First Aid for Everyone

First Aid usually refers to the provision of initial care for an illness or injury, this term First Aid is an umbrella that covers many different options. Everyone has seen a first aid kit whether it was on the wall at a school or in their kitchen cupboard or in their camping supplies.

Some may wonder where did this term come from?

Early records from the 11th Century show that first aid was performed by religious knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller, who provided care to pilgrims and knights, and training other knights in how to treat common battlefield injuries.  Most people have heard of and are aware of organisations like the Red Cross founded in 1863, St. John Ambulance formed in 1877 and the American Red Cross in 1881, all of these wonderful organisations were created from and based on the ethical values and principles of the Knights Hospitaller.

The key objective of first aid can be summarized in three key areas:-

Preserve life: The overriding objective of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives!

Prevent further harm: This is sometimes referred to preventing the condition from worsening, or danger of further injury, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.

Promote recovery:  First aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury; this may involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound.

Often a generic First Aid kit can be purchased at a superstore or a pharmacy. They often contain many of the following; adhesive bandages, compressing dressings, scissors, adhesive cloth tape, antiseptic wipes, cold compress, tweezers, space blanket, ointment packets, gauze pads and gloves. Obviously each basic First Aid kit will vary and depending on the size and price of the kit the amount of each item will differ.

These types of First Aid kits that are easily accessible to the general public and provide the tools to the buyer so that they can administer First Aid to themselves or those around them. For example, these First Aid kits are equipped with the tools to administer aid for surface cuts, grazes, scratches, splinters and more.

Another type of First Aid would be Emergency First Aid. This type of First Aid is administered by an individual who is qualified with the knowledge and tools to act in an emergency situation. For most people in an emergency the best act of First Aid is to dial 911 and stay calm. Emergency First Aid training can be received through organizations such as mentioned above, inclduing others such as National Safety Council and American Heart Association. Essential training includes learning and knowing how to administer CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), clearing airway passages, splinting a broken bone and controlling bleeding. Emergency First Aid can save lives and in many cases when an ambulance cannot arrive in time people with Emergency First Aid Training can use their knowledge and training to prevent further serious complications. 

Mostly First Aid is performed by a non-expert, but by someone who has some basic training to attend to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.

The term First Aid generally refers to the area of human patients but is also performed on animals.