Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

1 Introduction to First Aid

Time Distortion – The more intently we are involved in something, the more we experience it. This can cause our perception of time to become disrupted. This may result in the feeling that time is moving too fast as we try to complete a task or it may seem to be moving too slow as we are waiting for something like a first aid kit or the ambulance. This is a simple misperception but it can cause feelings of panic in the first aider. Aural Distortion – Not hearing people talk to you or talking too loudly. When the first aider becomes too focused on something, the brain will try to limit information that doesn’t directly relate to the primary task at hand. One of the ways it does this is by attempting to lessen or exclude sounds. Olfactory Distortion – The body increases its sensitivity to recognizing odours. Certain smells may seem overpowering.

Cognitive Symptoms of Acute Stress Confusion – Feeling overwhelmed. Not knowing what to do next. Forgetting to do things or doing them out of order. The more complicated or serious an emergency the more stimuli and stressors there will be. As you are exposed to more and more information your brain tries to categorize it as it applies to your situation. The more you need to orient yourself to events and tasks, the easier it is to become overloaded. Tunnel Effect – Focusing on one thing to the point of excluding others. Not being aware of the big picture or what is going on around you. It is normal for the brain to focus on what it perceives as the most important part of what is going on around you. This is good as it helps focus your attention to where it is needed, but the first aider must remain aware of what else is going on with the patient and the scene around them at all times.

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