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First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

COMMON MISTAKES IN FIRST AID (GUEST POST)

Many of us go through life having had the odd bump or fall along the way. The majority will have been able to attend to these minor injuries themselves with a little antiseptic and the odd bandage or plaster. Unlucky others may embark on a visit to A&E after a more serious incident deemed professional medical attention. When these things happen, do you really know what you’re doing when it comes to administering First Aid?

There are several common First Aid mistakes that happen through lack of training or simple human error. Here are a few, just so you know how to avoid them in the future:

When feeling faint, it’s commonly thought that putting your head between your legs will make you feel better. This isn’t a legitimate cure for such an ailment. Instead, it’s advised that laying flat and elevating the legs is the best way to bring someone round. Some good old fresh air wouldn’t harm either and ensuring any tight clothing is loosened will definitely help.

A dislocated joint causes a lot of pain for the injured party, so putting it back into place is often attempted. Without medical supervision this can cause even more pain and discomfort and could even lead to a more severe injury. It is advised that applying cold to the joint, using an ice pack and resting it with a sling for support would be much more beneficial.

Almost everybody will have experienced the strange feeling that a nose bleed will give. Trying to stop the bleeding is often attempted by titling the head back, although this is not the correct treatment. Instead it’s recommended to sit upright and pinch the bottom half of the nose with the thumb and index finger, whilst the casualty breathes through their mouth.

If a particularly hard fall knocks a tooth out, it’s worth finding the tooth and keeping hold of it for the emergency staff to attempt to reimplant it. No matter how dirty it is, refrain from scrubbing the tooth and gently rinse under a tap or with cold milk, if unavailable, suck the dirt off the tooth. The best thing to do is try and keep the tooth either in its socket or between the tongue gum and cheek.

If your bad luck goes so far as accidently severing a finger or thumb in a DIY disaster, the worst thing to do is trying to preserve the loose part by directly placing it on ice, contrary to popular belief. You should wrap the severed part in a damp gauze, then place in a watertight bag and then place the bag on ice so when at A&E staff can attempt to reattach it. The remaining injury on the hand or foot should be covered with a clean, dry cloth and have ice held against it to reduce swelling.

These simple tips will help you do the right thing in a medical emergency, however, to deal with such incidents it’s a good idea to get basic first aid training, keep a first aid products handy, keep your cool and be totally sure that what you’re doing is right. It’s always advisable to seek medical help if the casualty has an injury that causes them to bleed heavily or reach unconsciousness.

Our thanks to Emma S. for bringing some thought-provoking ideas to this important subject. pb

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

WHY ALL BUSINESSES NEED TRAINING IN FIRST AID (GUEST POST)

2 Comments

Submitted by Colin Skinner.

As a business it’s important not only to protect yourself but also your employees. It’s a good idea to implement a health and safety plan for your workplace in order to reduce accidents and provide your staff with the care they need if something happens. It doesn’t take that long, have much paperwork or cost your company millions; it makes great business sense!

Anything Can Happen

Firstly, the most important thing to do is to assess your businesses’ needs to see if you require basic first aid precautions or decide that you should have an appointed person or qualified first aider. You can then choose someone to be trained by an approved organisation where they’ll complete a course and gain a first aid qualification.

To complete this assessment there are a few steps you should go through:

  • Identify hazards in the workplace
  • Decide who could be harmed and how
  • Evaluate risks and consider precautions
  • Take note of your findings and put them in to practice
  • Make sure you review your assessment and update when necessary

These steps should really be carried out regularly in order to keep up to date with any changes in your work environment.  It is also a good idea to review any past accident and health records because these can often tell you what less obvious hazards might be.

It all depends on your circumstances, so if you work in manufacturing, engineering or agricultural industries for example then it’s probably a good idea to have a trained first aider on site. A first aid room can also be helpful for larger companies.

Would you know what to do if an accident happened at work?

Slipping or tripping is one of the most common causes of injury in the work place. At a first aid course your employees would learn all of the necessary skills in order to act in an emergency situation. Taking on this responsibility would mean taking charge if someone is injured, administering any treatment and calling an ambulance if necessary.

One of the top mistakes concerning first aid is not frequently restocking the first aid box after use so it’s a good idea to make sure that it is checked regularly and to replace those items as soon as possible. As an appointed first aider in the work place this would be their responsibility. It’s important to make sure they keep up to date with annual refresher courses.

Do you value your employees?

With first aid you can not only protect your employees but protect yourself and your company. First aid can safeguard your business from potential legal action and protect your reputation. It ensures the number of working days lost due to illness or injury are reduced and can retain staff.

Could you save a life?

Businesses need training in first aid in order to potentially save lives and prevent minor injuries worsening. Not all companies have a formal process in place for assessing their first aid needs, as an employer you are responsible for your company’s first aid arrangements. There aren’t enough first aiders in the workplace and many injuries from accidents that occur can often be prevented by sufficient first aid.

First aid training at work is a cost effective way of not only potentially saving lives but also reduces the damage to a business an accident can cause.

Paula, the author, is an expert in health & safety and first aid training for businesses and is part of the Aid Training group.