Immediate Life-Saving Actions: Essential First Aid Protocols

Immediate First Aid Protocols

1. Managing an Asthma Attack

• Help the person sit in a comfortable position.
• Ensure they take their prescribed medication (e.g., inhaler).
• Stay with them until they feel better.
• If the attack becomes severe, **call 999** immediately or delegate someone else to make the emergency call.

2. Controlling Severe Bleeding

• Apply direct pressure to the wound using whatever is available (e.g., a clean cloth) to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
• **Call 999** as soon as possible, or delegate someone else to do it.
• Maintain continuous pressure on the wound until emergency help arrives.

3. Supporting a Serious Injury

• Support the injury using the person's hand, a cushion, or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.
• As soon as possible, **call 999** or delegate the emergency call.
• Continue supporting the injury until professional help arrives.

4. Treating Burns

1. Cool the burn under **cold running water** for a minimum of ten minutes.
2. Call 999 if the burn is severe or if the injured person is a child.
3. After the burn has been thoroughly cooled, cover the area loosely with cling film or a clean plastic bag.

5. Choking Relief: Back Blows

• Bend the person forwards.
• Give firm **back blows** between their shoulder blades to dislodge the obstruction.

6. Initial Care for Head Injuries

• Ask the person to rest immediately.
• Apply something cold (e.g., ice pack wrapped in a tea towel) to the injured area.
• Monitor their condition closely. If the person becomes drowsy, vomits, or their condition deteriorates, **call 999** or delegate the emergency call immediately.

7. Responding to a Seizure

• Use a blanket or clothing to protect their head from injury.
• ***Crucially, do not restrain them.***
• Call 999 if necessary (e.g., first seizure, seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or repeated seizures) or delegate the call.
• After the seizure has stopped, help them rest on their side (Recovery Position) with their head tilted back to maintain an open airway.

8. General Injury Management

• Ensure the person rests the injured part of the body.
• If there is no improvement in their condition, seek professional medical advice.

Checking Responsiveness and Breathing

9. Unresponsive but Breathing (Recovery Position)

To check for breathing, tilt the head back and look, listen, and feel for breaths:

• Look at their chest or stomach for movement.
• Listen for breathing sounds.
• Feel for breaths on your cheek.

If they are breathing (chest/stomach is moving):

1. Move them onto their side into the **Recovery Position** and ensure their head is tilted back.
2. **Call 999 immediately** or delegate the emergency call.

10. Adult CPR: Chest Compressions

If they are *not* breathing (chest/stomach is not moving):

1. **Call 999 immediately** or ask someone else to make the emergency call.
2. Begin chest compressions: Push firmly down in the middle of their chest and then release.
3. Continue pushing firmly at a regular rate until professional help arrives.

11. CPR and Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

If the person is not breathing, follow steps 1 and 2 from the previous section (Call 999 and start compressions).

3. Tell someone nearby to retrieve an **AED** (Automated External Defibrillator) as soon as possible.
4. Open the AED case, attach the pads, and follow the clear voice prompts provided by the device.