First aid - who is obliged to provide, rules

First aid is aimed at ensuring the safety of the scene, maintaining the basic vital functions of the victim and reducing the consequences associated, for example, with an injury received by the victim. Depending on the situation, first aid may require different actions. These are not always activities associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, requiring, for example, sudden cardiac arrest. It is worth learning how to act step by step in an emergency, because first aid is very important, i.e. with fainting, falling from a height and traffic accidents.

Is everyone required to provide first aid?

Many people are afraid to provide first aid. You should not be afraid that we will harm a sick or injured person as a result of an accident. Each of us is obliged to provide first aid. According to Article 162 of the Criminal Code:

• § 1. Whoever, who is in a situation threatening immediate death or serious bodily harm, does not provide assistance, being able to provide it without exposing himself or another person to the danger of death or serious bodily harm, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 3 years .

• § 2. Does not commit a crime, does not provide assistance, for which it is necessary to undergo a medical procedure or in conditions where it is possible to provide immediate assistance from an institution or person designated for this purpose.

First aid in a situation that threatens health or life should include: checking the condition of the victim, guarding the scene, calling an ambulance team and following the instructions of the medical dispatcher.

Remain calm during first aid - nervousness will not help the victim! Remember that immediate assistance to the victim can save a life!

What are the first aid rules?

First aid step by step:

• Assess your own safety and the safety of the victim - protect yourself and the victim from the immediate danger of loss of health and life. If the victim is in a dangerous place and his condition allows it, transport him to a safe place. If the victim could have received, for example, a spinal injury, take care of the safety of the scene and immediately report the situation to the relevant rescue services; if possible, put on protective gloves before giving first aid;

• Assess the condition of the victim - this includes, among other things, checking whether the victim is conscious, whether he is able to answer the questions asked, whether he knows what happened.

• Open the airways of the unconscious victim - place one hand on the forehead and the other on the victim’s chin and gently tilt his head back. Check if there are foreign objects in the victim’s mouth - if there are, remove them.

• Check to see if the casualty is breathing - breath assessment allows you to decide what to do next - bring your cheek to the casualty’s face and check if you can feel the movement of the air exhaled by him. Also check for visible movements of the victim’s chest.

• Call 999 or 112 for help.

If the victim is breathing normally but is unconscious, put it in a safe side position. If the victim is not breathing and no pulse is felt, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; an automated external defibrillator, which is increasingly found in public places, can also be used to save lives.

To avoid the potential risk of infection with various diseases, do not touch the victim’s blood and carry out resuscitation using a special mouthpiece - it is in every car first-aid kit.

While waiting for medical attention, monitor the victim’s vital signs - check the pulse and breathing. Protect the victim from cooling down and overheating - use, for example, a thermal blanket.

Pre-medical first aid may also require other life-saving and health-saving measures, such as stopping bleeding or stabilizing the spine - information on the appropriate procedure, depending on the type of injury or disease, you will receive from the medical dispatcher.

First aid - how to put the victim in a safe position?

1. Clear your airways.

2. Lay the victim on their back and stretch their legs.

3. Position the arm closest to you at a right angle to the body, and then bend the elbow at a right angle. The palm should be facing up.

4. Bend the other arm of the victim at the elbow and place the back side under the cheek on the opposite side. Hold it with one hand.

5. With your other hand, bend the far leg at the knee and turn the victim to the side.

6. Position the victim’s knee at a right angle to the hip.

How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

Loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest are indications for basic resuscitation. Artificial respiration must be performed before the victim regains consciousness or the ambulance arrives.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and older children

Before starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation, lay the victim on a hard and level surface. Kneel at the side of the victim at chest level and begin chest compressions. Do 30 chest compressions and 2 artificial breaths - pinch the victim’s nose, press your mouth against his mouth and exhale gently. After inhaling, allow the air to leave the victim’s lungs. Use a defibrillator if nearby.

Infant CPR

In children under 1 year of age, during CPR, the sternum should be compressed by 1/3 of the height of the chest with the index and middle fingers. When doing artificial respiration, do not cover the child’s nose.

Emergency phone numbers:

• 999 - emergency ambulance number,

• 112 is the emergency number in the European Union,

• 998 - fire brigade,

• 997 - police.

Sources: patient.gov.pl, statistic.policja.pl, prc.krakow.pl.