First aid guidelines for environmental topics: Educational approach and adaptation

Abstract

Extreme environmental conditions and exposure to very high or low temperatures, particularly when this happens quickly, can lead to severe illness and injury. As the climate changes and temperature differences become more pronounced, these instances are likely to increase. First aid education which deals with environmental conditions is particularly important in circumstances where people are unprepared, more vulnerable due to age or have existing medical conditions. Remoteness or inaccessibility to medical care also increases vulnerability. This paper reviews a selection of the environmental topics covered in the International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2020 (IFRC, 2020) which seek to blend clinical first aid evidence with educational evidence, principles and expertise. Covering Hyperthermia, Dehydration, Hypothermia, Frostbite, Altitude Sickness, and Motion Sickness, we provide educational and adaptation interpretation in different contexts, stimulate debate and identify gaps. We also review how the 2020 Guidelines viewed these topics through the lens of the Chain of Survival Behaviors and identify the most pertinent stages in that chain to focus learning on these topics. The 2020 Guidelines emphasize the need for content and educational adaptation according to the learner, which is central to these topics. First aid instructors and program designers need to frame action relevant to their audience and local needs. The teaching of environmental first aid topics should be contextualized to the local geography, legal requirements, culture and behaviors of the learners and their context. For these topics, we conclude that facilitation tips for environmental conditions requiring first aid should focus on prevention and helping learners to recognize early warning signs of the different conditions so they can take preventative action before serious illness sets in.