🩺 First Aid and Emergencies for Health Professionals

About Course

Course: First Aid and Emergencies for Health Professionals

Curriculum on first aid

Photo: the curriculum expectations

This course provides comprehensive training in first aid and emergency care tailored specifically for nurses, midwives, and other health professionals.

It equips learners with essential knowledge and practical skills to respond effectively to a wide range of medical emergencies in both clinical and community settings.

Covering fundamental principles such as patient assessment, airway management, bleeding control, shock management, fracture stabilization, and emergency response protocols, the course emphasizes evidence-based practices aligned with national and international standards.

Students will explore both common and life-threatening scenarios, including cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, trauma, shock, poisoning, burns, and obstetric emergencies.

The course also addresses emergency preparedness, triage, and the psychological aspects of emergency care.

By the end of the course, participants will be confident in providing timely, accurate, and life-saving interventions within the scope of their professional roles.

Why Take This Course?

By the end of this course, you will be confident in:

Delivering life-saving care in critical moments
Understanding emergency protocols across diverse healthcare settings
Acting quickly, professionally, and safely in emergencies
Enhancing your readiness as a health worker on the frontline

Course Content

Topic 1: Introduction to First Aid and Emergencies
This topic explores the concept of first aid and emergencies. It introduces the learners to the definition of common terms, priorities, and principles of first aid, first aider, their roles and responsibilities, first aid kit, protection from infection during first aid and emergencies, and other basics for this foundational course unit.

Lesson 1.1 Introduction to First Aid: Becoming a First Aider
Lesson 1.2: Protection from Infection During First Aid
Lesson 1.3: First Aid Kit (Materials and gadgets)

Topic 2: Handling a Casualty & Managing Incidents
This topic explores key aspects to pay attention to when dealing with casualties, assessment of casualties, vital observations, head-to-toe examination, important procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or the use of AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and how to safely lift and carry casualties. It also explores how to manage incidents like fire, drowning, lightning, electric shock, and more.

Topic 3: Emergency Life-support skills and techniques
This topic explores a few life-saving techniques and skills that first aiders must know. Examples are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an AED (automated external defibrillator) machine, putting a casualty in recovery position, head-tilt chin-lift maneuver, and jaw thrust, and others.

Topic 4: Circulatory and blood-related emergencies
Circulatory and blood-related emergencies involve injuries or conditions that affect the blood vessels, heart, and circulation. These emergencies can range from bleeding wounds, internal bleeding, and shock to blood clotting problems and cardiac emergencies. Prompt recognition and first aid are critical to control bleeding, maintain circulation, and prevent life-threatening complications.

Topic 5: The respiratory system and its emergencies
The respiratory system is responsible for breathing and supplying oxygen to the body while removing carbon dioxide. Emergencies affecting this system can rapidly become life-threatening because oxygen delivery to vital organs is compromised. Common respiratory emergencies include airway obstruction, choking, asthma attacks, and respiratory failure. Prompt recognition and appropriate first aid are critical to preserve life and prevent further complications.

Topic 6: Central Nervous System (CNS) Emergencies
The central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, controls all bodily functions including movement, sensation, and consciousness. Emergencies affecting the CNS can rapidly become life-threatening because they impair vital functions such as breathing, circulation, and awareness. Common CNS emergencies include unconsciousness, seizures, stroke, and head injuries. Prompt recognition and appropriate first aid are critical to prevent permanent damage or death.

Topic 7: Gastrointestinal (GIT) emergencies
Gastrointestinal emergencies involve sudden or severe problems of the digestive system, which can affect the stomach, intestines, liver, or related organs. These emergencies may cause pain, bleeding, obstruction, or systemic illness, and some can become life-threatening if not addressed promptly.

Topic 8: Musculoskeltal emergencies
Musculoskeletal emergencies involve injuries to bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments, often resulting from trauma, accidents, or overuse. These injuries can range from minor strains and sprains to serious fractures, dislocations, and compartment syndrome that may threaten limb function or life.

Topic 9: Skin, Soft Tissue and Environmental Emergencies
Skin, soft tissue, and environmental emergencies involve injuries or illnesses that affect the skin, underlying tissues, and the body’s response to environmental extremes. These emergencies can range from minor burns, bites, and stings to life-threatening heat stroke, frostbite, or severe allergic reactions.

Topic 10: Foreign Bodies
Foreign body emergencies occur when objects such as splinters, beads, food particles, or other materials enter parts of the body where they do not belong. Such objects can cause pain, infection, bleeding, or obstruction of vital structures.

