Page 16 - CITS - Fitter - Trade Theory

FITTER - CITS

MODULE 1

LESSON 1 : First-Aid & Safety Precautions

Objectives

At the end of this lesson you shall be able to
• explain the importance of first Aid
• state the importance of safety and safety precaution follow in workshop
• explain the basic life saving techniques and CPR process.

First-Aid

First aid is defined as the immediate care and support given to an acutely injured or ill person, primarily to save
life, prevent further deterioration or injury, plan to shift the victims to safer places, provide best possible comfort
and finally help them to reach the medical centre/ hospital through all available means. It is an immediate life-
saving procedure using all resources available within reach.
Imparting knowledge and skill through institutional teaching at younger age group in schools, colleges, entry
point at industry level is now given much importance. Inculcating such habits at early age, helps to build good
healthcare habits among people.
First aid procedure often consists of simple and basic life saving techniques that an individual performs with
proper training and knowledge. The key aims of first aid can be summarized in three key points:
• Preserve life: If the patient was breathing, a first aider would normally place them in the recovery position, with
the patient leant over on their side, which also has the effect of clearing the tongue from the pharynx. It also
avoids a common cause of death in unconscious patients, which is choking on regurgitated stomach contents.
The airway can also become blocked through a foreign object becoming lodged in the pharynx or larynx,
commonly called choking. The first aider will be taught to deal with this through a combination of ‘back slaps’
and ‘abdominal thrusts’. Once the airway has been opened, the first aider would assess to see if the patient is
breathing.
• Prevent further harm: Also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of further injury,
this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first
aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming
dangerous.

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