Summarised Notes for Option 1 – First Aid

Resource Description

Option 1 – First aid

FQ1 – What are the main priorities for assessment and management of first aid patients

Priorities

1. Breathing
2. Bleeding
3. Burns
4. Breaks

Primary survey 

D – Danger

R – Response (COWS, Can you hear me, Open your eyes, What’s your name, Squeeze my hand)

S – Send for help (000, 112)

A – open Airway

B – normal Breathing (LLF, Look, Listen, Feel)

C – CPR

D – Defibrillator (as soon as available)

The primary survey refers to danger, response, airway, breathing, CPR and defibrillation. If the victim demonstrates signs of life throughout any step, they are to be placed in the recovery position.

Describe: Danger refers to checking the mouth and throat for blockages and remove with their fingers. Look inside their mouth, see if you can see anything that could potentially block the airways and roll them over into the recovery position. Then use their fingers to remove any of the blockage visible.

Explain: CPR refers to cardiopulmonary resuscitation which is manually pumping the heart. Place your hand in the middle of the sternum, and pushdown with straight arms to one third of the depth of the chest. The Brain can only survive around 6 minutes without oxygen. By performing CPR, you are manually pumping the residual oxygenated blood to the major organs, specifically the brain. Keeping the individual alive.

Critically analyse: Response refers to checking response to determine the victim’s level of consciousness. Check victim’s level of consciousness by asking questions or giving commands such as ‘can you hear me?’ and ‘what is your name?’ The positive of checking for a response is that you are able to determine the patient’s level of consciousness. The negative is that gasping or involuntary jerking could be mistaken as responsiveness. A recommendation is to not only verbally seek a response buy also demand a physical response such as ‘squeeze my hand’ or ‘open your eyes’ this will confirm whether the patient is conscious or unconscious.

Evaluate the effectiveness: Danger refers to checking for danger to yourself, bystanders and the friend. For example, check for gas, live electricity, tools, wires, oil, car, car exhaust. Checking for danger is significantly important so that you do not also end up getting hurt and are unable to help the other person or that the other person does not get injured further decreasing their chance of survival. Having two or more people helping you to check for danger makes it more time effective so that you can get to the patient quicker.

S.T.O.P

Stop regime

If you have established that there is no danger to life, use the STOP regime to assess the severity of other injuries such as injury to ligaments, tendons and muscle.

STOP is an acronym for:

• Stop
• Talk
• Observe
• Prevent further injury

Stop – Stop the athlete from participating or moving. Stop the game if necessary.

Talk – Talk to the injured athlete:

• What happened?
• How did it happen?
• What did you feel?
• Where does it hurt?
• Does it hurt anywhere else?
• Have you injured this part before?

Observe – Observe the following while talking to the athlete.

General:

• Is the athlete distressed?
• Is the athlete lying in an unusual position/posture?

Injury site:

• Is there any swelling?
• Is there any deformity?
• Is there any difference when compared to the other side/limb>
• Is there tenderness when touched?
• Does it hurt to move the injured part?

Prevent:

Severe injury Suspected head, facial, spinal, chest, abdomen injuries, fractures or major bleeding	Get help. Get professional help; don’t move the athlete	Keep onlookers away Comfort the athlete until professional help arrives
Less severe Soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains and muscle bruises	RICER regime. The first 48 hours are vital with soft tissue injuries	Rest Ice Compression Elevation Referral
Minor injuries Bumps and bruises that do not impair performance	Play on. A few words of encouragement will help.	Monitor any such injuries. Minor injuries should also be managed using the RICER regime.

and more..