Chapter 1Background Information

Why Is First Aid Important?

• It is better to know first aid and not need it than to need first aid and not know it.

• First aid providers do not diagnose.

Who Needs First Aid?

• Intentional and unintentional injuries constitute a major threat to public health and are referred to as the neglected epidemic.

Who Needs First Aid?

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Who Needs First Aid?

• Every year, one in four people experiences a nonfatal injury serious enough to need medical care or to restrict activity for at least one day.

• Sports-related nonfatal injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments more than any other type of unintentional injury.

Who Needs First Aid?

• Death occurs when a person’s heart stops.− What a bystander does can mean the

difference between life and death.• Most injuries do not require lifesaving

efforts.

Value of First Aid to Self

• Enables a person to care for his or her injuries

• Allows a person to direct others in proper care if they are too seriously injured

• Helps develop safety awareness and promote injury prevention

Value of First Aid to Others

• Allows the trained person to offer proper assistance to: – Family members– Coworkers– Acquaintances– Strangers

What Is First Aid?

• Helping behaviors and initial care provided for an acute illness or injury.

• Does not take the place of proper medical care.

What Is First Aid?

• Goals of the first aid provider include:− Preserving life− Alleviating suffering− Preventing further illness or injury− Promoting recovery

First Aid and the Law

• A first aid provider can be sued, but the risk can be minimized.− Obtain the person’s consent.− Do not exceed your training level.− Explain any first aid you are about to give.− Once starting to care for an injured or ill

person, stay with that person.

• Permission that the injured or ill person must give before first aid can be given− It is unlawful to begin first aid without the

person’s consent.− Touching another person without his or her

consent is known as battery.

Informed (Expressed) Consent

Implied Consent

Consent: Children and Mentally Incompetent Adults

Consent: Children and Mentally Incompetent Adults

• A police officer is the only person with the authority to restrain and transport a person against that person’s will.− Only intervene when directed by a police

officer or when it is obvious that the person is about to do something life-threatening.

Refusing Help

• If an alert and mentally competent adult refuses help:− Explain his or her condition to the person,

what you intend to do, and why.− Call 9-1-1.− Try to persuade the person to accept care.− Make sure you have witnesses of the refusal.− Consider calling the police.

Abandonment

• Once you have responded to an emergency, you must not leave an injured or ill person who needs continuing first aid until another competent and trained person takes responsibility for the person.

Negligence

• Failure to follow the accepted standards of care, resulting in further injury to the person

Duty to Act

• You have a duty to act if you are:− Designated by your employer and called to an

injury scene.− Licensed by the state and your state requires

you to act regardless of whether you are on or off duty.

Duty to Act

• Different standards of care apply to different types of first aid providers.

• Emergency care–related organizations and societies publish recommended first aid procedures.

Breach of Duty

• An act of omission—failure to do what a reasonably prudent person with the same or similar training would do in the same or similar circumstances.

Breach of Duty

• An act of commission—doing something that a reasonably prudent person would not do under the same or similar circumstances.

Injury and Damages Inflicted

• Can include− Physical damage− Physical pain and suffering− Mental anguish− Medical expenses− Loss of earnings and earning capacity

Level of Training Restrictions

• Providers should not exceed their skill level.

Confidentiality

Good Samaritan Laws

• Encourage people to assist others• Protect the rescuer when the rescuer is:

− Acting during an emergency− Acting in good faith, having good intentions− Acting without compensation− Not guilty of malicious misconduct or gross

negligence toward the person

Good Samaritan Laws

• Good Samaritan laws do not protect first aid providers:− Who have caused further injury to a person− Who have given first aid poorly− Who have exceeded the scope of training

Injury Prevention

• It is easier to prevent an injury than it is to treat one.

• Effective prevention uses the 3 Es.− Education− Enforcement− Engineering

Injury Prevention

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