Tips on First Aid and Manual Handling

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Obviously these three subjects are so huge that nobody would ever consider covering them all in one blog post .... would they?????

However, we got some refresher training on these subjects recently: as usual this blog reflects what I heard, not necessarily what was said:

N.B. WARNING : I hesitate to blog on thiese sensitive topics where accuracy is important : please refer for medical advice to more authoritative sources,

First Aid

 You can see this in this Health and Safety Executive leaflet on First Aid at Work http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg347.pdf and you can see St. John's Ambulance First Aid advice here: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice.aspx nevertheless here are a few gentle hints to get you thinking.
  •  Know where your First Aid box is and who your First Aiders are: their names and contact details may be next to the box. There are two types of First Aider: Emergency First Aiders andFirst Aiders at work, and the training for each is different. The Emergency First Aiders are trained to do more than the First Aiders at Work
Knowing a few simple procedures could help save someone's life and since most accidents happen in the home it is most likely to be one of your own household whom you save. In some countries everybody is expected to go on a First Aid course.
First assess the situation, do not put yourself in danger.
  •  If it is safe to do so, make the area safe. then assess all casualties and attend first to any unconscious casualties:
  • Send for help: do not delay.
A simple Acronym is ABC:
  • Airway-open the airway as described in the PDF
  • Breathing- check for breathing: if not breathing get help and then start CPR
  • CPR (as described in the PDF ;linked above.)
  • Severe bleeding: if there is severe bleeding apply pressure etc. (see link.)
  • Know how to put someone in the recovery position (see link above).
  • Remember not to lift anyone even if it is your instinct to do so, but to get medical help and call an ambulance as soon as possible if appropriate.

Everyone ought to know:
  • What to do if someone is choking on food
  • What to do if a diabetc person is acting strangely
  • What to do if someone is suffering an asthma attack
  • What can you do to help someone with a nosebleed
  • How to treat burns?
  • How to spot a stroke or heart attack and what is the difference and what to do about it.
  • What to do is someone collapses.

Manual Handling:

The acronym TILE (? does that count as an acronym?) reminds us to
  • Task: think about the task, avoid doing any more work than necessary (! seriously!) - manual handling that is: if you can think of a way to lighten the load, such as using a trolley or asking your 'pal' (are these really my 'pals' I asked myself - of course they are!) do so.
  • Individual: think about who is the right person to do this: even if some people could manage this does not mean that you, as an individual can: if you have a dodgy back already bribe your pal to do it by offering them cake. It is important that if you need help you say so .
  • Load: think about your load, give it a prod to see how heavy it is (it may look be an ice cream wafer box that actually contains the librarian's secret training weights.) What hazards does it present? If it seems that it will be too heavy to move it is important that you say so.
  • Environment: plan your route as carefully as if it were a Himalayan expedition. What doors will you need to go through? (Could you prop them open? - perhaps not if they are fire doors thus risking a £5,000 fine and instant dismissal.) Are there lifts you could use to avoid stairs? Who will go in front? Discuss strategy with your pal.
Remember to allow enough time for rest and recovery between tasks.
Remember that if things are further away from your body the strain on your back is much worse so keep your back upright and BEND ZE KNEES (as ski instructors say a lot.)

Backs are the most damaged parts of the body, followed by upper limbs. You can see lots of information about this here that is far more accurate than my garbled eclectic musings: http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/pushpull/index.htm







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