Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM
Introduction
Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere at any time. These are common
situations that come out in reality that has a great effect on one’s health condition that
may eventually worsen and result to any complications especially when not given an
immediate proper care or first aid or when left untreated. Activities of daily living,
person’s productivity, and the whole aspects of a person can be affected if these happen.
Therefore, there is a need to have adequate knowledge in giving and rendering first-aid to
First aid is the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly
taken ill. It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or is
“First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually
Proper early measures may be instrumental in saving life and ensuring a better
and more rapid recovery. The avoidance of unnecessary movement and over-excitation of
the victim often prevents further injury. The essentials of first aid treatment also include
the correct bandaging of a wound; the application of splints for fractures and dislocations;
2
and treatment of shock, frostbite, fainting, bites and stings, burns, and heat exhaustion.
The person giving first-aid, (the first-aider), deals with the whole situation, the
injured person, and the injury or illness. He knows what not to do as well as what to do;
he avoids errors that are frequently made by untrained persons through well-meant but
misguided efforts. He knows, too, that his first aid knowledge and skill can mean the
difference between life and death, between temporary and permanent disability, and
Statistics show that accidents are leading cause of death among persons from one
year old to thirty-eight years old, thereafter, accidents are one of the leading causes. The
annual cost of medical attention, the loss of earning ability due to temporary or
permanent impairment, the direct property damage, and the insurance costs amount to
many billions of dollars each year, not to mention the toll in pain, suffering, disability,
Added to the grim accident statistics is the fact that the pattern of medical care has
changed. Individuals today require, and should demand, the best possible care.
Equipment for diagnosis and treatment, which is needed to provide such care, is usually
at a hospital. Moreover, the growing population and expanding health needs have not
been balanced by a proportional increase in numbers of doctors, nurses, and allied health
workers. It is not enough to say, “call the doctor”; a doctor may not be available to come
to the scene of the emergency.(Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care, First Edition,
1989)
3
This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and practices of the mothers
in terms of first aid. In our study, it is not only the mothers and their families that are
benefited but the society itself. It covers not only the privilege ones but also the less
fortunate people who have no means of buying expensive health maintaining gadgets but
through reach out programs that lend free assistance giving them great hopes for a more
Results of this study can therefore be used as a baseline data for health authorities
in planning and formulating programs. It would also causes awareness and active
participation of the home and the community in the promotion of these programs. It is
also intended to evaluate and lessen the occurrence of first aid non-discomforts to be able
This study aimed to determine the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-
A. Socio-Demographic
a. age;
b. civil status;
d. occupation;
two years
a. wounds;
b. fainting;
c. vomiting;
e. animal bites;
a. print media,
b. broadcast media,
c. internet, and
d. health workers?
2. What is the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid among the
respondents?
This study was limited to the determination of the extent of knowledge and
practice towards first aid among residents in selected barangays of Nueva Era, Ilocos
Norte.
Common emergencies that were covered in this study were wounds, fainting,
The respondents of the study were randomly selected mothers ages 18 to 50 from
the barangays of Acnam, Barikir, Cabittauran, Bugayong, Caray, Garnaden, Sto Nino,
Mothers were the respondents of the study for the reason that they are the primary
Garnaden, Sto Nino, Poblacion) were the respondents in these barangays are far from the
The independent variables were the socio-demographic factor such as age, civil
last two years and sources of information about first aid, and the dependent variables
were the extent of knowledge, and extent of practice towards first-aid among residents in
with informal interview. The questionnaire used was formulated by the researchers and
was validated by the researchers’ statistician, adviser and three experts in the field of
giving first aid; one representative from Philippine National Red Cross, one with
Doctorate Degree, and one Registered Nurse. Some of the questions were adapted from
related studies about emergency cases and books about first aid.
