First aid supply companies, services and training
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR), emergency procedure used to treat victims of cardiac and respiratory arrest. Special training is recommended for CPR, which combines external heart massage (to keep the blood flowing through the body) with artificial respiration (to keep air flowing in and out of the lungs). The victim is placed face up and prepared for artificial respiration. The person administering CPR places his or her hands (one on top of the other, with fingers interlocked) heel down on the victim's breastbone, leans forward, and presses down rhythmically about 60 times a minute. This procedure is alternated with mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.
FIRST AID
Temporary emergency measures serving to assist the victim of sudden illness or injury until more skillful treatment is available. The purpose of first aid is to ease the victim's pain and anxiety and to prevent deterioration of his or her condition. In extreme cases first aid may be required to prevent death before medical assistance can be obtained.
First-aid measures vary according to the needs of the victim and the knowledge and skill of the person giving the treatment. Knowing what not to do in an emergency is as important as knowing what to do, because a first-aid measure misapplied may lead to serious complications. In an acute attack of appendicitis, for example, even a mild cathartic or the application of heat to relieve pain endangers the patient.
Despite the wide variety of possible injuries, several principles of first aid apply in general to all emergencies. Avoiding panic or undue haste is important. Unless the position of the victim exposes him or her to further harm, the victim should not be moved until the nature of the injury has been determined. A competent person trained in first aid may examine the victim for wounds, burns, and fractures. The victim, if conscious, should be reassured that medical aid has been summoned. The victim's head should be kept at body level unless the person complains of difficulties in breathing; in the absence of a skull or spine injury, the victim's head and shoulders may be raised slightly to make the person more comfortable. If vomiting occurs, the head may be turned to one side. No liquids should be given to an unconscious person. Immediate relief must be provided in such serious conditions as asphyxia, severe bleeding, and poisoning in order to prevent loss of life.
Whatever the injury, in severe cases the victim must be protected against shock. Shock is the depressed condition of many body functions due to the failure of enough blood to circulate through the body following serious injury. The symptoms of shock are restlessness or irritability, pale and clammy skin, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, and bluish lips. These symptoms may not be apparent immediately, as shock may develop several hours after the accident. To avoid this serious complication, which may result in death, the victim should lie down in a comfortable position and be kept warm by using blankets or coats when necessary in order to maintain a normal body temperature. Food and drinks should not be given.
The emergencies most frequently requiring first aid are caused by accidents involving asphyxiation, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, poisoning, burns, heatstroke and heat exhaustion, fainting and coma, sprains and fractures, and animal bite.