How will you help an injured person?

Step 1: Stay Calm and Assess Safety

1. Ensure your own safety. You can't help someone if you're injured yourself. Check the scene for any hazards that may put you or the person at risk, such as ongoing traffic, downed power lines, or environmental dangers.

2. Call emergency services. If the injury appears life-threatening or requires immediate medical attention, call for help immediately. In some cases, especially in remote or rural environments, it may be safer to seek help from nearby individuals instead of waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

3. Check for responsiveness. Gently tap the person on the shoulder and shout loudly, "Are you okay?" If the person does not respond, they are unconscious and in need of further assistance.

4. Open the person's airway. If the person is unconscious, open their airway by gently lifting their chin and tilting their head back slightly. This ensures better airflow and prevents choking.

Step 2: Perform Basic Life Support

5. Check for breathing. Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. If the person is not breathing or is only gasping for air, start rescue breathing.

6. Begin rescue breathing. Perform two slow, gentle breaths, ensuring each breath makes the person's chest rise. Pinch the person's nose closed and cover their mouth completely with your mouth, forming a tight seal. Give each breath over one second, allowing chest recoil between breaths.

7. Continue rescue breathing until help arrives or the person starts breathing normally. Intermittent coughing or other signs of life are positive indicators.

Step 3: Control Severe Bleeding

8. Identify and apply pressure to severe bleeding wounds. If excessive bleeding is present, controlling it is crucial. Wear gloves if possible to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens. Use a clean cloth, gauze, or your own gloved hands to apply direct pressure on the wound. Elevate the injured part, if possible, to reduce blood flow to the area.

9. Use tourniquets only as a last resort. Tourniquets can be dangerous if used improperly and should only be applied in life-threatening situations where severe bleeding cannot be stopped with direct pressure. They should be applied to the highest point of the limb, between the source of bleeding and the body.

Step 4: Immobilize Fractures

10. Immobilize broken bones. If broken bones or fractures are suspected, gentle immobilization can prevent further injury. Use available resources such as clothing, sticks, or blankets to stabilize the injured area and minimize movement.

11. Don't attempt to realign fractured or dislocated bones. It is better to leave them as they are until medical professionals arrive. Improper manipulation can cause more harm.

Step 5: Care for Shock

12. Treat for signs of shock. Shock can occur due to severe injuries or blood loss. Signs include a pale, clammy skin, a weak pulse, shallow breathing, and confusion. If shock is suspected, lay the person flat and elevate their legs slightly to improve blood flow to vital organs.

13. Stay with the person until help arrives. Reassurance and maintaining open communication can help reduce stress and anxiety while waiting for medical assistance to arrive.

Remember, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible for all injuries, particularly those that appear severe or life-threatening. First aid measures are meant to provide immediate temporary assistance until professional help can be obtained.