Granville Family Pharmacy

:: First Aid @ Home

Injuries & Wounds
First Aid @ Home

First aid provides the initial and immediate attention to a person suffering an injury or illness. In extreme cases, a quick first aid response could mean the difference between life and death. In many cases, first aid can reduce the severity of the injury or illness. A quick and professional first aid response also calms the injured person, reducing unnecessary stress and anxiety.

It is important that you are able to carry out some basic first aid at home for common events. However, this information does not replace a first aid course through St John Ambulance.

St John Ambulance recommends using their DRABC Action Plan:

D - Danger - Check for Danger - to you, others and the casualty
R - Response - Check Response - is the person conscious?
A - Airway - Check Airway - is the person's airway clear of objects? Is the person's airway open?
B - Breathing - Check for Breathing - Is the chest rising and falling? Can you hear the person's breathing? Can you feel their breath on your cheek?
C - Circulation - Check for Circulation - can you feel a pulse? Can you see any obvious signs of life?

To learn how to do the above steps, and give first aid in general, do a first aid course with an approved organisation.

If it is an emergency, call 000 on a landline or 112 on the GSM network worldwide.

First Aid Situations:

Below are a list of common injuries at home:

First Aid Kit @ Home:

Below is a list of equipment found in a basic first aid kit:

Sterilised cotton gauze swabs to clean wounds
Assorted sterile adhesive dressing strips
Stretch roller bandage
Triangular bandage
Rust-resistant scissors
Sfety pins or clips
Rust-resistant tweezers
Isopropyl alcohol swabs
String neutraliser
Sterile saline solution
Cold pack or ice pack (hot/cold pack)
Pain reliever, eg, paracetamol
Antiseptic swabs and liquid

Further Information:

Ask Your Pharmacist about:

advice on making a first aid kit for home

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