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First aid course · Lesson 4

Wounds, shock & other emergencies

Stopping heavy bleeding, recognising shock, protecting yourself – and the key actions for the most common emergencies.

Heavy bleeding

With heavy, spurting or strongly flowing bleeding, every second counts. Immediately press a clean cloth or dressing material directly onto the wound and apply a pressure bandage. Raise the affected limb. Wear – if available – disposable gloves. If the bleeding cannot be stopped, keep up the pressure consistently until the ambulance takes over.

Shock

With major blood loss or serious injuries, shock threatens. The signs are pale, cool skin, shivering, restlessness and a fast pulse.

The classic shock position: lay the person flat on their back and raise the legs about 20–30 cm above the upper body (e.g. on a backpack or held by a helper). This way gravity returns more blood to the heart and brain and stabilises circulation. Keep the person warm, reassure them and continuously monitor consciousness and breathing. Give nothing to drink.

Not always legs upThe shock position can also do harm – do not raise the legs with a suspected heart attack (then raise the upper body), with breathing difficulty, with head, spine, chest or abdominal injuries, or with pelvic/leg fractures. If the person is unconscious, the recovery position applies. When in doubt, lay them flat and let the emergency services decide.

Infection protection

Self-protection is not only about traffic and fire, but also about infections. Blood can transmit diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B and C. That’s why disposable gloves belong in every first aid kit, and for ventilation there are barrier cloths or masks. Rule of thumb: no direct contact with other people’s blood. The risk is low, but easy to avoid.

Other common emergencies

  • Burns: cool for a few minutes with lukewarm water (not ice-cold), then cover loosely and cleanly.
  • Fractures: immobilise, do not reset, do not move forcefully.
  • Heart attack (chest pressure, radiating to arm/jaw, shortness of breath, sweating): 144 immediately, position the person calmly with the upper body raised.
  • Stroke (sudden paralysis, drooping mouth, speech disorder): 144 immediately, position calmly.
  • Poisoning: call Tox Info Suisse on 145, do not administer anything yourself.
  • Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): call 144; help use an adrenaline auto-injector if available, raise the upper body if breathing is difficult.
  • Seizure: remove dangers, cushion the head, do not restrain, put nothing in the mouth; then recovery position. Seizure over about 5 minutes: 144.
  • Low blood sugar: if awake, quickly give sugar (glucose, juice); if unconscious, give nothing by mouth, recovery position and 144.
  • Heat and cold: heatstroke, move into the shade, cool, give fluids; hypothermia, warm up slowly, remove wet clothing, keep calm.
FAST mnemonicSpot a stroke in seconds: Face (drooping corner of the mouth?), Arms (one arm drifting down?), Speech (slurred?), Time (don’t lose time – 144 immediately).
To finishThis learning part prepares you for the course – the life-saving skills you practise and consolidate in person on the manikin. In an emergency the rule is always: better to act imperfectly than not at all.

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