First Aid Fundamentals
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Accidents happen, but they can be prevented and result in a better outcome if you and your friends are informed on how to take care of the situation at hand. We at The Edge care deeply about the safety of our community, and are committed to the health and well-being of each reader. Read along to learn the first aid fundamentals you need to know as a student on Elon’s campus and a citizen of the world.
ABCs of First Aid
First Aid is serious, but learning it doesn’t have to be scary. The best lessons are often very simple, and this first one is as simple as ABC… but really, this basic principle is called ABC. It stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. When someone is unconscious, first check their airway. You want to make sure it’s clear and that nothing is obstructing airflow. If the airway is blocked, remove the object if possible. When or if the airway is clear and there is still not a visible, audible breath, the next step is to deliver rescue breaths. While performing rescue breaths, alternate between breathing and chest compressions, C. The compressions paired with rescue breaths will keep blood flowing through the victim's body.
CPR
The ABC principal soft-launched us into the next lesson which is CPR, the most important first aid practice to know. If someone is actively experiencing cardiac arrest, it is critical that these steps are followed in the correct order and in a timely manner. Here, time is of the essence.
First, have someone call 911; this can be you as long as you have enough other people around who can take your place and perform the more hands-on roles. While the phone call is being made, start chest compressions immediately. Compressions should be delivered quickly and firmly using both hands, and with as much pressure as possible. You will likely break the ribs of the victim while trying to resuscitate them, but your friend would surely rather be alive with a few broken ribs than dead with a perfect skeletal system.
As you compress, try your best to compress at the rate of 100 beats per minute (BPM), or compress to the song “Staying Alive”, as seen in an episode of The Office (disclaimer: the First Aid and CPR techniques demonstrated in this video are not correct, but for BPM this is an adequate resource. With that said, it should be utilized primarily for entertainment purposes).
In between each compression, watch for the natural return of a rise and fall breath to enter the body. Continue with the compressions until medical professionals arrive. If you are CPR trained and/or certified, you can deliver breaths in-between compressions while help is on the way. If one is available to you, use an automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED is simple to use; it will talk to you. Be sure to follow each direction it gives to you and continuously assess the situation. Stay with the victim until help arrives, and update the EMTs on what has been done and the condition of the victim.
Dressing a Wound
Another bloody important lesson to know is how to dress a wound. First, be aware that blood contains pathogens that carry disease as well as harmful bacteria. Exposure to someone else's blood puts you at risk, and you should always use a barrier of some sort- whether that be latex gloves or a simple hand washing (less effective). After you are protected, rinse the wound with water to clean the site. Cover the wound with gauze or a bandage and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. This will cause the blood to clot which will slow down the flow and eventually halt the bleeding completely. Depending on the location of the wound, elevate the site and monitor the bleeding. If the wound continues to bleed and soak through the dressings repeat until it ceases. If it is continuing to bleed without an end in sight, if you or the victim are losing a lot of blood or if the wound is deep and there is probable cause to believe it is infected, you should seek medical assistance right away.
Choking
This final life-saving practice might seem simple, but in action, it can be overwhelming. With only seconds to act, this is an important skill to refresh on. Choking can happen anywhere, anytime, and on anything. Choking causes a blockage in the airway and can cause unconsciousness and even death if not resolved quickly. The tell-tale signs of choking include a panicked appearance, gagging, gasping, wheezing, coughing, inability to speak, motioning towards the throat, and discoloration (blue or purple) in the face.
Someone in distress who is choking will need assistance through an exercise called the Heimlich Maneuver. To perform this maneuver, position yourself behind the victim. Put your arms around their waist, and place your fist between their navel and rib cage. Grab your fist with your opposite hand and pull your hands backward and upwards underneath the rib cage in sets of five until the object lodged in the throat is coughed - or likely vomited - up and out.
While this compilation of first aid fundamentals does not cover every emergency you may face on or off of Elon’s campus, this is a great starting point to begin familiarizing yourself with basic life-saving skills. You never know what may happen, and it’s best to be overprepared than ill-prepared. You never know, you may just save a life.