Topic 11: Medical diseases of emergency
Certain chronic medical conditions can suddenly become life-threatening if they are not recognized and treated promptly. Quick identification of warning signs and timely first aid or referral can prevent serious complications or death.

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About Course

Course: First Aid and Emergencies for Health Professionals

Why Take This Course?

Course Content

Lesson 1.1 Introduction to First Aid: Becoming a First Aider

Lesson 1.2: Protection from Infection During First Aid

Lesson 1.3: First Aid Kit (Materials and gadgets)

Lesson 2.1: Dealing with a Casualty: Aspects to Pay Attention to

Lesson 2.2: Assessment of a Casualty (Primary & Secondary Survey)

Lesson 2.3: Handling and Moving a Casualty: Safe Lifting and Carrying Techniques

Lesson 2.4: Managing Incidents (Fires)

Lesson 2.5: Drawning and Water incidents

Lesson 2.6: Road Traffic Accidents

Lesson 2.7: Lightning strikes

Lesson 2.8: Electrick Shock

Lesson 3.1: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Lesson 3.2: Using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Machine

Lesson 3.3: Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver and jaw thrust

Lesson 3.4: Recovery position

Lesson 4.1: Wounds and their first aid

Lesson 4.2: Bleeding and its management

Lesson 4.3: Specific Types of Bleeding

Lesson 4.4: Shock and its management

Lesson 4.5: Chain pain emergencies (angina & heart attack)

Lesson 4.6: Heart failure and cardiac arrest

Lesson 4.7: Fainting (Syncope)

Lesson 5.1: Foreign body in the nose

Lesson 5.2: Choking and Airway obstruction

Lesson 5.3: Hypoxia and Asphyxia

Lesson 5.4: Hanging and Strangulation

Lesson 5.5: Inhalation of smoke and toxic fumes

Lesson 5.6: Asthmatic attack

Lesson 5.7: Anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions

Lesson 6.1: The Unconscious Casualty (Unconsciousness)

Lesson 6.2: Head Injury

Lesson 6.3: Spinal Injury

Lesson 6.4: Seizures and convulsions

Lesson 6.5: Stroke (Cerebrovascular accident – CVA)

Lesson 6.6: Acute Meningitis

Lesson 7.1: Acute Abdomen (Abdominal Pain)

Lesson 7.2: Food Poisoning and Acute Gastroenteritis

Lesson 7.3: Vomiting Blood (Haematemesis)

Lesson 7.4: Severe Diarrhoea with Dehydration

Lesson 7.5: Swallowed Foreign Bodies

Lesson 7.6: Poisoning – Corrosive or Chemical Ingestion

Lesson 7.7: Acute Faecal Impaction

Lesson 7.8: Acute Liver Disorders with Confusion (Hepatic Encephalopathy)

Lesson 8.1: Fractures

Lesson 8.2: Sprains and strains

Lesson 8.3: Dislocations

Lesson 8.4: Crush Injuries

Lesson 8.5: Compartment syndrome

Lesson 9.1: Heat-Related Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Lesson 9.2: Cold-Related Illness: Hypothermia and Frostbite

Lesson 9.3: Burns and Scalds: Thermal, Electrical, Chemical

Lesson 9.4: Allergic reactions

Lesson 9.5: Bites (dog, human, insect, snake bites)

Topic 10: Foreign Bodies Foreign body emergencies occur when objects such as splinters, beads, food particles, or other materials enter parts of the body where they do not belong. Such objects can cause pain, infection, bleeding, or obstruction of vital structures.

Lesson 10.1: Foreign bodies (Skin, Ears, Nose)

Lesson 10.2: Foreign bodies (mouth or throat, eyes, aspirated foreign body)

Topic 11: Medical diseases of emergency Certain chronic medical conditions can suddenly become life-threatening if they are not recognized and treated promptly. Quick identification of warning signs and timely first aid or referral can prevent serious complications or death.

Lesson 11.1: Diabetes, severe fever

Lesson 11.2: Severe headache or migraines, acute hypertensive crisis

Student Ratings & Reviews

Topic 10: Foreign Bodies
Foreign body emergencies occur when objects such as splinters, beads, food particles, or other materials enter parts of the body where they do not belong. Such objects can cause pain, infection, bleeding, or obstruction of vital structures.

Topic 11: Medical diseases of emergency
Certain chronic medical conditions can suddenly become life-threatening if they are not recognized and treated promptly. Quick identification of warning signs and timely first aid or referral can prevent serious complications or death.