What Is First Aid? Essential Guidelines and Practical Examples

What Is First Aid and How Is It Administered? Essential Guidelines

First aid is the immediate assistance provided to a person following an accident, sudden illness or injury before professional medical help arrives. Its primary purpose is to preserve life and prevent the person's condition from deteriorating. Providing first aid involves assessing the safety of the scene, checking the casualty's condition, contacting emergency medical services when necessary and taking appropriate immediate action.

Knowledge of first aid is valuable not only for healthcare professionals but also for employees in manufacturing facilities, construction sites, warehouses, offices and everyday situations.

This article explains the fundamental principles of first aid and the appropriate responses to bleeding, burns, choking, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest.

Important: In a life-threatening emergency in Azerbaijan, call 103 for emergency medical assistance. You can also call 112 for emergency services. This guide does not replace hands-on first aid training or professional medical care.

What Is First Aid and What Is Its Purpose?

First aid refers to the immediate assistance given to someone experiencing an injury or medical emergency before professional medical treatment becomes available.

The main objectives of first aid are to:

• Recognise potentially life-threatening conditions.

• Contact the appropriate emergency services without delay.

• Provide lifesaving assistance within the limits of one's knowledge and skills.

• Prevent further injury or deterioration.

• Monitor the casualty's condition until professional help arrives.

A first aider is not responsible for diagnosing medical conditions or replacing a healthcare professional. The objective is to provide safe, timely and appropriate assistance.

For example, if an employee becomes unconscious at an industrial facility, the first aider should assess the safety of the scene, check the employee's responsiveness and breathing, call emergency medical services and take appropriate action based on the casualty's condition.

How to Provide First Aid: Essential Steps

Knowing the correct sequence of actions is one of the most important aspects of effective first aid.

1. Check the Safety of the Scene

Before approaching a casualty, identify any potential hazards in the surrounding area.

Electricity, moving machinery, fire, hazardous chemicals and moving vehicles may expose both the casualty and the first aider to additional injuries.

For example, following an electrical incident, do not touch the casualty until the electrical supply has been safely isolated.

Never put your own life at risk. If the scene cannot be approached safely, contact the emergency services.

2. Check the Casualty's Responsiveness

Speak to the person and check whether they respond.

If there is no response, call for help and assess whether the person is breathing normally.

Checking the breathing of an unconscious person should take no longer than 10 seconds.

If the person is not breathing normally or is only making occasional abnormal gasping movements, suspect cardiac arrest.

3. Contact Emergency Medical Services

If a life-threatening emergency is suspected, immediately call 103 in Azerbaijan.

Provide the emergency dispatcher with the exact location, the casualty's condition, details of the incident and any hazards present.

If possible, activate the phone's speaker mode and follow the dispatcher's instructions.

4. Provide First Aid Appropriate to the Situation

Different emergencies require different responses.

Controlling blood loss in cases of bleeding, removing the source of danger and cooling burns appropriately, and initiating immediate resuscitation in cases of cardiac arrest are among the key priorities.

How to Provide First Aid During Cardiac Arrest

During cardiac arrest, a person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally.

In this situation, emergency medical services must be contacted immediately, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving intervention designed to maintain blood circulation during cardiac arrest through rhythmic chest compressions and, where appropriate, rescue breaths.

Essential Steps for Adult CPR

1. Ensure the scene is safe.

2. Check the person's responsiveness and normal breathing.

3. Call emergency medical services and request an automated external defibrillator (AED).

4. Position the person on their back on a firm, flat surface.

5. Place your hands in the centre of the chest.

6. Perform chest compressions at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.

7. If you are trained and able to provide rescue breaths, give two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions.

8. If an AED is available, switch it on and follow its instructions.

If you are not trained in rescue breathing or are unable to provide it, perform continuous chest compressions under the guidance of the emergency dispatcher.

Continue CPR until the person begins breathing normally, professional responders take over, you are physically unable to continue or the scene becomes unsafe.

These instructions apply to adults. CPR techniques for children and infants differ and require specific practical training.

First Aid for Bleeding

Severe bleeding can rapidly become life-threatening.

The primary objectives are to control blood loss and obtain professional medical assistance.

How to Control Bleeding

• Ensure your own safety before providing assistance.

• Wear disposable protective gloves if available.

• Identify the source of bleeding.

• Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a sterile dressing or clean cloth.

• Immediately contact emergency medical services in cases of severe bleeding.

• Monitor the casualty until professional help arrives.

A tourniquet may be required in cases of life-threatening bleeding from a limb. Practical training in correct tourniquet application is important.

If a large foreign object is embedded in the wound, do not remove it. Apply pressure around the object and seek emergency medical assistance.

First Aid for Burns

Burns may be caused by hot surfaces, scalding liquids, flames, electrical exposure or chemicals.

One of the most important immediate actions for a thermal burn is to cool the affected area under cool running water as soon as possible.

