Contents
Contents
LEARNING PROGRAMME GUIDE
OBJECTIVES
WHAT IS FIRST AID?
THE OBJECTIVES OF FIRST AID
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID
THE LAW
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 2 – ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
OBJECTIVES
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
THE INTEGUMNTARY SYSTEM
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 3 – PERSONAL SAFETY
OBJECTIVES
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION CONTROL
REMOVING GLOVES
HIV AND AIDS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 4 – SCENE MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVES
SCENE SURVEY
PRIORITISE THE VICTIMS
CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 5 – CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
OBJECTIVES
HAZARDS
CPR CYCLES
WHEN TO STOP CPR
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 6 – AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR
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OBJECTIVES
PRINCIPLES OF EARLY DEFIBRILLATION
STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF AEDS (AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS)
AED OPERATION
STEPS TO OPERATE ALL AEDs
CPR AND AED USE
ONE RESCUER WITH AED
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
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MODULE 7 – VICTIM ASSESSMENT
OBJECTIVES
PRIMARY SURVEY
The conscious victim
The unconscious victim
SECONDARY SURVEY
HEAD-TO-TOE EXAMINATION
HISTORY
VITAL SIGNS
Level of Consciousness
Pulse
Breathing
Skin colour, temperature and condition
Pupils
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 8 – BREATHING EMERGENCIES
OBJECTIVES
BREATHING EMERGENCIES
Signs of Breathing Emergencies
Ineffective Breathing
RECOGNITION OF CHOKING
CAUSES
MANAGEMENT OF CHOKING
Conscious Victim
Conscious Victim Becoming Unconscious
Unconscious victim
Alone and choking
ARTIFICIAL BREATHING TECHNIQUES
COMPLICATIONS OF BREATHING EMERGENCIES
PERFORMING ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF

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MODULE 9 – SHOCK
OBJECTIVES
Causes
Signs and symptoms
Management
Positioning a Victim in Shock
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 10 – CEREBROVASCULAR EMERGENCIES
OBJECTIVES
UNCONSCIOUSNESS
Causes
Management
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT/INCIDENT (Stroke)
Causes
Signs and symptoms
Recognition
Management
FAINTING
Causes
Signs and symptoms
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 11 – CARDIOVASCULAR EMERGENCIES
OBJECTIVES
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
RISK FACTORS
HYPERTENSION
ANGINA
HEART ATTACK
Signs and symptoms
Management
CARDIAC ARREST
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 12 – BLEEDING AND WOUND CARE
OBJECTIVES
TYPES OF WOUNDS
Wounds That Need Medical Care
DRESSINGS
BANDAGES
BLEEDING
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External bleeding
Internal bleeding
Management
Treatment of a wound with an impaled object
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DRESSINGS AND BANDAGES
CHECKING AND MONITORING CIRCULATION
ABDOMINAL WOUNDS
Management of abdominal wounds
WOUND INFECTION
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 13 – BURNS
OBJECTIVES
Safety measures
TYPES OF BURNS
Thermal (heat) burns
Chemical burns
Electrical burns
Radiation burns
CLASSIFICATION OF THE DEPTH OF A BURN
Superficial burns
Signs and symptoms
Partial-thickness burns
Signs and symptoms
Full-thickness burns
Signs and symptoms
The rule of palm
Management of thermal burns
Superficial burns
Partial-thickness burns (less Than 10% BSA)
Partial-thickness burns (more than and equal to 20% BSA) and all full-thickness burns
CHEMICAL BURNS
Management of chemical burns
ELECTRICAL BURNS
Signs and symptoms
Common causes of electrical burns
Management of electrical burns
RADIATION BURNS
Complications
EYES
Chemicals in the Eye
First Aid for Chemicals in the Eye
Eye Burns from Light
First Aid for Eye Burns from Light
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 14 – HEAD INJURIES
OBJECTIVES
HEAD INJURIES
Mechanism of injury
Signs and symptoms
Management
General considerations
NOSE INJURIES
NOSE BLEED
Management
FRACTURED NOSE
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 15 – BONE AND MUSCLE INJURIES
OBJECTIVES
CATEGORIES OF INJURIES
FRACTURES
DISLOCATIONS
Mechanism of injury
SPLINTS
Types of Splints
Signs and symptoms
First aid for injuries to the upper limbs
First aid for injuries to the lower limbs
First aid for fractures of the pelvis
SPRAINS AND STRAINS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 16 – SPINAL INJURIES
OBJECTIVES
Mechanism of injury
Signs and symptoms
Management
General considerations
Prevention and treatment of back and neck injuries in rescuers
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 17 – RESCUE CARRIES AND MOVING VICTIMS
OBJECTIVES
Immediate dangers:
Principles of safety before moving the victim
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ONE-RESCUER CARRIES
TWO-RESCUER CARRIES
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
