Main points of first aid and necessary overview
Stop the accident, life-saving first aid, emergency call, and general first aid
When something goes wrong, it can be hard to keep an overview. That's why first aid is learned as a fixed structure that helps you do what's most important first. The structure is called the main points of first aid.
§The Four Main Points
- 01Stop the accident – create safety for yourself and the injured person
- 02Provide life-saving first aid — secure free airways breathing and stop heavy bleeding
- 03Call for help — call 1-1-2
- 04Provide ordinary first aid — comfort protect and monitor until help arrives
§Stop the accident – safety first
Your own safety comes first. A helper who gets hurt themselves cannot help others. Get an overview of the scene remove or mark hazards like traffic and only move the person if there is imminent danger at the scene. In traffic accidents it can mean securing the scene before approaching the injured.
§Life-saving first aid
The life-saving is about the functions that can most quickly cost you your life if they fail: open airways breathing and circulation. Establish open airways check breathing and stop heavy bleeding by putting pressure on the wound. An unconscious person breathing normally is placed in a stable recovery position so airways remain open.
§Regular first aid and mental first aid
When the life-saving is in place it is about making the condition as good as possible: reduce pain keep the person warm avoid unnecessary movement and stay with the person. Human support means a lot – calm presence and an explanation of what is happening reduces anxiety in both the injured person and any relatives.
“Overview comes from structure. When you follow the main points you always know what the next step is.”
— First aid point