Casualty Care
- hellonotarealdr
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Most of the information in this article links into, or should be together with, the post titled "Communication".
When caring for a casualty, you are trying to achieve a few things:
Avoid infection
Do not make the injury worse
Treat as fully as possible with the materials and experience you have
The most important step is to talk to the casualty* calmly and gently, so that you can gather as much information as possible to relay to emergency services if they are being called. Casualties may not always be able to communicate clearly due to their injuries or the stress of the situation, so it is up to the first aider to ask the right questions and speak calmly.
To avoid wound infection, it is important to wear gloves if possible before dealing with open wounds. You should also avoid cross-infection by only using sterile bandages from a first-aid kit, rather than "making do" with other materials. Dispose of any waste after you are done.
When calling emergency services, make sure that you have the correct information about the casualty - again, by listening to them carefully and asking the right questions. There is a certain etiquette* for calling emergency services that you should follow if possible, detailed in "Calling the Ambulance". If you cannot remember how to speak to them, do not worry - they are trained to do so and will be able to get the right information.
Deaf people can use the 999 BSL app if necessary.
Summary:
When caring for a casualty, you are trying to achieve a few things - avoid infection, do not make the injury worse, and to treat them as fully as possible with the materials and experience you have. Try to speak calmly, avoid infection, and gather the right information.
Glossary:
Casualty: the person that's hurt in a first aid scenario.
Etiquette: a certain way of doing things.
For Older Learners:
Use these questions to challenge yourself!
Why do you think it's important for emergency services to follow a standard questioning format, and how can a first aider help make this process faster and more effective?
If the casualty cannot speak (due to shock, language barrier, or disability), what creative or practical ways could you use to gather the information needed by emergency services?
Imagine you only have access to unsterile materials, such as a cloth napkin, and no gloves. What ethical decisions might you have to make when treating a bleeding wound?
Comentários