First aid is the process of immediate care given to ill or injured individuals until they are well or the medical treatment team arrives. This procedure aims to care for the illness or injury of individuals, with the intent to alleviate their pain and suffering and prevent further discomforts.
There should be a designated individual who is responsible for doing first aid procedures in any workplace. They should be qualified care professionals who have taken various training courses which are specific to their workplace environment. As someone who is assigned to do the procedure, that person should be able to assess a wide range of different cases or situations.
If a person cuts their arms or falls, it is their responsibility to identify the seriousness of the injury and clean, bandage, as well as tending to that person. Suppose the illness or injury is beyond their capability. In that case, this process can be used as an immediate course of action until the medical assistance team arrives, like the ambulance or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
To know more about EMTs, click here for more information.
Table of Contents
What does this thing cover?
It involves some of the actions mentioned below:
Administering Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR
Helping flu symptoms or minor headaches
Applying slings to fractured bones
Tending to cuts or wounds
Bandaging wounds
This course of action will teach individuals the following skills:
Life-saving methods or techniques like Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR and Heimlich maneuver
How to use important first aid equipment like a defibrillator?
How to identify and care for various injuries or illnesses?
How to deal with an unconscious person
How to treat minor or severe injuries
How to stop or control bleeding
How to stop or control trauma
Why is it important?
Emergency care courses in the workplace are imperative as it helps maintain the safety of the workers if they encounter an injury or fall ill while working. According to the Health and Safety Regulations, companies or employers are required to make sure that there are enough equipment, personnel, and facilities to conduct first aid in the workplace.
If the company doesn’t establish thorough health and safety procedures, including important equipment, as well as designated individuals, the company will be subjected to investigation by the Department of Health. That is why training and knowledge of these procedures in the workplace will make sure that all workers are part of a safe and secured environment and the company is compliant with the country’s health and safety laws.
Check out https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600 for more details about CPR.
Training and knowledge in this field are very important as it demonstrates the company’s commitment and cares to protect workers. If there is a medical emergency in the organization, assistance will be readily available, and the safety of the employees will be maintained regularly.
Risk assessments
People need to conduct first aid assessments of the workplace. These assessments, analyze particular hazards and risks present in the company. They will help organizations decide what kinds of first aid equipment they will need to incorporate into the system. When conducting assessments, people should consider these questions:
How big are the organizations, and what is their effect on the number of trained individuals they will need?
What is the nature of work in the organizations, and will this affect the kind of first-aid equipment trained individuals will need in the organization?
Are there employees who have certain medical conditions that require accounting for in these training courses?
Will it be a necessity to have first aid rooms in the company?
Are there any specific areas in the workplace that are more hazardous compared to others?
Following the execution of the assessment, the person of authority will need to delegate the right number of representatives. It means that if there is a medical emergency, there are designated representatives in the company who are equipped and trained to deal with the situation.
What should be in first-aid kits?
The Department of Health makes it a legal requirement for corporations to provide enough facilities, equipment, and first aid course provided over Zoom, and trained individuals to conduct emergency care in the workplace. That is why it is very important to know what needs to be included in the emergency assistance kit.
Low-risk workplace emergency assistance kit
If the company is in the low-risk spectrum, the kit needs to cover equipment for treating minor injuries and illnesses, including minor burns, grazes, and cuts. Kits in the low-risk spectrum should include:
Large, medium, and small sterile gauze dressings
Cleansing wipes – most probably alcohol-free
Disposable sterile gloves
Triangular bandages
Sterile dressings
Antiseptic creams
Burn dressings
Adhesive tapes
Painkillers
Safety pins
Thermometer
Plasters
Scissors
Tweezers
High-risk workplace emergency assistance kit
If the organization is on the high-risk side of the spectrum and expose employees to situations that can lead to more serious injuries, the kid should include:
A designated room that could include a couch, dressing trolley, privacy screen, and a defibrillator
Burn treatment sachets
Triangular bandages
Hydrogen dressings
Burn gel dressings
Disposable gloves
Sterile dressings
Bandage rolls
Foil blankets
Sterile pads
Safety pins
Eye baths
It is imperative to designate responsibilities of maintaining these kits to trained individuals so that it remains a safety and health priority. The designated worker renewing the kid should be properly trained in emergency care and therefore will know the kit’s contents like the back of their hands and how to use them effectively and efficiently.
Check out this site for more info about the history of this procedure.
Suppose workers encounter medical emergencies, injuries, or illnesses. In that case, it is imperative for first responders to be present and to have the right equipment on hand to make sure that safety is adequately maintained. Training and knowledge of the importance of emergency assistance are very important.
That is why whether the emergency care is via video messaging applications or a face-to-face procedure, it is imperative that individuals who are tasked to do it have proper medical training. Courses are available on the Internet or through accredited training facilities that offer basic life support training even advanced medical care. Availing these services should be the priority of every company if they want a healthy and safe environment for their workers.