The statistical tools used in this study were frequency and percentage in
describing the socio-demographic factors of the respondents, mean to describe the extent
ascertain of a relationship exist between the socio-demographic profile and the level of
awareness and practices of the respondents. Analysis of variance was also used to
determine the difference of the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid
Theoretical Framework
This section presents readings and concepts that guided the researchers in
First Aid, emergency care for a victim of sudden illness or injury until more
skillful medical treatment is available. First aid may save a life or improve certain vital
minor emergencies, first aid may prevent a victim’s condition from worsening and
7
provide relief from pain. First aid must be administered as quickly as possible. In the case
of the critically injured, a few minutes can make the difference between complete
First-aid measures depend upon a victim’s needs and the provider’s level of knowledge
do. Improperly moving a person with a neck injury, for example, can lead to permanent
spinal injury and paralysis. (Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care, First Edition,
1989)
Despite the variety of injuries possible, several principles of first aid apply to all
emergencies. The first step is to call for professional medical help. Determine that the
scene of the accident is safe before attempting to provide first aid. The victim, if
conscious, should be reassured that medical aid has been requested, and asked for
permission to provide any first aid. Next, assess the scene, asking bystanders or the
injured person’s family or friends about details of the injury or illness, any care that may
have already been given, and preexisting conditions such as diabetes or heart trouble. The
victim should be checked for a medical bracelet or card that describes special medical
conditions. Unless the accident scene becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further
threatening conditions exist. One method for evaluating a victim’s condition is known by
B — Breathing—is the person breathing? Look, listen, and feel for breathing.
Once obvious injuries have been evaluated, the injured person’s head should be
kept in a neutral position in line with the body. If no evidence exists to suggest potential
skull or spinal injury, place the injured person in a comfortable position. Positioned on
one side, a victim can vomit without choking or obstructing the airway.
Before treating specific injuries, protect the victim from shock—a depression of
the body’s vital functions that, left untreated, can result in death. Shock occurs when
blood pressure (pressure exerted against blood vessel walls) drops and the organs do not
receive enough blood, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. The symptoms of shock
are anxiety or restlessness; pale, cool, clammy skin; a weak but rapid pulse; shallow
breathing; bluish lips; and nausea. These symptoms may not be apparent immediately, as
shock can develop several hours after an accident. To prevent shock, the victim should be
covered with blankets or warm clothes to maintain a normal body temperature. The
victim’s feet should be elevated because of the danger of abdominal injuries, nothing
The presence of blood over a considerable area of a person’s body does not
always indicate severe bleeding. The blood may ooze from multiple small wounds or be
smeared, giving the appearance of more blood than is actually present. The rate at which
blood is lost from a wound depends on the size and kind of blood vessel ruptured. Bright
red, spurting blood indicates injury to an artery while welling or steadily flowing, dark
artery ruptures, a person may bleed to death within a minute. Injuries to veins and minor
arteries bleed more slowly but may also be fatal if left unattended. Shock usually results
from loss of fluids, such as blood, and must be prevented as soon as the loss of blood has
been stopped.
To stop the bleeding, apply pressure directly over the wound and, when possible,
elevate the bleeding body part. The first-aid provider should use bandages to hold a
sterile dressing or clean cloth firmly over the wound. Dressings that become saturated
with blood should not be removed but should be reinforced with additional layers. If an
arm or leg wound bleeds rapidly and cannot be controlled by dressings and bandages, the
first-aid provider can apply pressure to the artery at a point adjacent to the bleed called
the pressure point. Arteries pass close to the skin at these points and can be compressed
against underlying bone to stop arterial bleeding. The pressure point for the femoral
artery, which supplies blood to the leg, is located on the front center of the leg’s hinge,
the crease of the groin area where the artery crosses the pelvic bone. The pressure point
10
for the brachial artery, which supplies blood to the arm, is located halfway between the
Fainting, a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness, occurs when the brain does
not receive enough blood. Just before fainting, a person’s skin may appear pale and
clammy or sweaty. To restore blood flow to the brain, a first-aid provider should elevate
the unconscious person’s feet or position the individual’s head below the level of the
heart. The victim’s airway and breathing should be closely monitored. A fainting victim
must also be kept warm to prevent shock. If the victim does not fully recover after five
Seizures, sudden brief episodes of intense neurological activity, may result from a
variety of causes, including epilepsy, a neurological disorder, and head injuries. First aid
for seizures consists of protecting the victim from accidental injury during the seizure.