What to Do in the Event of a Burn

1. Safely remove the person from the source of danger.

2. Cool the burned area under cool running water for 20 minutes.

3. Carefully remove rings, watches and other tight items near the affected area.

4. Do not forcibly remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.

5. After cooling, loosely cover the burn with a clean, non-adherent dressing.

6. Seek emergency medical assistance for severe or extensive burns, electrical burns and chemical burns.

Do not apply ice, oils, toothpaste or other household remedies to burned skin.

When cooling extensive burns, take care to prevent excessive cooling of the rest of the person's body.

Chemical and electrical burns may involve additional hazards and require specific safety precautions and professional medical intervention.

First Aid for Choking

In this context, choking refers to an obstruction of the airway caused by food or a foreign object.

It is essential to determine whether the person can speak, cough or breathe.

If the Person Can Cough

If the person is coughing effectively and can breathe, encourage them to continue coughing.

Monitor their condition closely. Do not attempt to remove an object that cannot be seen by blindly inserting your fingers into their mouth.

If the Person Cannot Breathe

If an adult has a severe airway obstruction:

1. Call for assistance and ensure emergency medical services are contacted.

2. Lean the person forwards and deliver up to five firm back blows between the shoulder blades.

3. If the obstruction is not cleared, deliver up to five abdominal thrusts where appropriate.

4. If the obstruction persists, alternate these techniques and follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions.

5. If the person becomes unconscious and is not breathing normally, begin CPR.

Abdominal thrusts must not be used on infants or pregnant individuals. Different first aid techniques are required in these cases.

Medical assessment following a choking incident is important.

First Aid for Unconsciousness

If a person loses consciousness, first check whether they are breathing normally.

If the unconscious person is breathing normally, contact emergency medical services.

If there is no suspected head, neck or spinal injury, the person may be placed in the recovery position to help maintain an open airway.

If a spinal injury is suspected, do not move the person unless necessary. If movement is required to maintain breathing, follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions.

Continuously monitor the person's condition. If normal breathing stops, begin CPR.

First Aid for Seizures

The primary objective when someone is having a seizure is to protect them from further injury.

During a seizure:

• Remove dangerous objects from the surrounding area.

• If possible, place something soft beneath the person's head.

• Record the time the seizure begins.

• Do not forcibly restrain the person's movements.

• Do not place any objects or liquids in their mouth.

• Do not offer food or drink until the person has fully recovered.

Call emergency medical services if the seizure is prolonged, occurs repeatedly, happens for the first time, or is accompanied by breathing difficulties or serious injury.

Why Is First Aid Important in the Workplace?

Workplace first aid training helps employees respond appropriately to emergencies.

Different working environments may present different types of incidents requiring immediate assistance.

Workplace first aid preparedness should involve more than simply having a first aid kit available.

Employees should know where first aid equipment is located, relevant emergency contact numbers, whom to notify during an emergency and the applicable evacuation procedures.

What Should a First Aid Kit Contain?

The contents of a first aid kit should be determined according to workplace hazards and the intended use of the kit.

Common first aid supplies may include:

• Sterile dressings and bandages.

• Disposable protective gloves.

• Adhesive plasters.

• Sterile wound coverings.

• Medical scissors.

• CPR protective barrier devices.

• Basic first aid instructions.

Additional equipment may be required depending on the nature of the organisation's activities.

First aid supplies should be inspected regularly, and used or expired items must be replaced.

Who Should Attend First Aid Training?

First aid skills are not intended exclusively for healthcare professionals.

First aid training may be particularly beneficial for:

• HSE professionals.

• Production and construction managers.

• Warehouse and logistics personnel.

• Maintenance technicians.

• Corporate training and HR managers.

• Technical personnel working in the wind energy sector.

• Individuals seeking to improve their emergency preparedness.

Practical training courses are particularly valuable because they allow participants to practise CPR, bleeding control and other emergency response skills in a supervised environment.

First Aid Training at IST

The GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) programme offered by Industrial Support and Training Services (IST) includes the GWO First Aid module.

This module is designed to develop first aid knowledge and skills relevant to individuals working in or preparing to enter the wind energy industry.

GWO First Aid should be regarded as sector-specific training rather than a replacement for every general first aid training programme.

Frequently Asked Questions About First Aid

What Is the Difference Between First Aid and Medical Care?

First aid consists of immediate assistance provided before professional medical services become available. Medical care includes assessment and treatment delivered by authorised healthcare professionals.

Is CPR Part of First Aid?

Yes. CPR is one of the lifesaving first aid procedures performed in cases of cardiac arrest.

Do You Need a Medical Qualification to Provide First Aid?

A medical qualification is not necessarily required to learn general first aid skills. However, practical instruction and appropriate training help individuals develop the competence to respond safely.

How Long Is a First Aid Certificate Valid?

Certificate validity depends on the requirements of the training programme and issuing certification body. There is no universal validity period applicable to all first aid certificates.

Should Every Workplace Have the Same First Aid Kit?

No. First aid kit contents should be selected according to identified workplace hazards, the nature of operations and applicable requirements.

Conclusion

The fundamental principles of first aid are to ensure safety, assess the casualty's condition and provide appropriate immediate assistance until professional medical help arrives.

Because bleeding, burns, choking and cardiac arrest require different responses, developing practical first aid skills through hands-on training is essential.