There were more than 3 million workplace injuries reported in 2010 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). That's 8,100 a day!
Prompt first aid at the scene of accidents can improve your workers' chances of surviving and making a recovery. The more comprehensive the first aid training your employees receive, the safer your workplace.
The first and last rule of first aid is "Do no further harm." This means that first-aid givers need to know what they should not do, as well as what they should do. Here are some important don'ts:
- Don't give fluids to an unconscious person.
- Don't move the victim unless necessary for the person's safety, if you suspect back, neck, head injuries, or broken bones.
- Don't stop rescue breathing or CPR until the victim begins breathing or emergency medical help arrives.
- Don't use a tourniquet to stop bleeding. Instead, apply pressure directly to the wound. If an arm or leg is bleeding, elevate the limb above the heart and use pressure points on the inside of the upper arm or on the crease of the groin area.
- Don't wait to call 911 for serious injuries until you've applied first aid -- call first.
- Don't break burn blisters, apply ointments to burns, or try to clean severe burns; just cover them and get immediate medical attention.
Some medical emergencies are life threatening, while others are comparatively minor. That's why your employees need to know the difference between the two types of first aid assessment.
Use a primary survey for life-threatening injuries. This involves checking the ABCs -- airway, breathing, and circulation. In other words, can the victim get air into his lungs, is the victim actually breathing, and is there a pulse? If the answer is "no," use rescue breathing or CPR. During a primary survey the first aid provider should also look for profuse bleeding or shock.
A secondary survey is used for other medical and injury-related problems. The first-aid giver should check for vital signs, do a quick head-to-toe assessment, ask the victim about the accident and other potential medical problems, and apply necessary first aid.
First-aid training should cover both levels of response. This should include treatment for everything from minor cuts and scrapes, to amputations, eye injuries, choking, chemical exposures, heavy bleeding, heart attacks, and heat-related emergencies.