​Here are ten compelling reasons why learning first aid needs to the New Year’s resolution you stick to in 2019.
 
Reason One – First aid saves lives
Basic first aid can mean the difference between life and death. A Red Cross survey showed a staggering 59% of deaths from injuries would have been preventable had first aid been given before the emergency services arrived.

 
Reason Two – First aid reduces recovery time
First aid can have a huge impact on someone’s chances of recovery, and can mean the difference between them having a short term or more permanent disability.
 
 
Reason Three – First aid reduces hospital time
Early intervention with first aid can reduce the length of time the patient needs to stays in hospital.

 
Reason Four – First aid prevents medical situations deteriorating
Knowing the basics of first aid can prevent a bad situation from getting worse. Consider a patient who is bleeding from a deep cut. Without intervention, the patient could suffer severe blood loss. By applying pressure using simple first aid techniques, you can prevent a medical emergency from rapidly deteriorating and stabilise the patient until further medical help arrives.

 
Reason Five – First aid can reduce unnecessary visits to hospital
Not every accident ends up in hospital but still needs medical attention. Some injuries such as a bumped head, bruised knee or sprained ankle can be better managed with the correct procedure such as competent bandaging, rest or swelling reduction with a wrapped ice pack. First aid training also teaches you to prioritise injuries, giving the most seriously injured or ill the very best chance. As well as equipping you with the knowledge to establish whether someone needs further care and whether that care should be given by the GP, at a hospital or needs immediate paramedic intervention.

 
Reason Six – Competent first aid can reduce the amount of pain experienced by casualties
Knowing how to respond helps you stay calm in an emergency situation. Staying calm allows you to provide emotional support to the patient and help prevent them from panicking – which can often be a very effective form of pain relief. In addition, knowing how to physically move someone in pain, support their injuries and administer appropriate bandaging and dressings can also greatly reduce the amount of pain they experience.

Reason Seven – Crucial communication for the emergency services
Staying with the patient until the emergency services arrive to take over means you can convey vital information about how the patient sustained the injury or information about their condition. This information is vital to the emergency services for the effective treatment of the patient and can also aid the patient’s treatment and recovery.

 
Reason Eight – First aid increases awareness and reduces your susceptibility to accidents
 Learning first aid and becoming alert to potential hazards and medical issues increases our health awareness and allows us to take better care of ourselves, our friends and families. It creates resilient communities and relieves pressure on the NHS.

Reason Nine – First aid makes you feel empowered
Learning first aid will give you the confidence to act appropriately when an accident occurs. It is vitally important to deal with any life-saving injuries before reaching for the phone to call for an ambulance.
It is also very useful to know when and if to move someone following an accident and when they should be kept still.

Reason Ten – Be prepared for anything
None of us know what the future has in store for us or for our loved ones. Sudden illness such as heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding and breathing difficulties require immediate attention, which after a course, you will be well equipped to provide. First aid also equips you to deal with bleeding, burns, breathlessness, bites, shocks stings, splints and fainting so whatever medical situation life throws at you, you can respond effectively.
 
From:  First Aid for Life Website at:  https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/first-aid/  08/01/2019 

Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

DOTS is an acronym used to remember what to look for when conducting a physical assessment of a casualty (i.e. looking for injuries).

​DOTS stands for:

• Deformities
• Open wounds
• Tenderness
• Swelling

 These four signs are common indications of an injury to a body part.

Deformities
A deformity is used to describe an abnormal shape of a body part. Common causes of deformities are fractures or dislocations as they disrupt the skeleton.
The best way to check for a deformity is to compare sides. For example, comparing both wrists to look for a deformity associated with a wrist fracture.

Open wounds
Searching for open wounds is an important part of the assessment of a casualty, especially if the person is unresponsive. It is important to find and stop any bleeding in order to prevent the casualty deteriorating.
Wounds can be hidden and not immediately obvious so you may have to go searching! Always remember to protect yourself from any bodily by wearing gloves.

Tenderness
Pressing on an area may cause pain, this is known as tenderness and may indicate an underlying injury. Tenderness will occur before other more visible signs (for example bruising). 
In an unresponsive patient who is unable to communicate you should always look at the face when assessing for tenderness. You may see a pain response if you press over an injury. 

Swelling
Swelling occurs mainly with soft tissue injuries and fractures. Swelling does not occur immediately after an injury so may not be obvious during your initial assessment. 

Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.