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First Aid in the Home

On this page, you’ll find a wealth of information and professional advice regarding First aid in the home. First aid is one of the most important skills anyone can learn. It may save a life or prevent permanent injury. Below will give some advice for a few common events. To learn more about first aid, enrol in a first aid course with a registered training organisation.
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DRABCD Action Plan

St. John Ambulance recommends using their DRABCD Action Plan in assessing whether an injured person has any life-threatening conditions and if immediate first aid is needed.

Minor Cuts & Grazes

  • Clean the wound thoroughly with clean (preferably sterile) water or saline solution.
  • Apply a sterile dressing; put pressure on the wound to stop bleeding and elevate the area. A pharmacist can advise on appropriate dressings.
You should seek medical advice if:
  • A cut is longer than 1cm – it may require stitches.
  • The wound is very dirty.
  • There is something imbedded in the wound.
  • There is severe bleeding.
D – check for danger 
  • To you, others and the injured person
R – check response 
  • Is the injured person conscious or unconscious? 
A – check airway 
  • Is airway clear of objects? 
  • Is airway open?
B – check for breathing 
  • Is chest rising or falling? 
  • Can you hear or feel air from mouth or nose? 
  • If no breathing, give 2 initial breaths. 
C – give CPR 
  • If no signs of life – unconscious, not breathing and not moving, start CPR. 
  • CPR involves giving 30 compressions on lower half of breastbone, at a rate of approximately 100 compressions per minute, followed by 2 breaths. 
D –apply a defibrillator (if available) 
  • Follow voice prompts

Head Injury

  • Monitor person’s breathing and pulse.
  • Support person’s head and neck during movement in case spine is injured.
  • Place a sterile dressing over the wound to control bleeding – apply direct pressure to wound unless you suspect a skull fracture.
  • Lie person down with head and shoulders slightly raised. If person vomits, turn them onto their side and clear the airway.
  • Phone 000 for an ambulance.
You should seek medical help urgently if person:
  • Vomits.
  • Is drowsy, less alert or unconscious.
  • Develops unusual behaviour.
  • Develops a headache.
  • Has blood or fluid leaking from their ears.
  • Has blurred vision or pupils that are unequal in size.
Important 

If a person is unconscious, or needs emergency medical care, phone 000 for an ambulance and follow DRABCD. If on a mobile outside the network coverage area, dial 112. 

Attend a first aid course run by a Registered Training Organisation, such as St. John Ambulance or the Australian Red Cross. 

Burns & Scalds

  • Remove person from danger.
  • Cool burnt area with cold running water for at least 20 minutes.
  • Remove clothing and jewellery from burnt area, unless stuck to the burn.
  • Place sterile, non-stick dressing over burn – a pharmacist can advise on appropriate dressings.
DO NOT
  • Apply fat, lotion or ointment to burns.
  • Use towels, cotton wool or blankets directly to the burn.
  • Remove anything stuck to a burn.
  • Touch burnt areas or burst any blisters.
You should seek medical aid if:
  • The burn involves the airway.
  • The burn involves hands, face, feet or genitals.
  • The burn is deep, even if the casualty does not feel any pain.
  • You are unsure of the severity of the burn.
  • A superficial burn is larger than a 20-cent piece.

Choking

Adult/child over 1 year
  • Encourage person to relax, breathe deeply and cough to remove object.
  • If unsuccessful – phone 000 for an ambulance.
  • Bend person well forward and give up to 5 sharp back blows (with heel of hand) between their shoulder blades. Check if obstruction has been relieved after each blow.
  • If blockage has not cleared after 5 back blows – place one hand in the middle of the person’s back for support, place the heel of the other hand in the CPR position on the chest and give 5 chest thrusts – slower but sharper then CPR compressions. Check if obstruction has been relieved after each chest thrust.
  • If blockage has not cleared after 5 chest thrusts – continue alternating 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until medical aid arrives.
  • If person becomes unconscious, remove and visible obstruction and commence CPR.
Basic First Aid Kit

  • Sterile cotton gauze swabs to clean wounds. 
  • Assorted sterile adhesive dressing strips. 
  • Assorted non-stick wound/island dressings. 
  • Stretch roller bandage. 
  • Crepe bandage. 
  • Triangular bandage. 
  • Safety pins or clips. 
  • Rust resistant scissors. 
  • Rust resistant tweezers. 
  • Sterile normal saline solution. 
  • Antiseptic. 
  • Isopropyl alcohol swabs. 
  • Sting neutraliser. 
  • Cold or ice pack. 
  • Disposable gloves. 
Infant under 1 year
  • Phone 000 for ambulance.
  • Place infant on your forearm, with head downwards and support head and shoulders on your hand.
  • Hold infant’s mouth open with your fingers and give up to 5 sharp back blows between shoulders with heel of your hand. Check if obstruction has been relieved after each back blow.
  • If blockage has not cleared after 5 back blows – place infant on back on a firm surface, place 2 of your fingers on lower half of breastbone (in CPR position) and give 5 chest thrusts – slower but sharper than CPA compressions. Check if obstruction has been relieved after each chest thrust.
  • If blockage has not cleared after 5 chest thrusts – continue alternating 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until medical aid arrives.
  • If infant becomes unconscious, commence CPR.

Poisoning

  • Follow DRABCD.
  • Phone 000 for ambulance (and fire brigade if atmosphere is contaminated with gas or smoke).
  • Listen to the casualty – provide reassurance but not advice.
  • Try to determine the type, amount and time of poisoning.
  • Phone the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
St. John Ambulance Australia Website: www.stjohn.org.au
Healthdirect Australia Phone: 1800 022 222
Website: www.healthinsite.gov.au
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) Your pharmacist can advise on CMI leaflets
National Prescribing Services (NPS) Medicines Information Phone: 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424)
Website: www.nps.org.au
The Poisons Information Centre In case of poisoning phone 13 11 26 from anywhere in Australia
Pharmacists are medicine experts. Ask a pharmacist for advice when choosing a medicine

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