First aid saves lives
SEPTEMBER 10, 2016, is World First Aid Day, a global observance to raise awareness of the importance of first aid training in preventing injuries and saving lives in everyday and crisis situations, as well as promote the accessibility of first aid to all, including the most vulnerable – children, the disabled and the elderly.
Held every second Saturday of September, the observance was instituted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2000 and has been celebrated each year ever since. The 2016 theme is “First Aid Saves Lives. Learn First Aid. Be a Hero.”
“First aid” refers to assistance given to anyone suffering a sudden injury or illness, to preserve life and prevent the condition from worsening. It is not always performed by medical personnel. In emergency situations, ordinary people have to do first aid to save lives. The key three-point aims of first aid, also called “3Ps” are: Preserve life, Prevent further harm or danger of further injury, and Promote recovery.
Most first aid techniques are simple but have saved millions of lives. In emergencies, 90 percent of lives are saved by first responders. Millions of people are hurt or killed by injuries every year due to inadequate response or lack of timely assistance. First aid is providing initial care when someone is sick or injured, usually carried out by an ordinary person until medical experts or an ambulance arrives. It can reduce deaths and injuries and improve the chances of survival.
Peoples and communities are encouraged to undergo basic first aid training such as for treating shock, bleeding and wounds, burns, choking, eye injury, fainting, and heat stroke, to effectively respond to common injuries, accidents, and sudden illnesses. Each year, more than 100 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide deliver practical training to communities. For over 100 years, first aid has been a main service provided by Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers; they train more than 14 million people worldwide every year.
The Philippine Red Cross, affiliated with IFRC and Red Crescent Societies worldwide, holds first aid and basic life support training for its staff. It has 52,444 trained volunteer first aiders who can be tapped to provide emergency first aid care to patients during mass casualty incidents, such as strong earthquakes, disasters, and emergencies.