Education: first aid
Immediate emergency assistance could mean the difference between life and death
BY KNOWING how to assist someone in need of urgent medical care you could save a life. You probably already know what first aid is – treating injured or sick people on the spot until professional medical help arrives.
Let’s find out more about this skill.
OBJECTIVES
First aid isn’t always a matter of life and death. It could be doing something minor, such as removing a glass splinter from someone’s finger and putting a plaster on it. But you might also have to provide first aid at an accident scene. Whatever the situation, the aim of first aid always is to preserve life, prevent further injury or illness, and promote recovery – the three Ps.
The golden rule when trying to help someone is to do so in a safe way. Even without any knowledge of first aid you can do the right thing, including supporting the injured, securing the area, immediately calling for medical help, asking bystanders to also assist and providing as much information as possible to ambulance staff when they arrive.
FIRST AID IN SOUTH AFRICA
It’s a good idea to get some knowledge of first aid. That way you’ll be ready to help in almost any emergency. Several organisations in our country supply training and emergency equipment (once you’ve done some training): S South African First Aid League firstaidleague. co.za, 012-644-0918 or 083-675-2720 S First Aid Academy firstaidacademy. co.za, 021-696-8292, 072-180-2303 or 083-496-4594 S St John Ambulance Service stjohn.org.za, 086-101-7404 S Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa www.resus.co.za, 011-478-3989
You can also ask at your school about learning first aid, or find out from your local municipality where you can do an accredited first-aid course.