Meaning, Objectives and Materials of First Aid for Primary 1

First Aid

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of first aid;
2. mention the objectives of first aid;
3. recognise a first box;
4. identify the contents of a first aid box.

What is First Aid?

First aid is the help given to someone who is hurt or suddenly sick, before a doctor or nurse arrives.

Imagine a friend falls down and scrapes a knee during playtime. First aid is the quick help given to that friend right away. It is not a full medical treatment, but it helps the person until proper medical help can be found.

Objectives of First Aid

First aid has important goals. These goals help to make sure the injured or sick person gets the best immediate care.

The main objectives of first aid are:

1. To save life.
2. To stop the injury or sickness from getting worse.
3. To help the person feel better and be more comfortable.

The First Aid Box

A first aid box is a special container that holds all the important materials needed to give first aid. It is usually kept in a place where everyone can see it and reach it easily, like in the home, school, or a public building.

A first aid box often has a white colour with a green cross symbol on it. This symbol helps people to recognise it quickly in an emergency.

Observe the image below to see what a first aid box looks like.

Materials in a First Aid Box

A first aid box contains different materials that are used to help someone who is hurt or sick. Each material has a special use.

It is important to know what these materials are and what they are used for. An adult should always help when using any of these materials.

Common materials found in a first aid box include:

1. Scissors: These are used for cutting bandages or plasters to the right size.
2. Iodine: This is a liquid used to clean small cuts and wounds to prevent germs from entering. An adult should apply it carefully.
3. Cotton wool: This soft material is used to clean wounds or to apply liquids like iodine or methylated spirit.
4. Bandage: A bandage is a strip of cloth used to cover wounds, hold dressings in place, or support an injured part of the body.
5. Forceps: These are small tools, like tweezers, used to pick up tiny objects or to handle cotton wool without touching it with hands.
6. Methylated spirit: This liquid is used to clean the skin around a wound before applying other treatments. It should only be used by an adult.
7. Plaster: A plaster is a small sticky strip used to cover minor cuts and scrapes.
8. Hand gloves: These are worn on the hands to keep them clean and to prevent germs from spreading when giving first aid.

Look at the image below to see some of the materials found inside a first aid box.