First Aid Treatment For Illnesses and Injuries

It's an unfortunate daily fact that many people have some kind of mishap or get sick. For some, the seriousness of the illness or injury may not necessarily render them unconscious and their condition may not be immediately life threatening, yet they still might need medical care.

First Aid Courses teach you how to assist injured and ill patients by offering medical care while waiting for the Emergency Services to arrive. Assuming that your primary assessment has not recognised any life threatening signs or symptoms from the patient, your first aid procedures provide care that reassures, eases pain and reduces the risk of further harm.

If the EMS are nearby, you may not need to use your first aid skills, however if they unavailable or delayed, you may be able to help someone by bandaging wounds, sprains & strains, splinting dislocations & fractures and identify other common illnesses and medical problems.

What's the difference between an Injury and an Illness?
The main difference between an injury and an illness is that illnesses may be caused by pre-existing conditions such as allergies, heart disease or diabetes. Illnesses may also occur due to external factors such as breathing toxic fumes or ingesting poison. An illness is termed as an 'unhealthy condition of the body' whereas an injury is classed as 'physical harm to the body'.

What's the difference between a Sign and a Symptom?
A sign is 'something that you see, hear or feel' such as a wound, bleeding, discolourations or deformities whereas a symptom is 'something that the patient tells you is wrong' which may be nausea, thirst, dizziness or pain.

What's the difference between a Victim and a Patient?
A victim is 'someone who needs medical attention' whereas a patient is 'someone who is actually receiving medical care'.

What is Normal?
During assessment first aid it is difficult to determine if the patient's signs and symptoms are normal unless you know what normal is, although what may be normal for one person may not be so for another. There are accepted normal ranges for breathing rate, pulse and skin temperature and the following is meant as a general guide;

1) The average breathing rate for an adult at rest is 12 to 20 respirations per minute

2) The average pulse rate for an adult at rest is 60 to 80 beats per minute

3) The average skin temperature for an adult should feel dry to the touch

Assessment first aid is the treatment of conditions that are not immediately life threatening uncovered during either an illness assessment or an injury assessment. For example, applying a bandage to a wounded patient is assessment first aid and lay rescuers can greatly reduce suffering and long term disabilities by applying their first aid skills.

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