The first-aid provider should not put any objects in a seizing person’s mouth or try to
hold the tongue. If the victim has medical identification indicating epilepsy, an
ambulance need not be called unless the person experiences multiple seizures or one
seizure lasts more than five minutes. Otherwise, once the seizure stops, question the
person about the need for a hospital evaluation. If no medical identification exists the
traumatic brain injury can cause comas and a medical alert tag on the victim may identify
a possible cause of the coma. If the person is breathing, first aid is limited to providing
11
comfort until medical assistance arrives. If the victim is not breathing, the first-aid
Animals such as snakes, dogs, cats, small rodents like squirrels, certain insects,
and spiders may bite humans with dangerous consequences. Many snakebites are caused
the wound. Bites inflicted by venomous snakes require immediate first-aid measures. The
victim should be taken as soon as possible to the nearest emergency medical facility. In
the interim, the first-aid provider should not cut the area around the bite, attempt to suck
out the venom, or apply ice to the wound. The focus of first aid should be to prevent the
venom from spreading rapidly through the individual’s bloodstream. The victim should
be kept quiet to avoid stimulating circulation of the venom. In addition, the bite area
should be kept at a lower level than the rest of the body. The wound should be washed
thoroughly with soap and water, blotted dry, and loosely covered with a sterile dressing.
Bites from other animals should be thoroughly washed, treated with an antibiotic
ointment, and bandaged. The victim should seek medical attention if the bite is severe, if
rabies (an infectious viral disease) is suspected, or if the bite becomes infected. Bites
from other humans are particularly prone to serious bacterial infection and should be
immunizations are not current may need a shot for tetanus, an often fatal infectious
Biting insects include fleas, mosquitoes, bedbugs, lice, chiggers, and gnats. Bites
from these insects should be washed to prevent infection, and cold compresses or topical
12
medications applied to alleviate itching and pain. Bites from some species of ticks can
cause serious illnesses including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When
a tick bites a person, it may attach itself to the body by burrowing into the skin. As a
result, a tick should be removed by carefully pulling it straight out with tweezers so as
not to leave its head behind. The tick should not be squeezed when it is removed. Bites
from most spiders can be treated like those of other biting insects. Bites from black
widow spiders and other poisonous spiders require medical help. They are treated
Stoppler (2007) defines first aid as the assistance given to an injured or sick
person in need of urgent medical assistance. First aid applies to a broad range of medical
situations and consists both of specific knowledge and skills (e.g. what to do for each
type of injury or illness) and the ability to assess a situation and make appropriate
decisions (such as when to call for emergency medical assistance). Preparedness is a key
element of first aid. While every home, auto, and boat should be equipped with a basic
emergency kit that includes first aid supplies and first aid manual, special circumstance
may necessitate more advanced or specific degrees of preparation for an emergency. For
prepare for emergencies by assembling disaster preparedness kits such as earthquake kits,
flood kits and evacuation kits. Travellers should also prepare to administer first aid in the
region they plan to visit. In many developed countries, this may amount to packing a
standard first aid kit and manual with your belongings. Medicines to prevent motion
sickness and advanced awareness about the management of traveller’s diarrhea are also
13
should include medicines and supplies that may not be available for purchases as well as
any specific products (such as insect repellent to prevent mosquito and tick bites) needed
for your destination. It’s also important for travellers in foreign countries to learn how to
specific. It is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured
person, but to a person who is sick. Pre3paredness is a key element of first aid, like
having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car or boat. It is also advised to be
prepared for illnesses while travelling locally or to a foreign country. Cuts, puncture,
wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart
attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of ore critical first aid
emergencies.
The National First Aid Science Advisory Board (2005), defined first as
assessments and interventions that can be performed by a bystander (or the victim) with
minimal or no medical equipment. A first aid provider is defined as someone with formal
training in first aid, emergency care, or medicine who provides first aid. First aid
first aid must not delay activation of emergency medical services (EMS) system or other
medical assistance when required. The board recognizes that certain conditions that can
be treated with first aid may not require EMS involvement or assistance by other medical
professionals. The National First Aid Science Advisory Board strongly believes that
14
education in first aid should be universal: everyone can learn first aid and everyone
should.
The national first aid science advisory board recognized that the scope of first aid
is not purely scientific and is related to both training and regulatory issues. The definition
supply to the brain. Fainting in brought on by such conditions as shock, emotional upsets,
giddiness and weakness, and by pallor and blurring of vision. At this stage, fainting can
usually be prevented by sitting down and placing the head between the knees. A person
who has fainted should be laid on his or her back, and all tight clothing should be
loosened. If the face is pale and the pulse is weak, the head should be lowered or the legs
raised. Either procedure will help increase the blood supply to the brain. If the person’s
face is flushed and the pulse is strong, the person’s head and shoulders should be raised
and the face bathed with cold water. Smelling salts, which are stimulants, are usually of
little or no value. In some cases, they may be harmful. For example, if there is a head
injury, smelling salts may stimulate the flow of blood (New Standards Encyclopedia,
Volume 7).
educational background in their studies in the current issue reflected that poor health is
medicine and superstitions make it difficult for more educated and superstitious families
to isolate the sick person, to use chemicals to kill bacteria and to immunized themselves
during childhood and superstitious lead high morbidity and mortality which otherwise
preventable.
