What are the General Principles of First Aid?

Disasters bring about injuries and other serious health maladies in large numbers of individuals. The first-aid team must make a reconnaissance of the area in order to assess:

i. The likely number of causalities;

ii. The nature of injuries;

iii. The presence of local hazard e.g. fire, floods, live electric wires, escape gases.

General Principles of First-Aid

The general principles of first aid are:

i. Rescue and removal of the casualty in the shortest possible time without aggravating existing health situation.

ii. First aid should be confined to essentials only.

iii. Immediate arrest of hemorrhage.

iv. Restoration of respiration and circulation.

v. Prevention of impending shock and treatment of shock if the victim is already in such a state.

vi. Immobilization of simple and compound fractures and dislocations.

vii. Alleviation of pain by simple procedures and medication.

viii. Assurance of getting well quickly to the victim and moral boosting.