First Aid is very important in today’s world, and without exception, everyone needs to know a thing or two about it. Having it in your house is not enough, but knowing how to use the implements in the event of an emergency is also important. The emergency could happen to anyone at all, you, a loved one, and even a stranger. The only thing that may end up saving their lives is a competent First Aid treatment.
While First Aid is not really the solution, because it can never replace the diagnosis and treatment of a doctor, it is vital because it gives the victim precious time before a doctor can arrive to take care of them. From administering CPR to stopping the loss of blood in an injury, First Aid is something everyone must know because as basic as it may seem, it could very well be a lifesaver.
A couple of months back, the entire country of Nigeria was shocked by the death of Junior Pope, a Nollywood actor who died in a tragic boat accident. Others died on the boat, but there are speculations that when Pope was pulled from the water, he was still alive. There is the belief that if a competent individual had administered simple First Aid, at least that would have been one less life lost that day. Who knows, a simple CPR could have been all Pope needed to stay alive. But then, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened. I only know what I read online.
The thing is, I’ve also had an opportunity where I had to administer First Aid to someone, and it was quite a shocking episode. However, it wasn’t that major because there were other people around, people who knew way more about it than I did.
It happened in church, back in Lagos. I still remember that day like yesterday. That was supposed to be the celebration of harvest, and if you know Catholic churches, then you know that the masses held on harvest Sundays are always long due to all the thanksgiving they do. That Sunday was no different, the sun was also hot and the heat was stifling.
It happened during the lull between the mass and the harvest celebration proper. About twenty minutes after the mass was over and the organizers were still getting things ready to begin the celebration, suddenly, this young guy who was standing beside me collapsed. It was a noisy fall because he scattered some chairs as he went down, and even smacked his head on the floor.
Due to the nature of his fall, everyone who heard him turned at once. But I was the closest to him, so I got to him first. When I got there, he was unconscious and he was sweating profusely. I could see that he had fainted probably due to the sweltering heat. Also, he was dressed corporate, he had on this thick suit and wore a tie that looked like it was strangling him. Those were the things I went after. I first took off his tie and then his suit. I unbuttoned his shirt all the way, opening it wide so that the breeze could blow over him.
By the time I was done, a lady who was a nurse came and took over, she placed him in a sitting position and began to run checks on him. Later on, he was poured chilled water to revive him and given malt and milk to revamp his energy. By the time it was over, he was feeling fine except for a splitting headache. He got it when his head struck the floor, it was even a wonder that he didn’t get any head injuries. That was how we were able to step in and save the boy. Although his parents were advised to take him to the hospital all the same, just to avoid any surprises.
That singular event was one of the eye-opening reasons to why First Aid is important. It also teaches us that there are stages to treatments. Sometimes, when people lose consciousness, the first thing those around them do is to pour them water. But they never really go after what caused it, and most of the time, it’s usually as clear as the eye can see. Not every time though.
Knowing First Aid is important. Not just for others, but for ourselves as well. We might get injured and would have to treat ourselves before going to the hospital. We might mistakenly get electrocuted and have to help treat ourselves. We never can tell when such a skill will come in handy, that’s why it’s so important for everyone to possess it. It’s for the collective good.
