The Role of First Aid in Disaster Relief

First aid in disaster relief

In a disastrous situation, no one knows when and how it's gonna happen, whether it be an earthquake, floods or man-made disasters. In any of these situations the chance of survival is quite low and even lower when there are no trained first aid practitioners amongst the civilians.

Whatever chance of survival there is, it has to be utilized to the best of our abilities and make sure we are able to save ourselves and others around us.

The first response to any disastrous situation is to look for a rescue team or to leave the scene, but this is where first aid is crucial as it can save lives and increase the survival rate of those around you at least to help a patient survive till a professional help arrives.

Instead of panicking, looking for help because you don't know what to do, it's better if you are equipped with the knowledge on how to survive and rescue people, in such situations you will be able to maintain your composure and know the things you are required to do.

The important roles of first aid are the following:

Assessment/survey and stabilization.

As a first aid responder being the first on the situation/scene is to be expected. They assess the scene and the patients and provide medically care to those with injuries. Some of these include, being able to manage a bleeding, provide CPR and immobilising fractures. These are just basic examples.

Prevention of further damage and complications.

The task of a first aid responder is not only to stabilise the injuries and complications at the scene but also to prevent further problematic complications to the best of their abilities and they are able to do so at an immediate response to the injury and scene.

They ensure that the injured individuals are moved to a safer area and they do whatever they can to support anyone present at the scene, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Emotional support.

Trauma is another lifelong complication, people can build trauma after a terrifying incident or encounter, especially in a natural disaster people are lost and scared and even while they are saved physically, they are left terrified after such an incident.

First aid responders provide more than just physical care, they provide emotional care as well by comforting, reassuring the patients who are in a state of shock or distress.

Training measurements.

First aid responders are not only responsible for reacting to immediate situations/scenes but also responsible for training individuals or communities for them to respond effectively in situations.

This helps provide assistance to themselves and the others.

Leading way to professional care.

During disasters, professional help may be overwhelmed and would sometimes be unable to reach the area on time effectively.

The task of a first aid responder is to fill the gap and help out people just until professional care arrives. This is crucial to save lives and minimise the severity of injuries.

Promotions.

Educating and training people should not just be limited to a community or area and have them be the only ones in assistance, it should be promoted to the public, taking measurements like giving courses to schools, neighborhoods, in online platforms.

AidBoost provides that assistance and helps promote such acts, starting with our online platform where you can educate yourself about first aid and appointment training sessions with first aid instructors near you.

And to help create awareness and promote first aid knowledge and skills, it will help to support AidBoost.

The world could be a safer place if everyone has basic knowledge on first aid, this would increase the survival rate in many scenarios, even if it is by a small margin, there’s always a hope and that hope can only come from within you and your confidence in your knowledge and experience.

AidBoost aims to have the world equipped with all the survival skills so that the world may become safer.