Conceptual Framework
This study revolved around the paradigm presented below. It shows the
relationship between the dependent variables such as the extent of knowledge and
practice towards first-aid and the independent variables such as the socio-demographic
factors of the respondents, common illnesses/conditions needing first-aid suffered for the
A. Socio-demographic Factors
• Civil status
• Educational Attainment
• Occupation
B. Common illness / Conditions
needing first aid suffered for
the past two years
• Wound
• Fainting
• Vomiting
Extent of Practice
• Insect bites
• Animal bites
16
The paradigm shows the relationship between the dependent variables and
independent variables.
For purposes of classification and better understanding, the following terms are
hereby defined:
understanding
Age. This refers to the number of years the respondents have been living
graduate, high school level, high school graduate, college level, college graduate and post
graduate.
17
Occupation. This refers to the work or the means of support for everyday
Vomiting. This term refers to the dislodging of food from the stomach to the
mouth.
Insect bites. These are bites from mosquitoes, fleas and mites that are more likely
to cause itching.
Animal bites. These are wounds received from the mouth of dogs, snakes, cats,
Print media. This term refers to print material that can be used as a source
source of information.
Health Workers. this term refers to the people who work as providers of
Assumptions
Based on the problems raised on this study, the researchers assumed that:
correct measures of their extent of knowledge and practices towards first aid.
3. The statistical tools used to measure the extent of knowledge and practices on first
Hypothesis
Methodology
This section presents the research design of the study, the population and sample,
data gathering instrument, data gathering procedure, and the statistical treatment of data.
Research Design. The researchers utilized the descriptive research design using
correlational technique to find out the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid
among the residents in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte. The descriptive method was employed to
needing first aid suffered for the past two years, and sources of information about first-
aid on how it is related to the extent of knowledge and practice on first aid. The co-
relational method was used to determine the relationship between the dependent and
independent variables. A comparative method was also used to determine the difference
between the extent of knowledge and first-aid practice between and among the
respondents.
Population and Sample. The respondents of the study were mothers ages 18-50
Table 1
Distribution of Respondents
BARANGAYS N n %
information about the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid among the
was utilized to gather information from the mother respondents. The questionnaire-
checklist was developed by the researchers and was content-validated by the researchers’
adviser, statistician, and experts in the field of first-aid. These experts were composed of
a representative from the Philippine National Red Cross—Ilocos Sur Chapter, a holder of
a doctorate degree, and a nurse. They came out of a validation score of 4.33 which means
that they “strongly agree” on the items presented on the questionnaire-checklist. The
Part I – Profile of Respondents. This part showed the data pertinent to the socio-
occupation; common illnesses/conditions needing first aid suffered for the past two years
in terms of wounds, fainting, vomiting, insect bites, and animal bites; and sources of
information about first aid such as print media, broadcast media, internet, and health
workers.
21
first aid among the residents in selected barangays of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.
Part III – Extent of Practice. This measured the extent of practice towards first-aid
A five (5) points rating scale was used for both questionnaire-checklist on the
extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid among the residents in selected
4 Agree Often
3 Undecided Sometimes
2 Disagree Rarely
The following norms for interpretation were used to describe the extent of
knowledge and practice towards first-aid among the residents in selected barangays of
Data Gathering Procedure. Permission was secured from the Dean of the
College of Nursing (CN) to conduct the study. Permission was also requested from the
Municipal Mayor and Barangay Chairman of each barangay. The researchers personally
distributed the questionnaire from the respondents. This was coupled with informal
interview to validate their responses that was asked from the questionnaire.
Statistical Treatment of Data. The following statistical tools were used in the
study:
needing first aid suffered for the past two years, and sources of information about first-
aid.
Mean. This was utilized to describe the extent of knowledge and practice
towards first-aid among the residents in selected barangays of Nueva Era, Iloco Norte.
between the extent of knowledge and practice towards first-aid between and among the
respondents.
23