5 . First aid is the emergency care for a victim’s (受害人) sudden illness or injury until more skillful medical treatment is available.First aid may save a life or improve certain vital (生命攸关的) signs including pulse, temperature, an unobstructed airway, and breathing.In minor emergencies, first aid may prevent a victim’s condition from worsening and provide relief (解除) from pain.First aid must be carried out as quickly as possible.In the case of the seriously injured, a few minutes can make a difference between a complete recovery and the loss of life.

First-aid measures depend upon a victim’s needs and the provider’s level of knowledge and skills.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 the everlasting spinal injury and paralysis (永久性脊髓伤害和瘫痪).

Despite the variety of injuries possible, several principles of first aid can be used for all emergencies.The first step is to call for the professional medical help.The victim, if conscious (有知觉的), should be reassured that medical aid has been requested, and asked for permission to provide any first aid.Next, assess (估计) the scene, asking other people 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 (原先就存在的疾病) such as diabetes (糖尿病) or heart trouble.Unless the accident scene becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further injury, do not move the victim.

First aid requires rapid assessment (估计) of victims to determine whether life threatening conditions exist. One method for evaluating (估计) a victim’s condition is known by the acronym (只取首字母缩写词) ABC, which stands for:

A－Airway: Is it open and unobstructed?

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

C－Circulation: Is there a pulse? Is the person bleeding externally (体表上)? Check the skin color and temperature for the additional indications of circulation problems．

Once the 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 the potential skull (头骨) or spinal injury, place the injured person in a comfortable position. Positioned on one side, a victim can throw up without choking (窒息) or obstructing the airway.

7 . No matter how advanced technology gets, it can never be a substitute for good doctors and medical workers. During this year alone, health care professionals from all over the world have been putting themselves in a harmful way to treat COVID-19 patients. In times like this it is more important than ever that everyone has access to a doctor. But, according to statistics from the WHO, China has 19.79 medical doctors per 10,000 people (2017), the US has 26.12, and the UK has 27.86.

However, the rise of telemedicine allows doctors to make better use of their time and provides better health care access, especially for those in rural areas. Telemedicine is the remote delivery of health care services, including online consultations and diagnoses, and remote patient monitoring.

According to the World Economy Forum, nearly every other industry adopted widespread use of conference calls, and more recently, used video chats in order to cooperate remotely, while health care providers and patients both hesitated to adopt these tools to deliver health care. However, COVID-19 could push them to adopt the new approach. Having one of the best health care systems in the world, Switzerland already offers virtual video appointments for private patients, and with cloud computing, this care can go even further.

With patient data being stored in the cloud, medical records can be easily shared and updated by all health care providers when required. With the addition of powerful cloud networks, wearable technology, such as bracelets, can monitor a patient’s key signs from their homes, removing the need for hospital care.

Seema, administrator of Medicare and Medicaid Centre, told the Wall Street Journal, “The arrival of telehealth has been just completely speeded, and it’s taken this crisis to push us to a new frontier.” Indeed, telemedicine will have a huge effect on medical care, allowing for more personalized treatment of patients after COVID-19 has relieved.

10 . Last week when I was reading at home, my younger sister rushed in and told me an old man was lying on the round in front of our building. I immediately took my first-aid kit and ran downstairs. He was suffering a slight heart attack. And I performed CPR on him. Luckily, an ambulance came soon and he was taken to hospital. Later that day I was told by the hospital what I did helped rescue the old man’s life.     1    . However, at the same time I fell a bit sad. There were many people who wanted to help around the old man then. Yet no one performed first aid on him as they hadn’t attended a first-aid course. I think everyone should learn at least some basic first-aid techniques, which can be very important.     2    .

You can gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to act in an emergency. You never know when you might need them — you could be at home, at work, at school or on holiday.     3    , you can act whenever you’re needed.

You can be a resource for your community. For your family, your neighbors or the broader community, having more people with first-aid skills helps build a stronger and more harmonious community.

You can stay safe at work. Illness and injury can happen anywhere, anytime.     4    , and you can also help meet your workplace’s safety requirements.

    5    . The first-hand experience you gain through learning first aid and using your skills could help you decide if you want to pursue a career in the health profession. It also shows your commitment to a career in the health profession when it comes to applying for jobs.