Injuries, accidents, and bleeding are often associated with the feelings of paranoia. No matter how much you try to stay calm during the situation, you can’t help but feel a shiver down your spine. Even with years of first aid training, many individuals often panic in case of an emergency.
The thought of someone else’s wellbeing lying in their hands only adds to their anxiety and they often end up doing more harm than good. Accidents and injuries come unannounced, which is why it’s better to be prepared!
Here are some basic principles of first aid that’ll help you the next time you’re giving first aid to someone.
1. Don’t Panic
First things first, don’t panic! It’ll only cloud your thinking, causing you to make more mistakes. One way of calming your nerves is by telling yourself that even if you’re unprepared, there’s still something you can do to minimize the suffering of the victim. Instead of standing there helplessly, try helping the victim or reach out to someone who can!
2. Analyze the Situation before Doing Anything
Don’t act on the first thought that comes to your mind. Analyze the situation and the victim’s medical condition before doing anything. If you’re unsure of what to do in a certain situation, look for someone who’s trained for the purpose. Only attempt treatments you’re absolutely sure about and not otherwise. Never attempt to remove embedded objects like knives and nails as you can rupture a nerve while doing so.
If there’s absolutely nothing you can do, call for help and stay with the injured person until paramedics arrive.
3. Every Minute Counts
In case of medical emergencies like strokes and heart attacks, every minute counts. By the time the victim realizes that his chest pain might be associated with a heart attack, his condition has already reaches a critical stage!
This brings us to another important principle of the first aid—if you know someone who has a previous history of heart conditions and is complaining about chest pain; take them to the nearest medical facility immediately. Similarly, if someone is experiencing some sort of focal weakness in their arms, limbs, and facial muscles, they might be experiencing early symptoms of strokes. In either case, delaying medical care isn’t an option!
With proper first aid training, you’ll be able to better handle medical emergencies and can save the lives of people around you.
Metro Safety offers comprehensive first aid training for first aid treatment and CPR. We also offer workplace safety courses to help working individuals identify the potential hazards around their workplace.
Call us at 604-521-4227 for details regarding courses!
