Basic First Aid

Basic First Aid

Ideally, you should enrol in a recognised first aid course so you can learn techniques such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation under proper supervision. This will make you confident and capable of using first aid if you have to.

If a victim has spinal injuries, moving them may only worsen their injuries. You should never move a collision victim unless it is absolutely necessary.

The only instances where you should move someone before medical help arrives are when

• The person is trapped in a vehicle that is on fire or in danger of catching fire
• it is necessary to move them to:
  • give CPR
  • give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
  • stop severe bleeding.

If the patient is bleeding badly, you should try to stop or reduce the bleeding:

• Raise the part of the body that is bleeding. This will take some of the blood away from the wound.
• Apply pressure to the wound, preferably with thick, folded fabric, such as a towel or an item of clothing.