Introduction
First aid is defined as the ‘help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available’. The Health and Safety Regulations 1981 require an employer to provide suitable first aid cover in the workplace. In addition, to be a Sports Therapist and insured by The Society Of Sports Therapists you have to attain an in-date first aid certificate. On Monday I spent the day renewing mine! Below is just a pocket of what we learnt and what I think is important for us all to know!
Responsibilities of a first aider
Assessing the situation
Work out what has happened
Count the number of causalities
Look for the history, signs, and symptoms
Protecting from danger
Assess for further dangers
Protect yourself first, then protect others
Getting help
Ask bystanders for assistance
Work out what help is needed
Call for help (or as a bystander to call)
Recognise your own limits
Prioritising treatment
Treat the most urgent thing first
Treat the most urgent person first
Offer support and comfort
Minimising infection risks
Where possible; were PPE, wear a face mask, wash hands, cover your own cuts, dispose contaminated waste, use in-date dressings
Prioritising treatment
We need a constant supply of oxygen to survive. The priorities of treatment are making sure oxygen gets into the blood and that the blood carries it to the brain. Using DRSABC (DoctoRSABCD) enables you to remember the primary survey sequence when needing to treat life-threatening conditions. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) should be performed to elicit circulation of blood around the body. If a defibrillator arrives switch it on. It should tell you step by step how to use the machine and whether it differs for a child.
First Aid Facts
CPR performed solely by itself without the assistance of a defibrillator machine has a 12-15% survival rate.
CPR compressions only, without the breaths has a survival rate of 5-7%.
CPR with the use of a defibrillator has 82% chance of survival.
To before CPR it is 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths (if breaths are not performed due to PPE/preference compressions should be continuous).
Compressions should be hard & fast performing 100-120 compressions per minute.
Compressions should be 6cm deep into the chest.
If the recovery position is needed for a pregnant woman they should, where possible, aim to be rolled & laying on their left side due to important blood vessels.
Recovery Position
Move the arm nearest you outwards, elbow bent with palm up
Grasp the far leg just above the knee and pull it up, keeping the foot on the ground. Hold the knee with your nearest hand
With your other hand, grasp the casualty’s far hand palm to palm. Bring their hand across the chest and hold against their cheek
Keeping the casualty’s hand pressed against their cheek pull the leg to roll them toward you, onto their side
Adjust the upper leg so that the hip and knee are bend at the right angles
Make sure the head is tilted and facing downwards to allow fluids to drain from the mouth
Call 999/112 for emergency
Thank you for reading this weeks blog! I would highly recommend, whether you need it for work or not, completing a first aid course. You never know when someone may need your help or worse still, you may need someones help.
Take care,
Liv
BSc Hons Sports Therapy MSST
MSc Strength and Conditioning
07761887778
@injuryrecoverycentre
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