GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID

1. First aid is the immediate treatment given to the victim of an accident or sudden illness, before medical help is obtained.

2. The Aims of First Aid

First aid has three main aims:  They are as follows

  • To preserve life
  • To promote recovery, and
  • To prevent worsening of the casualty's condition.
Arrange transportation to hospital, if necessary.

First aid is based on scientific medicine and surgery.  It is skilled assistance.  But the First Aider is not a doctor.  After the doctor takes charge the First Aider's responsibility ends.  He can then stand by to help the doctor.  

The First Aider should observe carefully, think clearly, and act quickly.  He should ask someone to call a doctor or inform hospital immediately giving some details of cases involved.  While waiting for the doctor, he should give First aid methodically.

3.  The Scope of First Aid

  • The first Aider should examine the casualty to know the details of injuries and their nature.  This is known as Diagnosis.
  • The Diagnosis will give him an idea of the treatment to be given untill the doctor takes charge.
  • The next step is to send the casualty to his house or to a hospital, as the case may be, in suitable manner.  This is known as Disposal.
4. Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a case is based on its history, signs and symptoms.

  • History of the  case is the story of the accident namely how the accident actually occurred.  The casualty will give the history.  If he is unconscious, someone who save the accident will help.  The surroundings will add to the information, like an abandoned scooter or a broken pillar near the place and its condition.
  • Symptoms are what the casualty tells the First Aider, like pain, shivering, faintness etc.  Pain described by the casualty will lead the First Aider to the region of injury without waste of time.
  • Signs are what the First Aider feels and finds out for himself, like paleness, swelling of parts injured, bleeding, deformity of the limbs etc.  The training the First Aider has undergone will help him makes these observations correctly.
5. Treatment

It is in treating the casualty that the first aider's training will come into use.  The first aider should read this matter again and again lest he forgets the principles of treatment.  The main ideas are:


  • If the cause of the accident is still there, remove it, eg., a live electric wire, pillars or logs on body etc., or remove the casualty from the danger, e.g., a burning house, a room with poisonous gases etc.
  • See that the casualty is comfortable.  Promote recovery and see that the condition does not become worse.
  • The following conditions require the first aiders prompt attention, failure of breathing, stoppage of heart, severe bleeding and shock, poisoning, major burns, head injuries and fractures.
  • Continue treatment untill the doctor takes charge.
6. Disposal

 First you should take the casualty to very near place or  shelter.  The best,place is  hospital or casualty's house or nearest clinic. Take the casualty in the quickest transport.  A careful message should be given to his relatives about  his condition and also ask them which place should be taken or sent. Sometime other people will help in this regard. This will undertaken by the police which is their duty and they are  reliable.

7. Rules of First Aid

 The best advice to the first aider are:

  • You reach the place quickly where the accident took place to save casualty's life.
  • You should be quick and calm to save his life.  If you handle the casualty carelessly, it will lead to difficult in recovering.  
  • The following things are must:

         Is there difficult in breathing?
        Is there more bleeding?
         Is there severe shock or light?

  1. You should start respiration artificially, if he is not breathing properly.  
  2. You should immediately make stop bleeding by way of pressing the bleeding place with any pad.  You should press atleast for few minutes by observing watch.
  3. Immediately give treatment for shock.
  4. You should avoid handling him unnecessarily.
  • Uses of first aid equipment, if available:-  All passenger trains, some railway stations, lorries and buses keep them.  Make use of the material so obtained.  On most occasions standard first aid equipment will not be available.  You will have to depend on the material at hand and improvise them for your requirements.
  • Inspect the area.  Take the casualty away from live wires, fallen walls beams, fire, broken gas chambers, moving machinery etc., to a safer place.  
  • Clear the crowd with nice words.  Do not allow people to crowd around the casualty.  The casualty needs fresh air, if a doctor is present, he will guide you.  Any other first aider must be asked to help.  If otherwise take the assistance of bystanders giving them, correct instructions.
  • Note the weather, if it is fine i.e., without rain or heat or a cold breeze, treat in the open.  Otherwise move the casualty into an airy room.  If no suitable house or a doctor's clinic is nearby, it is best to protect the casualty with an umbrella or a sheet of cloth or even a newspaper.
  • Reassure the casualty.  Soft words and encouraging talk will make the casualty take things easy and lie quietly.  These will help recovery.
  • Arrange for dispatch to the case of the doctor, or to the hospital.  At the same time intimate the relatives where the casualty is being taken to.
  • Do not attempt too much: you are only a first aider: give minimum assistance so that the condition does not become worse: and life can be saved. 

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