Chapter 1: Introduction to First Aid

First aid is the initial procedure and treatment performed for a victim who experiences an acute injury or illness, including a fall, seizures, or cardiac arrest. The undesirable incident may occur at any time and anywhere, regardless of whether you are prepared or not. Thus, equipping yourself with the appropriate knowledge and skills is crucial to saving a life.

Imagine a situation in which your colleagues unexpectedly experience a harmful incident that poses a critical threat to their lives, and you are the only person available at that time. Would you allow them to suffer the pain without any life-saving intervention, or at least attempt a basic procedure that could make a difference? The decisions lie in your hands, as it ultimately depends on your level of knowledge and skills in providing first aid.

Anyone can be a first aider to assist victims in preventing, minimising, and delaying the deterioration of conditions after an injury or illness occurs. The principles of providing first aid are simple, which include ‘preserve life’, ‘prevent further harm’, and ‘promote recovery’. Although the principles are simple, they require the first aider to acquire the appropriate knowledge and skills to assist the victims. Without adequate knowledge and skills, it is nearly impossible to provide effective assistance to victims, and the risk of causing further harm to them remains high.

These First Aid Guidelines were specifically designed for individuals who have never attended any formal medical education. It will cover various and common workplace (office) incidents, including minor cuts or lacerations, burns and scalds, falls, fainting (syncope), choking, sprains and strains, asthma attacks, allergic reactions, eye injuries, electrocution or electric shock, head injuries, seizures, and cardiac emergencies. To optimise the learning outcome, the author has prepared basic information on human anatomy and physiology suitable for the layperson. The information is consistent with the recommendations from the European Resuscitation Council (ERC).

Thus, these guidelines are intended to equip employers and employees with essential knowledge and skills to respond effectively and potentially save lives in workplace emergencies, particularly in an office setting. The guidelines are presented in a clear and concise format, making them easy to understand for quick reference. In the preparation of these guidelines, the authors made extensive references and discussions with experts in the field, following the principles of a first aider to support the Malaysian government’s health initiative and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and 4, which emphasise providing effective health support systems and quality medical education.