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First Aid is the immediate and temporary proper aid provided to a sick or injured person or animal until medical treatment can be provided. It generally consists of series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or lay person can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.
History The Knights Hospitaller were probably the first to specialize in battlefield care for the wounded. St. John Ambulance was formed in 1877 to teach first aid (a term devised by the order) in large railway centres and mining districts. The order and its training began to spread throughout the British Empire and Europe. As well, in 1859 Henry Dunant helped organize villagers in Switzerland to help victims of the Battle of Solferino. Four years later, four nations met in Geneva and formed the organization which has grown into the Red Cross. Developments in first aid and many other medical techniques have been fueled in large by wars: the American Civil War prompted Clara Barton to organize the American Red Cross. Today, there are several groups that promote first aid, such as the military and the Scouting movement. New techniques and equipment have helped make today's first aid simple and effective. Training One needs hands-on training by experts to perform first aid safely. Such training is more useful if it occurs before an actual emergency. Proper emergency preparedness is achieved only with regular and up-to-date refresher courses and recertifications, especially for potentially lethal emergencies such as those that require CPR. Training in first aid is often available through community organizations. In the United Kingdom, there are two main types of first aid courses offered. An "Emergency Aid for Appointed Persons" course typically lasts one day, and covers the basics, focusing on critical interventions for conditions such as cardiac arrest and severe bleeding, and is usually not formally assessed. A "First Aid at Work" course is a four-day course (two days for a requalification) that covers the full spectrum of first aid, and is formally assessed. Certificates for the "First Aid at Work" course are issued by the training organisation and are valid for a period of three years from the date the delegate passes the course. Other courses offered by training organisations include Baby & Child Courses, manual handling, people moving, and courses geared towards more advanced life support, such as defibrillation and administration of medical gases (oxygen & entonox). Wilderness first aid Wilderness first aid is the provision of first aid under conditions where the arrival of emergency responders or the evacuation of an injured person may be delayed due to constraints of terrain, weather, and available persons or equipment. It may be necessary to care for an injured person for several hours or days. In the United States, Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is the name of a certification in wilderness medicine that covers wilderness first aid; depending on the laws applicable where it is practiced, it may impose specific responsibilities and confer specific immunities on duly-diligent practitioners. For instance, the practicing of certain rules of WFA, by someone certified in the usual "street" First Aid discipline but not in WFA (or a higher Wilderness Medicine qualification), could result in civil liability or perhaps even criminal prosecution. Conditions that often require first aid Also see medical emergency Providing first aid Techniques and procedures of first aid Red Cross symbol Although commonly associated with first aid, the symbol of a red cross is an official symbol of the Red Cross. According to the Geneva Conventions and other international law, the use of this symbol is reserved for official agencies of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and as a protective emblem for medical personnel and facilities in combat situations. Other color or symbols, such as the Star of Life can be used as indicators for "first aid". | ||||||||
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