why do aid

A helping wing ...
Our bird nest is growing and we aim to make it a safe space for everyone. That's why we want to draw attention to First Aid this year! Did you know that CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, after a cardiac arrest can save 10,000 lives every year? But when was your last First Aid course? And would you take action? We described seven emergency measures: refresh your knowledge! Or organize your next First Aid course with the contact points listed below.
Securing the accident site
Securing the accident site is particularly important after traffic accidents but also necessary in every other unstable environment like forest, mountains or ski slopes.
  • If you're in traffic: Put on the safety vest, turn on the warning lights and position the warning triangle about 100 meters away – you can find it in your trunk!
  • Signal vehicles or passerbys to move slowly or provide additional aid.
  • Colourful jackets can be hung up on bike paths, walking trails or trees to indicate the accident site.
A common misconception!
"In the event of an accident, immediately provide first aid."
In general, "safety comes first" applies after accidents. Self-protection is the top priority, and there's no benefit for the affected person if you put yourself in danger.
Rescuing from the danger zone
Rescuing from the danger zone should not risk your own life!
  • If the engine of an accident vehicle is still running, turn it off.
  • Have a fire extinguisher ready in case you need to extinguish burning persons or objects.
  • To remove a person from a vehicle or tight surrounding, grab them from behind and gently pull them out under your arms. If people are trapped and you can't free them, leave the rescue to the emergency forces.
Did you know ...?
The obligation to provide assistance is regulated by the German Criminal Code. Failure to provide assistance in the event of an accident may result in imprisonment or a fine. However, the obligation is waived if the aid involves a substantial personal risk. For example, a person who cannot swim is not expected to go into the water to save another person from drowning.
Emer­gen­cy call via 112
Your call should cover the five Ws:
  • Where did it happen? Accurately pinpoint the location.
  • What happened? Summerize briefly and accurately.
  • Who is calling? Say your name and provide a call-back number.
  • Who is affected? How many people are injured?
  • Wait and hold the line.
Did you know ...?
Since 1991, 112 is the standardized emergency number in Europe. When the number is dialed, you are automatically forwarded to the local emergency call. In Austria there is an SMS emergency call, which can be used, for example, by deaf people. Other agreed signal forms are "SOS" or "Mayday", e.g. as Morse code in sound or light form.
CPR (chest compressions and rescue breathing)
If a person is unconscious, there is a risk of their breathing or heartbeat stopping.
  • Check if a person is breathing by bending their head back and opening their mouth. If not, pinch their nose, take a breath and make complete seal over the person’s mouth with your mouth.
  • Perform CPR with 100 to 120 compressions per minute, for example to the beat of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees. Don't stop until the rescue team arrives!
A common misconception!
"Without mouth-to-mouth, there's no resuscitation."
In the first minutes of a cardiac arrest, there is no lack of oxygen in the body, so you should focus on the heart pressure massage. After minute three, the heart pressure massage and mouth-to-mouth ventilation are performed in a ratio of 30:2. Not sure how fast a 100-120 bpm frequency is? No problem, we have put together a playlist of songs for CPR!
Stop the bleeding
If a person loses more than one litre of blood, it is already life-threatening – so stopping blood loss is crucial.
  • Make sure the affected person is treated lying down.
  • In case of an arm wound, apply pressure to the artery in the upper arm to stop the blood flow.
  • In case of a leg or head wound, apply a compress or clean clothes. Finally apply a pressure bandage.
A common misconception!
"Bind heavily bleeding wounds immediately!"
Bleeding should not be restrained but treated with pressure bandages. For this purpose, a wound pad is placed on the wound and fastened with a pressure pad and a gauze bandage. In contrast to the pressure bandage, the blood circulation is interrupted during binding and the affected part of the body could die.
Shock containment
Symptoms of shock are restlessness, anxiety, trembling and cold, pale and sweaty skin.
  • When the person is conscious, lay them down and put their legs up. If necessary, shield the person from their surroundings, as further restlessness or excitement should be avoided.
  • Cover the person with a blanket.
A common misconception!
"In the event of a shock, the shock position must be applied immediately!"
In shock position, the affected person lies flat and the legs are raised. But there are exceptions: in case of cardiac arrest, the legs should not be raised up, as this causes additional strain on the heart. In the case of head, chest and spinal injuries, the shock position is also dangerous and can lead to further injuries.
Recovery position
The recovery position is used to protect persons from suffocation: the airways remain free and vomit or blood can drain.
  • Apply the recovery position when the affected person is unconscious but their breathing is adequate.
A common misconception!
"Always bring an injured person into the recovery position!"
In general, those affected should be placed in a recovery position if they are unconscious but have normal breathing. If there is difficulty in breathing, people must lie on their backs and if there is no breathing at all, CPR must be performed.
Not enough?  
Book a First Aid Course for further knowledge and hands-on training. Your help makes a difference.

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