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A short summary on CPR
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CPRBasic first-aid skills
What is first aid?
The term ‘first aid’ means that it is the first aid or assistance
that is given to an injured or ill person. It is given immediately
at the site of the accident, and helps to stabilise the person
until professional medical staff arrive on the scene and can
take over.
First aid relating to water accidents
The main aim of any first aid is to preserve life, with the three
essential components being a person’s breathing, heartbeat
and blood. In serious cases with multiple injuries, for instance.
You would therefore first attend to these three (e.g. get water
out of the lungs, get the person breathingand heart beating
again, and stop serious blood loss) before attending to the
other injuries. The basic order is called the ABC of first aid,
which stands for airway, breathing, and circulation. Other
practitioners use the 3Bs: breathing, bleeding and bones.
Mnemonics like these remind people of what to do first in an
emergency. Breathing is the most important component –
without sufficient oxygen to the brain, lasting brain damage
may occur and the person may become severly disabled.
However, the situation may call for the different components of
aid to happen almost simultaneously. ( For instance, if blood is
spurting from the wounds of the unconscious victim of a shark
attack, you could in a few precious seconds first try to stem
the flow of blood before checking the person’s breathing.)
, When rushing to assist a victim of a water - related accident,
quickly check first whether your life will not be in danger as
well. For example, there may be a live electric cable in the
swimming pool where the person has been electrocuted. First
switch off the current, otherwise you too will be shocked when
touching them.
A: Clear the Airway
The airway consists of the nose, mouth, pharynx and lungs.
Something may obstruct the free flow of air into the lungs:
• An object is lodged in the throat
• Water, vomit or chemical has been inhaled
• The person may be unconscious and the part of the brain
that regulates breathing is not functioning.
Slapping
If the person is choking on an object (e.g. a piece of food or
chewing gum), slap the person firmly between the shoulder
blades while he or she is standing. (A very small child can be
held over your knee.) Slap once or twice only – if you keep on
slapping, the object may be driven deeper into the windpipe,
which could be fatal.
Heimlich manoeuvre
If a slap does not hekp to dislodge an object and the person is
still choking, this manoeuvre could save his or her life but you
will have to act fast. Stand directly behind the person and fold
your arms around his or her diaphragm (just under the ribs).
Grip your wrists or hands and jerk your arms firmly towards
you. Hopefully the object lodged in the windpipe will be
expelled the moment the lungs are compressed.
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