GENERAL FIRST AID PRINCIPLES
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID
AIMS OF FIRST AID
First Aid is the initial help provided to a casualty suffering from illness or injury prior to arrival of medical help. First Aid emergencies generally
happen unexpectedly and can be distressing for the untrained rescuer. By simply following basic First Aid management techniques, a First Aider
can make a big difference to the well-being of a casualty.
The 4 Primary aims of First Aid are:
PRESERVE LIFE – PROTECT UNCONSCIOUS CASUALTES – PREVENT THE CONDITION WORSENING – PROMOTE RECOVERY
PRESERVE LIFE – This might be the provision of CPR for someone who has stopped breathing
PROTECT THE UNCONSCIOUS – This could involve placing an unconscious casualty into the recovery position to keep their airway clear
PREVENT THE CONDITION WORSENING – By controlling bleeding or cooling a burn, the condition will not get worse
PROMOTE RECOVERY – by raising the legs for someone who has fainted, they can recover quickly.
LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Litigation
It is often a concern of First Aiders that they might do something wrong and be sued for these mistakes. There has yet to be a successful law suit against a First Aider in Australia
A first aider is protected as a “Good Samaritan” in most states and territories – the wrongs act 1958 (Victoria), the civil liability Act 2002 (NSW) the wrongs act 1936 (SA) of legislation are examples of this. This protection is valid if:
- Only providing care that they are trained to deliver
- Working to the best of their ability and with reasonable care
- Acting in good faith and in the best interests of the casualty
It is important that a First Aider does not attempt to provide care that is beyond their level of training.
DUTY OF CARE
Duty of Care in First Aid is the legal responsibility to look after a person when they are injured or ill.
A workplace first aider has a duty of care to look after people in their workplace in the event they are sick or injured.
A workplace First Aider or other person or bystander does not have a duty of care in a public place. It is a choice to help in
this situation but once a person has committed to help, a duty of care begins. This duty of care ends only when one of the
following occurs.
1) The casualty recovers and no longer needs help
2) A Paramedic or other medical professional takes over from you.
3) It becomes dangerous for you to continue
4) You have become Physically incapable of continuing care due to fatigue
Australian states and most Territories abide by this principle but some territories in Australia may place a duty on First
Aiders in a public place, so it is advisable to check with your authority. The Northern Territory has laws in place that require
those who are trained and able to help in First aid to do so if safe.
CONSENT
A first aider requires the consent of a casualty to provide first aid to them. If a casualty refuses help but is seriously unwell
or injured, it is best to call 000 and get assistance while continuing to reassure and monitor the casualty until help arrives.
Consent is implied where a casualty is conscious but unable to communicate or when they are unconscious and First aid
assistance is provided as needed.
INCIDENT REPORTS / REGISTER OF INJURIES
A designated First Aider who has provided First Aid care in the workplace must complete an incident report as soon as
possible after the event. A register of injuries may need to be completed. Each workplace will have an incident report form
and maintain a register of injuries. These reports must be kept confidential.
First Aid carried out in public areas don’t require the completion of reports, however Police may need a statement from
the first Aider or witness to certain events and a brief handover to Paramedics may need to be made where a First aider would provide any details about the casualty, including prior medical history, describe what they have witnessed or assessed and any treatment provided.
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL
To minimize cross infection, it is good practice for first aiders to have barriers such as gloves and resuscitation masks within easy access. These help to avoid the spread of bodily fluids between casualty and the first aider. Bodily fluids that could be present include: blood, urine, faeces, saliva & vomit. In some industries, eye protection and face masks may also be used to prevent splash-back and maintaining. Vaccinations against certain conditions like Hepatitis B may be advisable in some industries as well. After providing first Aid, especially where there has been bodily fluid present, it is a good idea to clean and wash hands, arms and any other areas where contact may have occurred.
When dealing with wounds on a casualty, the gloves a First Aider wears not only protects them, but also provides clean contact with the wound which minimizes further infection. Cleaning wounds well and using sterile dressings to cover them where possible, also reduces the risk of further infection.
CHAIN OF SURVIVAL
The chain of survival highlights the key steps in ensuring the best outcome in a cardiac arrest emergency.
Early Access – Call 000 / 112 – the quicker the call is made, the quick the Ambulance arrives
Early CPR – to buy time by sustaining life until the Ambulance arrives
Early Defibrillation – within nor more than 10 minutes giving the best chance of restoring the heart to normal rhythm
ALS – Advanced life support provided by paramedics – to stabilize the casualty for safe transport to hospital