In an emergency, when a person has been injured in an
accident or suddenly taken sick, he should be given first aid treatment
until professional medical help is available. First aid is not meant to
replace competent medical treatment. It is designed to keep an accident
or illness victim alive, protected and comfortable, with as little
opportunity for further injury as possible, until he is seen by a
physician or qualified medical personnel.
First aid means,
"Knowing what not to do as well as knowing what needs to be
done". Many rescuers, in their eagerness to provide aid, only
succeed in making an already bad situation worse, because they act out
of panic or lack of knowledge.
Keep first aid treatment to the
minimum necessary. Have a reason for every step taken. Take the time to
evaluate the emergency and plan each step before first aid treatment is
begun. Only in cases of severe bleeding, breathing stoppage or
difficulty and poisoning is every second vital. In most other
cases, have the victim lie down and keeps him comfortable while a Doctor
or ambulance is called.
Remember: Any victim of a potentially serious injury should seek immediate physician evaluation before proceeding with information provided here. This section is meant to educate
and complement first hand physician information.
Labeled with ICRA