Some years back,once in a public bus travel, involving a distance of about 100 kms, a person got unexpected head injury, due to a hit at the sharp edge of the metal Television Box, just behind the driver's seat, when he suddenly stood up without noticing the presence of the danger just above his head.He started bleeding very much because the wound due to the hit.

When the First Aid Box in that bus was opened by breaking the lock,( It was locked with a low quality lock, and the key could not be traced either by the driver or the conductor of the bus) there were only some aspirin tablets, and a small piece of cotton. There was no bandage cloth or sufficient cotton to stop the bleeding of the injured person. There were no other medicines like Tincture of Benzoine. Some co-passengers took him in a taxi to a nearby hospital with his head injury, without proper First Aid, because of the absence of the necessary accessories in the First Aid Box. The above incident really happened and it is not a work of fiction or imaginary.

You also might have seen First Aid Boxes in Public Transports like Buses and Trains. Some responsible authorities of the Transport Companies and Railways must ensure that the First Aid Boxes are fully equipped with latest medicines and other necessary accessories, like knife, pair of scissors, bandages, tinctures, band aids, pain killer tablets,Sprain sprays, dettol etc., and the first aid box must be securely closed, but should not be locked. The key may not be immediately available for opening the box.

What is First Aid?
First aid is the immediate treatment to be given, prior to regular Medical or Surgical Treatment, to a person:-

• Injured in a road accident or other domestic accidents
• Injury due to some attack / attempt to kill
• Becoming suddenly ill
• Suffering a Heart Attack
• Suffering a Brain Stroke
• Drowned in water, such as well, swimming pool, lake, river or sea
  

First aid is of two types:-

• Treatment to Minor Injuries
• Basic Precautionary Care to a person seriously injured/affected by Heart attack/Stroke/Lung Attack
  

First aid has three key aims:-

• To keep the injured or ill person alive
• To stop the conditions, such as bleeding, suffocation,etc.
  
• To promote the recovery of the patient.
  

First Aid must be given:-

• Quickly
• Calmly
• Effectively
  

Even though anybody can provide First Aid, it will be more effective to get trained in First Aid, by Institutions like Red Cross, Public Clubs,Medical Colleges, Medical Associations,etc.

The First Aid Trainings will include:-

• Appropriate Treatment to be given for various types of problems
• Checking for Breathing
• Checking for functioning of the Heart
• Placing the affected person alive
• Giving Rescue Breaths like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
• Chest Compression
• Treatments in the cases of Drowning in Water
• Electric Shocks
• Fire Burns
• Poisoning
• Inhaling dangerous gases
• Inhaling fuming Acids
  
• Asthma/Lungs attacks
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
  
• Epilepsy
• Allergic Reactions
• Head Injuries
• Injury to the eyes
• Fractured or broken bones of hands or legs
• Hip fracture, etc.
  

First Aid will help in stopping permanent damage to the body and life of a person affected. First Aid Box must be kept ready with the person trained in First Aid, for quick,calm and effective use at any moment of necessity. First Aid Training must be made compulsory in all Schools and Colleges.

In addition to bare Theories, and Preset Practicals, testing and judging the students by the amount of Temporary Memory Power, real Practical Trainings such as First Aid Trainings which will be useful in reality, must be made a part of the Syllabus in the present day Modern Education Systems.

Tag Health