First aid is the immediate and temporary care given to a person who is injured or suddenly ill. Its purpose is to prevent the casualty's condition from worsening, to promote recovery, and to preserve life until professional medical help arrives. First aid is crucial because timely intervention in those first minutes after an emergency can save lives, reduce pain and suffering, prevent complications, and minimize long-term disability.
Whenever a first aider approaches an emergency scene, the first priority is always personal safety. Before touching the casualty, the rescuer must ensure the scene is safe for themselves, bystanders, and the injured person, removing any obvious dangers when it is possible to do so without taking risks. Once the area is secure, the standard approach to assessment is summarized by the acronym DRABC: Danger (scene safety), Response (assess consciousness), Airway (open and clear), Breathing (check rate and quality), and Circulation (check pulse and control bleeding).
To check whether a person is conscious, the rescuer should gently squeeze their shoulders and ask loudly, "Are you alright?" while watching for any response in movement, sound, or eye opening. If the casualty is unconscious but breathing normally, they should be placed in the recovery position. This involves rolling them onto their side with the head tilted back so that the airway remains open, the tongue cannot fall backward, and fluids can drain from the mouth. Knowing when and how to use this simple position is often enough to keep a person stable until further help arrives.