3. Emergency First Aid: Step-by-Step Instructions

3. Emergency First Aid: Step-by-Step Instructions

This is the most critical part of this guide. These steps, when performed correctly and immediately, are the key to saving a life. Before you begin, call your local emergency number first if possible, or have someone else call while you start first aid.

3.1. First Aid for Choking (The Heimlich Maneuver)

Your first action depends on whether the person’s airway is partially or completely blocked.

Scenario 1: The Person Can Still Cough or Speak (Partial Blockage)

• Encourage the person to keep coughing forcefully. The body’s natural coughing reflex is the most effective way to dislodge an object.
• Do not hit them on the back. This action could accidentally cause the object to become more deeply lodged in their airway.

Scenario 2: The Person Cannot Breathe, Cough, or Speak (Complete Blockage)

If the person is conscious but cannot make any sound, you must perform the Heimlich Maneuver.

1. Give 5 Back Blows: Stand to the side and slightly behind the person. Support their chest with one hand and lean them forward at the waist. Deliver five firm blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand.
2. Give 5 Abdominal Thrusts: Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
3. Place your fist, thumb side inward, just above their belly button.
4. Thrust inward and upward with quick, forceful movements. Perform five of these thrusts.
5. Continue Cycles: Repeat the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unresponsive.

Special Cases

• Pregnant or Obese Individuals: Do not perform thrusts on the abdomen. Instead, place your fist in the center of their chest (on the breastbone) and perform chest thrusts.
• Infants (Under 1 Year): Lay the infant face-down along your forearm, supporting their head and jaw with your hand so their head is lower than their body. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades. Then, turn the infant face-up on your other forearm and give 5 chest thrusts in the center of the chest using two fingers.
• If You Are Alone: You can perform the maneuver on yourself. Make a fist and place it above your belly button. Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust it against a hard surface, like the back of a chair or a countertop.

If the person loses consciousness at any point, carefully lower them to the ground and begin CPR immediately.

3.2. First Aid for Drowning

1. Ensure Safety: Remove the person from the water safely. Do not endanger yourself. If possible, reach for them with a rope, pole, or flotation device instead of entering dangerous water.
2. Call for Help: Call your local emergency number immediately.
3. Check for Breathing: Gently tilt the head back to open the airway. Use the “Look, Listen, and Feel” method for no more than 10 seconds to check for signs of breathing.
4. If Not Breathing – Begin Rescue Breaths: For drowning victims, it is recommended to start with 5 initial rescue breaths. Pinch the person’s nose, seal your mouth over theirs, and give 5 full breaths, watching for the chest to rise.
5. Begin CPR: Start cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. For an adult, place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest with your other hand on top. Push hard and fast at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, to a depth of 5-6 cm.
6. Keep Warm: Once the person is out of the water, cover them with a dry blanket or clothing to prevent hypothermia.
7. Continue Until Help Arrives: Do not stop CPR unless medical professionals take over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the person begins to breathe on their own.

Knowing how to respond is vital, but taking steps to prevent these incidents is the best way to ensure safety.