First aid, defined as “life-saving interventions performed by individuals present at the scene, using available means without seeking medical equipment, until the assistance of healthcare professionals is provided, in case of an accident or any life-threatening situation,” is of great importance for eliminating life-threatening danger and maintaining vital functions. Incorrect actions during first aid can pose a life-threatening danger. Wrong interventions such as moving the patient in case of a fall or accident, tilting the head back during nosebleeds, or slapping a fainted person can lead to undesirable consequences.
Every year, the second Saturday of September is celebrated as “World First Aid Day” worldwide. World First Aid Day has been celebrated simultaneously in 188 countries since 2003.
Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, Head of the First and Emergency Aid Program at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services, evaluated the importance of first aid in her statement on World First Aid Day.
Performed by those trained in first aid
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı defined first aid as “life-saving interventions performed by individuals present at the scene, using available means without seeking medical equipment, until the assistance of healthcare professionals is provided, in case of an accident or any life-threatening situation.”
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı stated that there are no medications used in first aid applications and added that the procedures are carried out by individuals who have received first aid training.
First aid aims to eliminate life-threatening danger
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı, highlighting the importance of first aid, said, “First aid applications aim to eliminate life-threatening danger, maintain vital functions, prevent the deterioration of the patient or injured person's condition, and facilitate recovery. First aid is essential and important in this regard.”
These mistakes should not be made!
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı also drew attention to the most erroneous behaviors made in first aid, and listed them as follows:
- Tilting the head back during nosebleeds,
- Slapping a fainted person,
- Making a person having a seizure smell an onion or trying to put a spoon in their mouth,
- Removing an impaled object,
- Rubbing the frozen area with snow in cases of frostbite,
- Trying to induce vomiting in every poisoning case,
- Performing CPR on every unconscious patient, such as those who have fainted or drowned,
- Moving the patient in case of a fall or accident,
- Applying some household items (yogurt, tomato paste, toothpaste, etc.) to burns.
Those without first aid training should provide correct information
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı emphasized that individuals without any first aid training should correctly call 112 to convey event and address information in case of an accident, and should not move the patient.
First and Emergency Aid Specialist Ayşe Bağlı added that individuals who have completed at least primary school and are over 18 years old can receive first aid training.