Safety first

Safety first, that should be the first priority, but truth needs to be told, no matter how we try to stay safe, some things or some occurrences are accidental or inevitable. Sometimes we get hurt inevitably, and this could happen to anyone and if it happens, we should think about first aid. Talking about First aid, it is an essential thing for everyone to have the knowledge. Personally, I am fortunate to have lived many years of my life in the hospital quarters, from my childhood to transitioning into adulthood. My Mum retired as a Chief Matron. Because of this, I have many ideas of what to do in times of emergencies as regards giving first aid. When an accident happens, the thing you need to do is to stay calm and assess the situation while thinking in seconds.  [Src](content://media/external/downloads/1000557995) Depending on the type of wound or emergency, like burns, when someone has a burn, you need to cool the burn with cool (not ice-cold) water for 10-15 minutes and cover with a non-stick bandage or better still, some traditional measures are taken immediately by applying a raw egg on the affected part to reduce the pilling of the skin. Once this is applied, one must ensure the person gets to the hospital as quickly as possible. Bleeding wound, which is what I have attended to many times. I am a secondary school teacher, there's no way you can be teaching a populated school at that level of education without having to deal with students injuring themselves. When this happens, everyone runs to me, knowing I'll definitely give the necessary first aid. When there is a bleeding wound, the first thing you must do is to apply pressure to the wound to avoid blood loss. Pressure on the wound reduces the flow of blood. Though some cuts are always deep and severe, apply very strong pressure on the cut. After applying pressure, you clean the wounded area with mild soap and water, once the bleeding reduces, or first apply spirit or iodine to prevent infection, and immediately get the person to a hospital. But if after applying pressure on the wound and the blood doesn't stop, get the person to a hospital immediately. Going back to what is stated in the topic of this discussion, can I perform CPR? The answer is yes. I can't see someone choking and dying knowing there's something I can do to help, and I won't do it. No matter the age, if anyone is unconscious, the first thing to do is to give CPR, because when a person is choking, it means the blood circulation has been compromised, so you need to compress the chest of such an individual and administer rescue breaths to help maintain blood circulation and oxygenation until medical help comes.  [Src](content://media/external/downloads/1000557998) Giving CPR, cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. First, you need to assess the situation, tap the person, and try talking to the person by shouting, check breathing by tilting the head back slightly, lift the chin, and look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for not more than 10 seconds. But if the person is not breathing or only gasping, start CPR. Begin chest compressions, place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest on the lower half of the breastbone. Place your other hand on top, interlocking fingers, keep your arms straight, then push hard and fast multiple times. If you're comfortable with it. For me, I am comfortable doing it, giving rescue breaths, after 30 compressions, giving 2 breaths. Pinch the nose, tilt the head back, seal your mouth over theirs, and blow for 1 second each. Watch for chest rise and resume compressions immediately after. If you are not comfortable giving breaths, you can do Hands-Only CPR, just keep pushing hard and fast on the chest. Continue CPR, keep repeating cycles by following the compression-to-breath ratio, the 30:2, that is, 30 compressions + 2 breaths. Don’t stop until the person starts breathing normally and emergency help arrives and takes over, or you are physically unable to continue. Above all, if anyone is found in an emergency situation, the person needs to be rushed to the hospital or call for medical help immediately. > My response to the #hivelearners edition two on the topic: **First-aid** The images used are sourced.