Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Primary 1
First Aid
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First Aid
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Physical & Health Education
Class: Primary 1
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 11
Theme: Health Education
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
Watch on YouTubeExplain the meaning of First Aid State the objectives of First Aid List some contents First Aid Box
This section provides in-depth explanations of the core concepts related to First Aid, suitable for a Primary 1 teacher.
A. Meaning of First Aid Definition: First Aid refers to the immediate and temporary care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly becomes ill, before professional medical assistance can be obtained. It is the first help provided at the scene of an accident or illness.
Key Characteristics: Immediate: It is given as soon as possible after the incident. Time is often critical.
Temporary: It is not a substitute for professional medical treatment but a preliminary measure to stabilize the victim or prevent further harm.
Simple: It involves basic techniques that can be applied by anyone, even with minimal training, using readily available materials. Nigerian Context
Example: If a child trips and scrapes their knee while playing football in the school field, or touches a slightly hot cooking pot at home and gets a minor burn, the immediate actions taken by a teacher, parent, or even an older child (like cleaning the wound and applying a plaster or cooling the burn) constitute First Aid. B. Objectives of First Aid The primary goals of giving First Aid can be summarized into three main objectives, often remembered as the "Three P's":
1. Preserve Life (P1): Explanation: The most important objective is to save the life of the injured or sick person. This involves ensuring the person is breathing, stopping severe bleeding, and preventing conditions that could lead to death.
Application for Primary 1: For young children, this translates to actions like ensuring an unconscious person is placed in a safe position (if appropriate and known by an adult) or drawing attention to someone who might be choking. A simpler example is to call for an adult quickly if someone is seriously hurt.
Example: If a child falls and hits their head badly, the First Aider's immediate goal is to ensure they are breathing and prevent further injury while waiting for medical help.
2. Prevent Worsening of Condition (P2): Explanation: This objective aims to prevent the injury or illness from becoming more severe. It involves taking steps to stabilize the person's condition and prevent complications.
Application for Primary 1: This could involve cleaning a small cut to prevent infection, covering a wound, or keeping an injured person warm to prevent shock.
Example: If a child has a small cut, cleaning it with antiseptic and covering it with a plaster prevents dirt and germs from entering the wound, thus stopping the cut from getting worse or infected.
3. Promote Recovery (P3): Explanation: First Aid helps to initiate the recovery process by making the injured or sick person more comfortable and providing reassurance.
Application for Primary 1: This involves comforting the injured person, reducing pain (with simple, safe methods), and offering emotional support.
Example: After treating a minor scrape, comforting the crying child, reassuring them that they will be fine, and helping them to a safe resting place promotes their physical and emotional recovery. C. Contents of a First Aid Box A First Aid box is a container that holds essential materials for giving First Aid. It should be easily accessible, clearly marked, and regularly checked. For Primary 1, the focus is on understanding simple, common items. Here are some typical contents and their uses:
1. Cotton Wool: Use: Used for cleaning wounds, applying antiseptic, or padding minor injuries.
Nigerian Context: Commonly available in homes and schools.
2. Plaster (Adhesive Bandage): Use: To cover small cuts, scrapes, and blisters to protect them from dirt and germs.
Nigerian Context: Brands like Band-Aid or locally produced plasters are common.
3. Bandage (Roller Bandage/Crepe Bandage): Use: To hold dressings in place, provide support for sprains, or stop bleeding by applying pressure.
Nigerian Context: Used for slightly larger injuries than a plaster can cover.
4. Antiseptic Liquid/Wipes (e.g., Dettol, Izal, Savlon): Use: To clean wounds and prevent infection by killing germs.
Nigerian Context: Widely used household antiseptics are very familiar.
5. Small Scissors: Use: To cut scrapes, and blisters to protect them from dirt and germs.
Nigerian Context: Brands like Band-Aid or locally produced plasters are common.
3. Bandage (Roller Bandage/Crepe Bandage): Use: To hold dressings in place, provide support for sprains, or stop bleeding by applying pressure.
Nigerian Context: Used for slightly larger injuries than a plaster can cover.
4. Antiseptic Liquid/Wipes (e.g., Dettol, Izal, Savlon): Use: To clean wounds and prevent infection by killing germs.
Nigerian Context: Widely used household antiseptics are very familiar.
5. Small Scissors: Use: To cut bandages, plasters, or clothing if needed. (To be handled by an adult).
6. Safety Pins: Use: To secure bandages (To be handled by an adult).
7. Surgical Spirit or Methylated Spirit: Use: To sterilise skin around a wound (not directly on an open wound). Primarily used by adults for cleaning instruments or skin before injection.
Nigerian Context: Commonly found in homes and clinics.
8. Pain Relief Tablets (e.g., Paracetamol for children, administered by an adult): Use: To relieve minor pain and reduce fever. (Strictly to be administered by an adult/guardian only). For Primary 1, teachers should emphasize that only an adult gives medicine. Teacher's
Note: When teaching Primary 1, it's beneficial to show the actual items in a First Aid box, allowing students to see and perhaps touch (under supervision) the safe items like cotton wool and plaster. This section outlines the step-by-step activities for both the teacher and the students.
