Key facts

  • First aid is the immediate help given before professional care;
  • DRABC means Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation;
  • The recovery position is used for an unresponsive person who is breathing normally;
  • Severe bleeding is controlled by firm direct pressure with a clean dressing; this matters because blood loss can quickly lead to shock.
  • Adult CPR is used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally;

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    First aid is the immediate help given before professional care; its aims are to preserve life, prevent worsening, and promote recovery without putting the rescuer at risk.

  2. 2

    DRABC means Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation; it is used in the primary survey to find life-threatening problems in the safest order.

  3. 3

    The recovery position is used for an unresponsive person who is breathing normally; it keeps the airway open and reduces the risk of choking on vomit or fluids.

  4. 4

    Severe bleeding is controlled by firm direct pressure with a clean dressing; this matters because blood loss can quickly lead to shock.

  5. 5

    Adult CPR is used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally; compress the centre of the chest at 100-120 per minute, about 5-6 cm (2-2.4 inches) deep, to maintain blood flow.

  6. 6

    Standard adult CPR uses 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths; hands-only CPR is acceptable for an untrained bystander or when rescue breaths are unsafe.

  7. 7

    Choking in a conscious adult is managed by encouraging coughing first, then using back blows and abdominal thrusts if the person cannot cough, speak, or breathe.

  8. 8

    The chain of survival links early recognition, emergency response, CPR, AED use, professional care, and recovery; each early step improves the chance of survival.

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First aid: purpose and limits

First aid is the first, temporary help given to an injured or suddenly ill person until trained medical help arrives or the person reaches a health facility. At CET Graduate level, the subject is not about memorising hospital treatment. It is about knowing the safe first response: protect yourself, call for help early, prevent avoidable harm, and use simple techniques correctly. The three classic aims are to preserve life, prevent the condition from becoming worse, and promote recovery. A first-aider does not diagnose like a doctor, give risky medicines, or try heroic procedures beyond training.

The first-aider's role begins with scene safety. Road traffic, fire, electricity, crowd pressure, chemicals, and violence can turn one casualty into many. If the scene is unsafe, call emergency services and wait at a safe distance. If it is safe, approach calmly, introduce yourself if the person is conscious, ask for permission to help, and give clear instructions to nearby people. In India, bystander help is important in road accidents because professional care may take time to arrive, especially outside large cities.

Core idea: first aid is useful only when it is calm, safe, and within the rescuer's ability.

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