Basic First Aid

The importance of first aid information and training has been highlighted in a

great number of studies. However, in our country, the number of people equipped

with knowledge and skills related to first aid is still not enough. Increasing the

number of people with first aid information and skills will serve three purposes of

first aid: keeping alive, preventing the condition from worsening, and promoting

recovery. Thousands of people lose their lives or suffer because of late, inadequate

or improper first aid intervention. The period between the time of incident and

arrival time of healthcare professionals plays an important role in survival of the

victim. For instance, while airways obstruction kills an individual in a very short

time (3-4 minutes), it may take an ambulance more than 8 minutes to arrive at

the scene. That is why people at the scene may have to do first aid without losing

time. To do basic first aid, there is a need for basic knowledge of first aid. This

four-week course includes the following components:

Week 1. Basics of First Aid: Definition of first aid, key skills, chain of survival,

ABCs of first aid, scene of the incident, primary and secondary assessment of the

victim.

Week 2. Adult Basic Life Support: Basic interventions for breathing and

circulation support

Week 3. Pediatric Basic Life Support: First aid in airway obstruction, basic

interventions for breathing and circulation support

Wee4. First Aid for Bleeding and Chest Injuries: Definition of bleeding, types of

bleeding, first aid interventions for bleeding, and bleeding for chest injuries