Emergency First Aid

The Primary Survey

When you come across an accident scene or if someone has collapsed, the primary survey covers life-saving checks to determine the scale of injury and any possible dangers.

• Danger
• Response
• Airways
• Breathing
• Check for sever bleeds

The dangers may be from live electrical equipment, other people, unstable materials/structures, and so on

Check for a response using your voice, tap the person's shoulders, pinch them. With babies, flick their feet. At this stage, you may call for help.

To check the airways, tilt the head back and look for obstructions. Do not attempt to reach in an pull out an obstruction, as this could push it further in.

Hold your cheek close to their mouth, to verify if they are breathing. Even a faint breath is better than nothing.

Check for severe bleeds by unzipping clothing, feeling clothes for dampness (sticky feel of blood), see whether they have pale gums. In a rare case (such as a severed femoral artery, in the groin) the bleed may be too rapid for you to control it.

Calling for Help

Use your common sense when getting help. If someone has come to help you, the first thing they must do is fetch the first aid kit (and defibrilator, if available). If you need the emergency services, your helper may need to go elsewhere to make the call; if so, they must come straight back to you with information and to await your next instructions. Your helper will also be a witness for you, if your actions are called into question.

Only call the emergency services (999 in the UK, 112 across all of Europe) on completion of the primary survey. They will need to know the accident location, gender of the patient and how many people are involved.

Comments

It's quiet in here...Add your comment

St John Ambulance Associate Membership Insurance

As a qualified first aider or AED operator, you will have associate membership insurance cover. Your employer must cover you for any claims made against you for incidents arising from your first aid duties at your workplace during work hours. However, you could still be sued for your actions if you administer first aid outside of your workplace or official responsibilities.

You get public liability insurance (up to £10m) if you are faced with a claim arising from first aid you have rendered whilst away from your workplace responsibilities and not covered by employer or other insurance.

You must hold a valid St John Ambulance certificate in either First Aid at Work, Emergency First Aid at Work, Emergency Aid for Motorcyclists/Road Users, Sports First Aid, Anaphylaxis First Aid or AED

You must only administer assistance up to the level of qualification you hold.

To make a claim, locate your certificate number (and course details) and contact:

The Insurance Department
SSt John Ambulance
27 St John's Lane
London EC1M 4BU

Comments

It's quiet in here...Add your comment

The Essentials

The Health and Safety Executive stipulate two techniques which an employee must demonstrate in order to be classified as a qualified first-aider:

• Recovery position
• CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation)

A first aider also has certain duties around the workplace, the most important of which is to maintain an HSE-approved first-aid kit.

Golden Rules

Do not disrupt the skin surface. Pulling a splinter out is fine; digging a splinter out is not.

When you have visitors, give a brief induction which includes the whereabouts of the first aid kit and who can administer first aid.

Accident reports must be kept for three years.

Do not forget to arrange for clean-up and restocking after an accident. Use a clinical waste bag (to be incinerated) for contaminated materials.

After an accident, check that other people are okay, and try to keep aware of how you are feeling.

You may have to inform next of kin, after a serious accident.

Comments

It's quiet in here...Add your comment

The First-Aid Kit

• Bandages (lots - 20 or more)
• Sterile wipes (non-alcohol)
• Gloves
• Eye wash and patches (2)
• Face shield
• Pins, tape, scissors, tweezers
• Accident book
• Blanket
• Cling film (good for burns)
• COSHH sheet

Notes:

Check the expiry dates

Creams, drugs and medications are NOT allowed in the kit

Comments

It's quiet in here...Add your comment