First Aid: Definition, Aims & Contents of First Aid Box

First aid is the immediately or emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person before seeking medical attention or is been taking to the hospital.

Accident does not respect anyone. It can occur at home, at school, at work, in the office, in the church, on the road, anywhere, anyhow and to anyone. Whatever the case may be, first aid treatment can save a victim‘s life.

Since 1982, it has been a legal requirement that adequate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel to give aid are provided at work. If injury is serious, the injured person should be treated by a doctor or nurse as soon as possible.

Aims Of First Aid

• To prevent condition of victims or casualties from getting worse.
• To ensure the victims suffers no further damage.
• To sustain the victims life till medical treatment is administered.
• To quicken the recovery of the victim.

First Aider

A first alder is any person professionally trained to possess theoretical knowledge concerning the treatment of cases and the ability to practicalise it.

Some authorized association such as the Red Cross Society and Ambulance Society are trained and equipped to administer the first aid practice.

An authorized certificate of first alder is usually awarded, which are subject to renewal on expiration.

First Aid Box

A first aid box is a kit containing various items used for first treatment.

Contents Of A First Aid Box

These are the various items found in the first aid box or kit:

1. A card giving general first aid guidance
2. A book and a pen used to write down the information about the type of accident and the treatment applied.
3. Cotton wool
4. Two triangular bandages
5. 1 dozen of safety pins
6. Clinical thermometer
7. Iodine
8. Hydrogen peroxide
9. Plastic (surgical/waterproof) 20 individual wrapped, sterile, adhesive, water proof dressings of various size.
10. 2 sterile eye pads with attachment
11. Tweezers
12. Vaseline
13. Toilet soap
14. Penicillin ointment
15. A pair of scissors
16. Disinfectants (dettol or savlon)
17. Bicarbonate of soda
18. Gauze and lint
19. Embrocation or any liniment
20. Bandage (crepe, roller, triangular)
21. Scissors
22. Gentian violet
23. Kidney dish
24. BP apparatus
25. A pair forceps and razor blade.