First aid is the emergency treatment given to the ill or injured before professional medical services can be obtained. It is given to prevent death or further injury, to counteract shock, and to relieve pain. Certain conditions, such as severe bleeding or asphyxiation, require immediate treatment if the patient is to survive. In such cases, even a few seconds’ delay might mean the difference between life and death.

On finding a casualty: look to your own safety: do not become the next casualty; if necessary, remove the casualty from danger or remove danger from the casualty. If there is only one unconscious or bleeding casualty, give immediate treatment to that casualty only, and then send for help.

If there is more than one unconscious or bleeding casualty: send for help; then start giving appropriate treatment to the worst casualty in the following order of priority: severe bleeding; stopped breathing/heart; unconsciousness.

First aid must be administered immediately to restore breathing and heart-beat; control bleeding; remove poisons; prevent further injury to the patient.

A rapid, emergency evaluation of the patient should be made immediately at the scene of the injury to determine the type and extent of the trauma. Because every second may count, only the essential pieces of the patient’s clothing should be removed.