First Aid and Fire Safety
This domain tests basic life support, common first aid decisions, and correct use of fire equipment under Kenyan safety law.
First aid priorities
Scene safety first, then DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
- Unconscious but breathing: recovery position and monitor.
- Adult CPR: 30 compressions at about 5 to 6 cm depth and 100 to 120 per minute, then 2 rescue breaths if trained; use an AED as soon as it arrives.
- Severe bleeding: direct pressure, elevate, add dressings on top rather than removing soaked ones.
- Burns: cool with running water for about 20 minutes, cover with cling film, never ice, butter or toothpaste, and do not peel off stuck clothing.
- Choking adult: up to 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts.
- Never give food or drink to an unconscious or drowsy casualty; never pull out an embedded object, pad around it.
Fire safety
- Fire triangle: heat, fuel, oxygen. Remove one to extinguish.
- Extinguishers: water for Class A solids, foam for A and B, CO2 for electrical and flammable liquids, dry powder as multi-purpose.
- PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
- The Fire Risk Reduction Rules, 2007 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 require serviced extinguishers, clear exits and recorded drills.
- On evacuation: nearest route, close doors, no lifts, assembly point, no return.
Worked example
A colleague has a deep forearm cut bleeding heavily. Gloves on, call for help, apply firm direct pressure with a clean dressing, elevate the arm, resist the urge to lift the dressing to look, call an ambulance, keep him warm and watch for shock: pale, cold, clammy skin and a fast weak pulse. Record times and actions.
Traps
Removing an embedded object; giving water to a drowsy casualty; water on an electrical or cooking-oil fire; leaving a casualty to fetch help when a radio is at hand.