First Aid

First aid is the set of immediate, on-the-spot actions and care performed to save the life of an injured person or to prevent their condition from worsening, carried out by a trained person on the injured person immediately after an accident and before the arrival of emergency services, until the doctor and rescue forces arrive and the person is taken to a treatment center.

The main goals of these actions are:

1- Preventing death (keeping the injured person alive) 2- Preventing and stopping the progression of pain, injuries, and subsequent complications 3- Reducing the injured person's pain and suffering until recovery 4- Preventing the worsening of a complication or the increase of the injury 5- These actions may include physical or psychological measures

Goals and duties

The goal of the rescuer is to save or keep alive the person or persons until they reach a treatment center, and the following points must be observed:

1- Staying calm 2- Moving the injured person from a high-risk environment to an environment with minimal safety (such as moving them out of a building that has caught fire) 3- Encouraging the injured person and avoiding weakening their morale (if necessary) 4- Checking the airways and vital signs 5- Determining the type of injuries and damage in order to determine the type of necessary actions 6- Controlling internal and external bleeding, signs of poisoning, fractures, and other injuries according to priority. 7- Providing comfort and ease for the patient until treatment facilities are available

Types of injuries requiring the presence of a rescuer

The most important cases that require the action of a rescuer include the following:

1- Poisoning 2- Unconsciousness and coma 3- Respiratory problems and choking 4- Heart problems 5- External and internal bleeding 6- Wounds 7- Bites 8- Shock 9- Burns 10- Electrocution 11- Heatstroke and hypothermia 12- Sunburn 13- Eye injuries (rays, acids, etc.) 14- Bone fractures and dislocations 15- Sprains and bruises 16- Complications from the recurrence of chronic diseases (diabetes, epilepsy, etc.) 17- Sports injuries 18- Suicides and severe psychological problems

Recovery position

If a person has overdosed on narcotics or other substances, it is necessary to place their body in the recovery position. To this end, the following steps must be carried out:

Step one: With the person lying down, turn the head backward and lift the chin up so that the airway is opened. Step two: Roll the person's body onto one side and place their hands under their head and cheek to prevent the head from touching the ground or from rolling. Step three: Pull the upper knee up and bend it so that it forms a support on the ground. Step four: Again check the condition of the airway and pull the head backward so that breathing becomes easier. Step five: Call the emergency number (115 in Iran) and stay beside the injured person until the ambulance arrives.

For complete, step-by-step instructions on helping the injured, along with an illustrated example of each instruction, you can refer to the Hak Publications website and purchase the book First Aid, which can help your rescue team in critical situations.