There are several Basic First Aid questions and answers. Here are some of the most important.
What are the three most important considerations in basic emergency first aid? The three important considerations in basic emergency first aid are stopping bleeding, restoring breathing, and treating for shock. These are the life threatening circumstances that must be addressed even before help is summoned. It will do no good run for help if the patient is dead when it arrives.
Should the use of a tourniquet be part of basic first aid in the control of bleeding? The answer to that should most likely be no. The only time a tourniquet should be used in a first aid situation is in the case of a major injury such as a severed limb. Such a case would hardly qualify as basic first aid. However, the true definition of first aid should include the idea that it is what to do first in a process that has the ultimate goal of saving a life. So, when a tourniquet is the only way to stop the bleeding, it is first aid by definition.
Do you have to be licensed to perform CPR? This answer again touches on ethics. It is a good idea to take formal training and be licensed for CPR. In a perfect world everyone would know how to do it. Many jobs and positions require a license. If you are faced with a person who is not breathing, and no one else is there, the question of a license is not significant.
Why is treatment of shock a basic first aid consideration? Shock is the body’s reaction to trauma. It is a life threatening condition. The two important steps in the treatment of shock are keeping the patient warm and lifting the feet. The lifting of the feet is as simple as placing a blanket and rolled up coat under the feet. Since these two things are so easy to accomplish quickly, it should always be addressed in first aid.
How much training is required to perform basic first aid? The most basic principles of first aid can be taught to anyone very quickly. On the other hand, no amount of training would be considered too much by anyone in a position where basic first aid might be their responsibility. This would include pretty much anyone from parents to doctors.
by John Grimes