A. Introduction (5-10 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Begins by asking students simple questions about minor injuries they may have experienced or seen (e.g., "Has anyone ever fallen down and scraped their knee?" "What did your mummy or daddy do to help?"). List some responses on the board.
Student Activity: Students share their experiences with minor injuries and recall actions taken by adults to help.
B. Development (25-30 minutes)
Activity 1: Explaining "First Aid" Teacher Activity: Explains the meaning of "First Aid" using simple language and relatable scenarios (e.g., "First Aid is the first help we give to someone who gets hurt or suddenly feels sick, before a doctor comes.").
Uses an example: "If John falls and has a small cut, what is the first thing we can do to help him before we take him to the nurse?" (Guide students to understand it's the immediate help). Writes "FIRST AID IS THE FIRST HELP GIVEN TO AN INJURED OR SICK PERSON" on the board.
Student Activity: Listen attentively to the explanation. Participate in question-and-answer sessions, giving examples of immediate help. Repeat the definition of First Aid after the teacher.
Activity 2: Stating Objectives of First Aid Teacher Activity: Introduces the three main objectives of First Aid (Preserve Life, Prevent Worsening, Promote Recovery) using simple terms. For "Preserve Life," the teacher explains it means making sure the person stays alive (e.g., "If someone is bleeding badly, we try to stop the blood quickly."). For "Prevent Worsening," the teacher explains it means stopping the injury from getting worse (e.g., "We clean a cut so it doesn't get dirty and cause more sickness."). For "Promote Recovery," the teacher explains it means helping the person feel better and get well soon (e.g., "We comfort them and make them comfortable."). Uses simple illustrations or role-play scenarios for each objective.
Student Activity: Listen and observe the illustrations/role-play. Identify and state one or two objectives in their own simple words. Practice simple role-play actions (e.g., pretending to comfort someone).
Activity 3: Listing Contents of a First Aid Box Teacher Activity: Displays a real (empty or safely filled) First Aid box or a large picture of one. Brings out and displays actual First Aid items one by one (cotton wool, plaster, bandage, antiseptic liquid in a small bottle). Names each item clearly and demonstrates its basic use (e.g., "This is cotton wool, we use it to clean wounds," "This is a plaster, we use it to cover small cuts."). Asks students to identify each item and state its use. Writes the names of the items on the board.
Student Activity: Observe the First Aid box and its contents. Identify the items as named by the teacher. State the uses of the items, possibly through a call-and-response format. Practice (under strict supervision) applying a plaster on their hand or a doll.
C. Conclusion (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Summarises the key points of the lesson. Asks students to quickly recall the meaning of First Aid, one objective, and one item from the First Aid box. Praises student participation.
Student Activity: Participate in the brief review, answering questions posed by the teacher. These questions are designed to check immediate understanding and reinforce learning, with teacher guidance.
Question 1: What is First Aid?
Expected Student Answer: First Aid is the first help we give to someone who is hurt or sick before a doctor comes. Teacher
Commentary: Guide students to use words like "first help" and "before doctor." Reinforce that it's immediate.
Question 2: Why do we give First Aid? Give two reasons.
Expected Student Answer: To keep the person alive. (Preserve Life) To stop the injury from getting worse. (Prevent Worsening) (Also acceptable: To make the person feel better/comfortable - Promote Recovery)* Teacher
Commentary: Encourage students to articulate the reasons using simple examples they learned. Accept any two of the three objectives.
Question 3: Name three things you can find in a First Aid box.
Expected Student Answer: Cotton wool, plaster, bandage. Teacher
Commentary: Have students point to or describe the items to solidify their recognition. Accept any three correct items discussed.
Question 4: If someone has a small cut, which item from the First Aid box can you use to cover it?
Expected Student Answer: Plaster. Teacher
Commentary: This connects the item to a practical application. Ensure they understand the function.
Home and Family Safety: Students can learn to identify common minor injuries that occur at home (e.g., small cuts from kitchen utensils, minor burns from hot objects, scrapes from falls). Knowing what First Aid is can empower them to quickly alert an adult or even retrieve simple items like a plaster if an older sibling has a small scrape, reinforcing a culture of immediate care within the family.
School Playground Safety: During play at school, minor falls and scrapes are common. Understanding First Aid helps students know what to do if a classmate gets a small injury – for instance, calling for the teacher immediately, comforting the friend, and knowing that the teacher will apply First Aid from the school's First Aid box. This promotes responsible behaviour and peer support.
Community Health Awareness: In Nigerian communities, where immediate access to medical facilities might sometimes be challenging, basic First Aid knowledge is invaluable. While Primary 1 students won't be administering complex First Aid, understanding its importance helps them recognise situations where quick help is needed. They can inform adults about an injured person, fostering early awareness of community health and safety practices. For example, if they see someone trip at the market, they can understand that someone needs "first help."