Medical Help – First Aid

 First Aid is the act of giving basic assistance to someone who has been injured or become suddenly ill.

1. Stay calm in an emergency. Don't put yourself in danger and don’t give the person anything to eat, drink or smoke and don't put anything in their mouth.

2. People who are trained in First Aid know exactly what to do when someone has fainted, strained or sprained a muscle or even suffered a burn.

3.First Aid should only be used as a means to assist someone until proper medical assistance arrives.

 What you can do

If you are involved in any emergency it is important to:

•Make sure medical assistance has been called if people are injured or if there is a threat to life

•Not put yourself or others in danger

•Speak clearly to the operator and make sure the operator has the correct address of the incident. Do not put the phone down before the operator says it is fine to do so.

•Follow the advice of the emergency services

•Try to remain calm and think before acting and try to reassure others

•Check for injuries - remember to attend to yourself before attempting to help others

•if there is no immediate danger try not to move the patient as this can aggravate the injuries.

To prepare for an emergency, you should take time to find out:

•Make sure all emergency telephone numbers is stored or at your telephone, People tend to forget everything in an emergency.

•The emergency procedures for your children at school

•The emergency procedures at your workplace

•How your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency

•If any elderly or vulnerable neighbours might need your help

•Make sure you know all your policy and club benefits, a lot of them provide you with the service of a private ambulance service free of charge.

•Get a safe place to store all your policy and medical aid info and inform a family member or friend where all these documentation is stored so it will be available in case of an emergency.