MODULE 18 – TWO-RESPONDER CPR
OBJECTIVES
TECHNIQUE
USING AN AED
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 19 – CHILD AND INFANT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
OBJECTIVES
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN
Common causes/mechanisms of injury causing respiratory arrest
Prevention of breathing emergencies
Child/Infant Artificial Respiration
Performing Compressions on a Child
Performing compressions on an infant
CPR with an AED on a child/infant
MANAGEMENT OF A CHOKING CHILD/INFANT
Conscious Child Choking Becoming Unconscious
Conscious Infant Choking Becoming Unconscious
General Considerations for Children/infants
TWO-RESCUER CPR
USING AN AED
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 20 – CHEST INJURIES
OBJECTIVES
TYPES
Closed chest injury:
Open chest injury:
RIB FRACTURES
Signs and symptoms
PENETRATING CHEST INJURIES
Signs and symptoms
FLAIL CHEST
Signs and symptoms
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
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MODULE 21 – MULTIPLE VICTIM MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVES
Triage
After colour-coding
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 22 – POISONS
OBJECTIVES
Prevention
Approach to poisonings
How poisons enter the body
INGESTION
Signs and symptoms
Specific first aid for ingested poisons
ABSORPTION
Signs and symptoms
Specific first aid for absorbed poisons
INHALATION
Signs and symptoms
Specific first aid for inhaled poisons
INJECTION
Signs and symptoms
Specific First Aid for Injected Poisons
GENERAL FIRST AID FOR POISONINGS
Poison Information Hotline
PLANT POISONING
JIMSON WEED
Signs and symptoms
CASTOR OIL PLANT
Signs and symptoms
OLEANDER
Signs and symptoms
SYRINGA TREE
Signs and symptoms
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 23 – BITES & STINGS
OBJECTIVES
SNAKES
TYPES OF VENOM
Neurotoxic Venom
Signs and symptoms
Haemotoxic Venom
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Signs and symptoms
Cytotoxic Venom
Signs and symptoms
FRONT FANGED SNAKES (ELAPIDAE)
Snakes in this category:
Characteristics
BACK FANGED SNAKES (COLUBRIDAE)
Snakes in this category
Characteristics
ADDERS (VIPERIDAE)
Snakes in this category
Characteristics
Signs and symptoms of snake bites
Treatment of snake bites
DO NOT:
HUMAN AND ANIMAL BITES
Management
INSECT BITES
TICK BITES
Signs and symptoms
First aid for tick bites
DO NOT:
SPIDERS
BUTTON SPIDERS
Signs and symptoms
VIOLIN SPIDERS
Signs and symptoms
SAC SPIDERS
Signs and symptoms
Treatment of spider bites
SCORPIONS
Signs and symptoms
Treatment of scorpion stings
BEES, WASPS, AND HORNETS
Signs and symptoms
Treatment
How to avoid being stung or bitten
MARINE BITES AND STINGS
BLUE BOTTLES
Signs and symptoms
Management
SEA URCHIN
Signs and symptoms
Management
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General guidelines for prevention of marine bites and stings
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 24 – MEDICAL CONDITIONS
OBJECTIVES
DIABETES
DIABETIC EMERGENCIES
HYPERGLYCAEMIA
Causes
Signs and symptoms
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Causes
Signs and symptoms
FIRST AID FOR DIABETIC EMERGENCIES
EPILEPSY/ CONVULSIONS (SEIZURES)
Common causes of seizures
Types of seizures
PHASES OF GENERALISED SEIZURE
Signs and symptoms
Management of seizures
SEIZURES IN CHILDREN/INFANTS
STATUS EPILEPTICUS
ASTHMA
Causes
Signs and symptoms
Management
ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Signs and symptoms
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 25 – DROWNING
OBJECTIVES
DROWNING
Causes
Signs and symptoms
First aid
NOTE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 26 – ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESSES AND INJURIES
OBJECTIVES
HOW THE BODY REGULATES HEAT
HEAT RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
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Causes
Prevention
HEAT RASH
Signs and symptoms
HEAT CRAMPS
Signs and symptoms
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Signs and symptoms
HEAT STROKE
Signs and symptoms
Management
COLD RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
Heat loss
Risk factors
Prevention of cold injuries or illnesses
FROSTBITE
STAGES OF FROSTBITE
Superficial
Signs and symptoms
Superficial
Deep
Signs and Symptoms
Management
HYPOTHERMIA
Signs and symptoms
Management
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 27 – EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH AND MISCARRIAGE
OBJECTIVES
PREGNANCY
First trimester (Conception to 14 weeks)
Second trimester (15 – 26 weeks)
Third trimester (27 – 40 weeks)
STAGES OF LABOUR
Signs of labour
Signs of imminent delivery
Preparing for delivery
Preparing mother for delivery
Delivery
EXCESSIVE BLEEDING FROM THE VAGINA
NOTE
MISCARRIAGE
Types of Abortions
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Emergency care for miscarriage
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TEST YOURSELF
MODULE 28 – SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
THE ELDERLY
THE DEAF
THE BLIND
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED
UNIT STANDARD