Foundations of First Aid & Legal Responsibilities

What first aid is, why it matters, and how to act safely and legally.

• Definition and goals of first aid

• Preserving life, preventing further harm, and promoting recovery

• Ethical and legal principles: consent, implied consent, minors, mentally ill patients

• Duty to care, reasonable skill and care, negligence, and abandonment

• Importance of calm, controlled behavior during emergencies

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First Aid Readiness & Essential Equipment

Understanding and using basic first aid tools confidently.

• Contents and purpose of a standard first aid kit

• When and how to use items such as bandages, gauze, tape, gloves, antiseptics, splints, cold/heat packs, and emergency blankets

• Introduction to specialized items: Burnshield, CPR masks, SAM splints, eyewash, triangular bandages

• Safe storage, inspection, and maintenance of first aid supplies

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Safety Principles in Emergency Situations

Ensuring the scene, responder, and casualty remain safe at all times.

• The 4 Safety S’s: Scene, Self, Casualty, and Equipment safety

• Non-negotiable safety rules

• Safe decision-making under pressure

• When not to move a casualty

• Avoiding common first aid mistakes (e.g., offering food or drinks, leaving a casualty unattended)

 

Triage & Emergency Prioritization

Recognising critical conditions and prioritising care.

• Colour-coding system: Red, Yellow, Green, Black

• Identifying life-threatening injuries

• Understanding the Golden Hour and time-critical emergencies

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SCAB Framework & Scene Survey

A structured, step-by-step approach to any emergency.

• SCAB: Safety, Circulation, Airway, Breathing

• Scene survey and mechanism of injury

• Identifying hazards and controlling risk

• HELLO principle: Identify yourself, obtain consent, assess what happened

• Calling for HELP: what to say to dispatchers and key information to give

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Primary Survey (CAB) – Life-Threatening Emergencies

Recognising and responding to the most critical conditions first.

• Circulation: Pulse check, identifying cardiac arrest

• Airway: Head-tilt-chin-lift, jaw-thrust for suspected spinal injury

• Breathing: Look-Listen-Feel assessment

• When and how to begin CPR

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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Life-saving procedures for adults, children, and infants.

• Definition and principles of CPR

• Compression depth, rate, and ratios

• Rescue breathing techniques

• CPR sequence: Hazard, Hello, Help, CAB

• Use of CPR shields and protective barriers

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Choking Management (Adults, Children, Infants)

Recognising airway obstruction and responding correctly.

• Signs and symptoms of choking

• Conscious casualty management: coughing, back blows, abdominal/chest thrusts

• Unconscious casualty management

• Infant choking procedures (back blows + chest thrusts)

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Secondary Survey (Head-to-Toe Assessment)

Identifying further injuries when life-threats have been addressed.

• Detailed assessment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, back, limbs

• Use of SAMPLE and AVPU scales

• Recognising subtle injuries and warning signs

• When secondary surveys should and should not be performed

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Bleeding & Wound Management

Recognising and controlling different types of bleeding.

• Capillary, venous, and arterial bleeding

• Steps for external bleeding control

• Pressure, elevation, and pressure points

• Nosebleed management

• Early recognition of internal bleeding

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Fractures & Immobilisation Basics

Understanding and stabilising suspected broken bones.

• Types of fractures and common signs

• Open vs closed fractures

• Splinting principles

• When to seek immediate medical help

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Burns – Recognition & First Aid

Managing burns from minor to severe.

• First-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree burns

• Cooling and dressing techniques

• When to use Burnshield or sterile dressings

• Burns requiring urgent evacuation

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Seizures & Epileptic Emergencies

Recognising seizure activity and protecting the casualty safely.

• Types of seizures

• What a first aider should and should NOT do

• When to call emergency services

• Post-seizure (post-ictal) care

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Shock – Identification & Immediate Care

Preventing deterioration in casualties with circulatory compromise.

• Stages of shock and their signs

• Shock positioning

• Maintaining warmth and airway

• Prohibited actions (e.g., giving food or drink)

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Recovery Position & Ongoing Casualty Care

Maintaining safety after initial treatment.

• When and how to use the recovery position correctly

• Protecting the airway

• Monitoring vital signs every 10 minutes

• Preparing for EMS handover

• Recording and reporting what happened

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By the End of this Programme, Learners Will Be Able To:

• Respond calmly and safely to common injuries and sudden illnesses

• Assess emergency scenes using SCAB, HELLO, and the Primary & Secondary Surveys

• Provide basic life-support interventions such as CPR and choking management

• Control bleeding, manage burns, stabilise fractures, and assist casualties experiencing shock or seizures

• Use essential first aid equipment confidently and appropriately

• Protect themselves and others by applying legal, ethical, and safety principles

• Monitor casualties and maintain care until emergency services take over

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This course provides a strong foundation in essential first aid skills and prepares learners to act responsibly and effectively in a wide range of everyday emergencies.