Medical First Aid
Written by Anam Hussain
Definitions:
- Medical first aid is the aggregation of preventative treatment and procedures performed by medical specialists as part of the DMS. There two types of medical aid. Medical pre-physician and medical physician aid.
- Medical pre-physician First aid is defined as medical activities performed by non-physicians during the DMS, for populations affected by the DFs. It is performed in the FMS, ambulances, hospitals and throughout the medical evacuation. It may also be performed in the AOD if no imminent threat to the life or health of medics is present. The objective of this aid is to maintain vital functions and to prevent the development of severe acute complications.
FA procedures are included and the following additional activities are also performed, when and if required by the type and severity of the injury sustained and the type of AOD.
- Maintain vital functions. In order to maintain breathing, circulation, and CNS functions, several physiological signs have to be monitored. These include: respiratory rate, heart rate/pulse, blood pressure, body temperature
- Begin shock management if necessary
- Suspend bleeding
- Prevent infectious complications
- Stabilise general status
- Prepare and execute medical evacuation
Medical Physician First aid are activities which are performed by medical doctors during the DMS. Its objective is to minimize the negative impact of DF on human life and health. This type of aid is performed in AOD if there is no imminent threat to life and health of the medics. FA and Medical pre-physician First Aid procedures are included and the following additional activities are performed when and if required by the type and severity of the injury sustained and the type of AOD.
- Eradicating all types of asphyxias
- Aggressive intravenous resuscitation and if needed, blood transfusion
- Definitive control of bleeding
- Administration of opioids and morphine for pain reduction
- Initiating cardio-supportive therapy
- Initiation of treatment for pulmonary edema
- Initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy when required, via intravenous administration
- Stomach cleansing via induction of vomiting, during disasters in CAOD. Risk of rupture of oesophagus in some intoxications has to be precisely evaluated however.
- Evacuation of urine in case of urine retention via catheterization or puncture of urinary bladder (also part of medical pre-physician first aid)
- Physician is responsible for proper organisation and prompt execution of medical evacuation. Decisions regarding: necessity, priority, type of transport, medical assistance and psychological support for the evacuee- are all the physician’s responsibility.