ring an ambulance. If they are having an asthma attack, try to ask them if they have their medicated inhalers with them as this can stop acutes attacks relatively quickly. If they do not have medication, you must call an ambulance for them to safely administer respiratory attack medication.
I benefited from recapping the basic first aid knowledge, and feel competent to help a casualty if it was required of me to do so.
(Awaiting certificate of completion and attendance)
The first step in first aid is assessing for danger by checking the surroundings are safe and shout for help if available. Next assess if the individual is breathing by listening at their mouth and watching the rise and fall of their chest. After ringing emergency services and finding that the patient is not breathing, resuscitation starts - 30 chest compressions with the application on the sternum) at a rate just faster than one per second. This is followed by two "mouth to mouth" breaths and the 30 chest compressions is repeated.
Anyone who is at risk of vomiting or swallowing should be put in a recovery position. If the casualty is supine, put their right hand (dorsum up) under their left cheek, bend their right knee up and, using the right knee and right elbow, roll the person onto their left hand side.
If the casualty is conscious, upright and choking, carry out up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades in an upwards motion. If choking persists, the first aider must stand behind the casualty, place one hand on top of the other above the person's belly button and squeeze-thrust in an upwards motion.
If someone is fitting, make them comfortable to prevent them from hurting themselves. Most fits diminish in 30seconds - ask the person if this is normal for them if you do not know the patient. If it is not normal, ring an ambulance. If they are having an asthma attack, try to ask them if they have their medicated inhalers with them as this can stop acutes attacks relatively quickly. If they do not have medication, you must call an ambulance for them to safely administer respiratory attack medication.
I benefited from recapping the basic first aid knowledge, and feel competent to help a casualty if it was required of me to do so.
(Awaiting certificate of completion and attendance)