Chen Wei, a high school student in Beijing, had his dinner     1     when he heard someone screaming from another table. A fellow diner at the restaurant, Zhang Tao, was choking on some steak. He was now holding his throat with his face     2     red, while his desperate friends were     3     him on the back.

3 . There are numerous reasons why people don’t take First Aid training programs.     1     Or they think that accidents happen to other people, not to them or their friends, family and colleagues. But if you ask any individual who has already taken a first aid training program if it was worth it, their answer will be “Yes!” Having some basic first aid knowledge is essential and here are the reasons.

    2    

Having a basic first aid knowledge means that you’ll be confident in your skills and abilities in relation to first aid administration. By taking first aid training, it helps you to reflect on yourself and how you and others react in certain situations. Having this understanding will boost your confidence in a wide range of non-medical day-to-day situations.

It does more than help save lives.

It’s true that having first aid training undoubtedly helps save lives.     3     Giving appropriate first aid immediately can also help to reduce a person’s recovery time and make the difference between the patient having a temporary (短暂的) disability and a long term disability.

It enables you to increase patients’ comfort.

Not all accidents, injuries or illnesses require a trip to the hospital but it doesn’t mean they don’t cause pain and suffering to the patient.     4     By knowing how to act — even just by employing simple techniques such as applying an ice pack correctly, you’ll help to relieve his discomfort.

It gives you tools to prevent the situation from becoming worse.

By being able to provide basic care you can stabilize a patient until emergency medical services arrive. You’ll learn how to use basic household items as tools to cope with many situations. You’ll also be trained in how to collect information and data about what happened and the patients’ condition. This information will be passed on to the emergency services, which saves them time.     5    

4 . First aid is 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 signs including pulse, temperature, a clear airway, and breathing. In minor emergencies, first aid may prevent a victim’s condition from worsening and provide relief from pain. First aid must be given as quickly as possible. In the case of seriously injured, a few minutes can make the difference between complete recovery and loss of life.

First aid measures depend upon a victim’s needs and provider’s level of knowledge and skill. Knowing what not to do in an emergency is as important as knowing what to do. Improperly moving a person with a neck injury, for example, can lead to permanent spinal (脊柱的)injury.

Despite the variety of injuries possible, several basic rules of first aid apply to all emergencies. The first step is to call for professional medical help. The victim, if conscious(有意识的), should be reassured that medical aid has been requested, and ask for permission to provide any first aid. Next, assess(评估)the scene, asking other people or the injured person’s family or friends about details of the injury or illness. The victim should be checked for the medical card that describes special medical conditions. Unless the accident scene becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further injury, do not move the victim.

First aid requires rapid assessment of victims to determine whether life-threatening conditions exist. One method for assessing a victim’s condition is known by ABC, which stands for:

A—Airway: Is it open and clear

B—Breathing: Is the person breathing? Look, listen, and feel for breathing.

C—Circulation: Is there a pulse? Is the person bleeding extremely? Check skin color and temperature for additional signs of circulation problems.