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DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this document has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable at the time and is presented here as a study aid and for general information use only. This information is not intended to replace or supercede the information or procedures outlined in your first aid textbook, other officially issued study materials or government published acts or legislative documents.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, the authors are not responsible for any loss, liability, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by any person in connection with the information contained on this site, or by anyone who receives first aid treatment from a reader or user of this information. |
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First aid is often thought of in context to injuries only. When someone becomes very sick it can lead to a medical emergency and if first aid is used it may save a life.
Illnesses vary. Some illnesses come on very fast such as heart attacks and strokes. Illness such as cancer may come on slower and progressively get worse. In this case, you can see the person is getting worse but it may be difficult to detect when to call for medical assistance.
Indicators to help decide when to get medical assistance for an ill person:
- Problems breathing or signs of heart problems
- Sudden severe pain in any part of the body
- Sudden changes in vision, headache or dizziness
- Severe or persistent diarrhea or vomiting
- Persistent high temperature
- Changes in level of consciousness
- Skin rash of unknown origin
- Repeated fainting
- Obvious depression, suicide threats or attempts
- Whenever you are very worried about yourself or someone in your care
If the ill person is an infant (under one year old), these are some additional reasons to get medical attention:
- You think the baby is having trouble breathing or is severely congested
- The baby has a fever
- The baby has had or is having a seizure
- The baby is blue or very pale
- The baby cries a lot, or won’t stop crying
You need to get information about a casualty in order to conduct first aid actions. When you first arrive at the scene, you are looking for information, signs and symptoms about the history of the incident.
History is the information about the emergency situation and the condition of the casualty. Take a look at the scene, talk to witnesses and talk to the casualty (if he/she is conscious). This is the way to find out what has happened.
You also have to look at signs of the casualty by using your senses. You can see, hear, feel and smell signs of injury or illness.
Symptoms are things the casualty feels and may be able to describe. You cannot discover symptoms on your own – the casualty must somehow communicate them to you.
| Assessment at the scene: |
| History |
Condition of a vehicle, what bystanders have seen, what casualty and bystanders tell you, objects and substances at the scene and time of the day |
| See |
Blood, deformity in body, bruising, pupils not the same, painful expression, sweating, wounds, heavy breathing or not breathing, skin discoloration, swelling, vomiting etc. |
| Hear |
Noisy or distressed breathing, groans, sucking wounds (chest injury), |
| Feel |
Temperature of the skin, dampness on body or clothes, swelling and/or deformity. |
| Smell |
Breath, vomit, incontinence, fumes from gas, burning, solvents, chemicals and/or glue. |
| Tell |
Casualties should tell you about any pain, fear, heat, cold, loss of regular movement, thirst, feeling nauseous, faintness, stiffness, memory loss, weak, dizzy etc. |
The breathing, pulse (circulation), level of consciousness and temperature are all vital signs because they show the condition of the casualty. If any of these signs are irregular then chances are the casualty is not in good shape but if they seem pretty normal then the injury may not be so severe and the casualty may be in pretty good shape. |
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