Basic First Aid
FoundationStay calm first: for scalds remember rinse, remove, soak, cover, send; press and raise bleeding wounds; watch the exits at big events and fires; call 999 in emergencies.
- First aid principles: stay calm, ensure safety, seek help fast.
- Scalds in five steps: rinse, remove, soak, cover, send.
- Press bleeding wounds with clean gauze and raise them.
文體小知識：說明文教你在關鍵時刻保護生命。這一篇學簡易急救方法，以及面對大型群眾聚集和火警時的應變策略。
§Text Passage
1Accidents can happen any time: a scald, a cut, a nosebleed, or a sudden incident in a crowd. First aid means helping the injured correctly before medical personnel arrive. Three principles: first, stay calm — panic only muddles; second, make sure the place is safe and protect yourself; third, seek help quickly — call an adult or dial 999.
2Scalded by boiling water or hot soup, remember five words: rinse, remove, soak, cover, send. Rinse: flush the burn under running cool water for at least fifteen minutes. Remove: take off clothing near the burn carefully — never tear where it sticks. Soak: rest the burn in cool water to ease pain. Cover: lay clean gauze lightly over it. Send: let an adult take the person to hospital.
3For a bleeding wound, press firmly with clean gauze or a handkerchief and raise the injured part above the chest until bleeding stops, then let an adult bandage it. For a nosebleed, lean slightly forward, pinch the soft part below the nose bridge for about ten minutes, and breathe through the mouth; do not tilt the head back or blood runs down the throat. For a sprain, cool it to ease swelling — never rub it.
4At big events such as sports days and firework shows, note the exits beforehand, stay close to adults, never push in the crowd or bend down to pick things up, and shield your chest with both arms if it gets tight. In a fire, shout to alert adults and dial 999 at once, cover mouth and nose with a wet towel, crouch low and leave along the fire exit — never take the lift — and count heads at the assembly point.
5The emergency number 999 serves round the clock. When connected, calmly state the place, what has happened, the number of injured and their condition, follow instructions, and do not hang up in a hurry. Remember your home address and parents' phone numbers. May you never need first aid — but knowing it, you can protect yourself and help others when it matters.
1Summary 重點摘要
Stay calm first: for scalds remember rinse, remove, soak, cover, send; press and raise bleeding wounds; watch the exits at big events and fires; call 999 in emergencies.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Helping an injured or ill person correctly before medical personnel arrive.
A burn caused by boiling water, hot soup or steam.
Flushing the wound under running cool water — the first step for scalds.
Clean thin cloth used to cover and dress wounds.
Pressing on a bleeding wound with the hand to stop the bleeding.
Leaving a dangerous place in an orderly way.
The designated stairs and exits used to escape a fire.
The place where everyone gathers after evacuation to be counted.
Hong Kong's emergency number 999 for police, ambulance and fire services.
An event where huge crowds gather, such as fireworks displays or sports days.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know what first aid means and its principlesGood first aid can stop an injury worsening and even save lives. Remember three principles: first, stay calm — breathe deeply and keep a clear head, for panic wastes time; second, check the place is safe, such as switching off power or keeping clear of traffic — protect yourself before helping others; third, get help fast — call nearby adults loudly, and dial 999 in an emergency. Pupils need not play the hero: do what you can and follow adults' instructions.
- Step 2: Learn the five steps for scaldsScalds are a common home accident. Remember the five-word rhyme: rinse, remove, soak, cover, send. Rinse: flush the burn under running cool water for at least fifteen minutes to draw out the heat. Remove: take off clothing and accessories near the burn in the water, never tearing where it sticks to skin. Soak: keep the burn in cool water to ease pain. Cover: lay clean gauze or cloth lightly over it. Send: let an adult judge and take the person to hospital if needed. Never apply toothpaste or soy sauce, and never burst the blisters.
- Step 3: Learn to handle a bleeding woundFor a minor cut, first rinse dirt from around the wound, then press directly on it with clean gauze or a handkerchief and raise the injured arm or leg above the chest to help the bleeding stop; once it stops, let an adult dress it with plaster or a bandage. If bleeding will not stop, keep pressing and add layers of clean gauze, and go to hospital at once. For a deep wound from glass or a nail, never pull the object out yourself — fix gauze around it and leave removal to medical staff.
- Step 4: Learn to handle nosebleeds and sprainsWith a nosebleed, sit and lean slightly forward, pinch the soft part below the nose bridge with thumb and forefinger for about ten minutes, breathing through the mouth; do not tilt the head back or blood runs into the throat. After it stops, do not pick the nose for a few hours. For a sprained ankle, stop moving at once and cool it with a cold pack or an ice bag wrapped in a towel, fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, to ease swelling; do not rub or knead it, then let an adult decide whether a doctor is needed.
- Step 5: Master safety at big crowded eventsBefore a big event such as a fireworks display or sports day, agree with adults where to meet if separated. On arrival, first note where the exits and emergency passages are; the edges of the crowd or open spaces are safer, and stay close to adults. If the crowd presses in, fold your arms in front of your chest, plant your feet and drift slowly with the flow — never walk against it, bend to pick things up, or push. If the crowd becomes too dense or restless, leave early and tell the staff on site.
- Step 6: Master fire evacuationWhen the fire alarm sounds or you find a fire, shout to alert adults at once and dial 999, stating the address clearly. Cover mouth and nose with a wet towel, crouch or bend low as you go, for smoke and heat rise and the air nearer the floor is cleaner. Leave along the fire-exit stairs — never take the lift — and do not go back for belongings. At the outdoor assembly point, count heads and tell the firefighters whether anyone is missing. Learn the escape routes of home and school well in advance.
- Step 7: Use the 999 call correctlyIn an emergency, dial 999 calmly and give four pieces of information: the place — as exactly as possible, with street and nearby buildings; what has happened — fire, traffic accident or injury; how many are hurt and their condition; and your name and contact number. Then follow the operator's instructions and do not hang up in a hurry; before help arrives, ask what else you can do. 999 exists to save lives — never play with it.
5Worked example Example
Example: In home economics class, Yan scalds the back of her hand with boiling water; the skin turns red and she cries with pain. How should her classmates help?
- Stay calm and tell the teacher at once to take over — the first principle of first aid.
- Rinse: help Yan hold the burn under running cool water for at least fifteen minutes to draw out heat and ease pain.
- Remove and soak: help her take off bracelets carefully — never tear clothing that sticks; then keep soaking in cool water.
- Cover: after rinsing, lay clean gauze lightly over the burn — no toothpaste or soy sauce, and never burst blisters.
- Send: let the teacher judge the injury and decide whether to call 999 or have parents take her to a doctor.
- Answer: Her classmates should stay calm and call the teacher, then help Yan rinse the burn under running water for fifteen minutes, take off jewellery and loosen clothing carefully, and keep soaking in cool water. Afterwards cover it with clean gauze — never toothpaste or soy sauce, never burst blisters — and let the teacher decide on hospital care. These are exactly the five steps: rinse, remove, soak, cover, send.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What are the five words for scald first aid?
Q2What should be used to rinse a scald?
Q3What should we do for a bleeding wound?
Q4May we take the lift when escaping a fire?
Q5What must be stated when calling 999?
8Recap Recap
- First aid principles: stay calm, ensure safety, seek help fast.
- Scalds in five steps: rinse, remove, soak, cover, send.
- Press bleeding wounds with clean gauze and raise them.
- Note the exits at big events; crouch low on fire-exit stairs.
- State the place and situation clearly on 999 — never misuse it.