Unit Code: D1.HRS.CL1.12 D1.HOT.CL1.12 D2.TCC.CL1.15 Slide 1

PERFORM BASIC FIRST AID PROCEDURES

Unit Code: D1.HRS.CL1.12

D1.HOT.CL1.12

D2.TCC.CL1.15

Slide 1

Perform basic first aid procedures

This unit comprises three Elements:

1. Assess the situation

2. Apply basic first aid techniques

3. Communicate details of the incident.

Slide 2

Assessment

Assessment for this unit may include:

Oral questions

Written questions

Work projects

Workplace observation of practical skills

Practical exercises

Formal report from employer/supervisor.

Slide 3

Assess the situation

Performance Criteria for this Element are:

Identify physical hazards to own & others’ health and safety

Minimise immediate risk to self & health and safety of the casualty by controlling hazard/s in accordance with accepted practice

Assess casualty’s vital signs & physical condition in accordance with accepted practice.

Slide 4

Identify physical hazards

First aid can be defined as:

Any care given to an injured or ill person (called a 'casualty') before professional medical assistance (ambulance, paramedics, nurse, or doctor) arrives on the scene to take control of the situation.

Slide 5


When providing first aid always:

Protect yourself and others at all times against injury or harm

Casualty must be protected against further harm or injury

Arrange for professional help to be called Wear protective gloves.

Slide 6


Assess all first aid situations to identify hazards to self & others:

Workplace and incident-specific hazards

Hazards sometimes associated with casualty management

Bodily fluids – always wear protective gloves

Risk of further injury to the casualty.

Slide 7


Ways to identify hazards :

Use common sense

Use your sense of sight

Use your sense of hearing

Use your sense of touch

Use your sense of smell.

Slide 8

Minimise immediate risk

Take action to address identified risk

Do not move casualty unless they are in immediate danger of more harm

Ask bystanders to move to safety, if necessary

Call fire brigade if there is fire, smoke or escaping gas

Contact electricity supply company if there is hazard from electricity. Get a staff member to turn power off.

Slide 9


What might you do

If there is a fire near the casualty?

If the casualty’s situation is being made worse by rain or sunshine?

If gas is leaking from a damaged appliance?

If unstable items are nearby and posing a risk of falling on the casualty?

If the casualty is in a position where they are likely to be run over by vehicles?

Slide 10


Always protect the neck when moving casualty:

Keep the casualty still

Kneel behind the head and place your hands on either side to supportit

Put rolled up towels, blankets, or clothing on each side of the casualty’s head to keep it from moving.

Slide 11


Be prepared to ask others for help:

Other staff

Members of the public

Passers by & bystanders

Customers/guests

Management

Friends and/or family of the casualty.

Slide 12

Minimize immediate risk

The ‘Fireman’s Carry’ should be used to move unconscious people or casualties who are unable to walk

DO NOT USE the Fireman’s Carry if the casualty has an injured:

• Arm

• Ribs

• Leg

• Back.

Slide 13

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualtyDRABC is an acronym to describe the procedures used by first aiders when providing first aid:

D for Danger – Assess the situation R for Response – Check consciousness, check on vital

signs A for Airway – Open airway B for Breathing – Check respiration rates C for Circulation – Give chest compressions.

Slide 14

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty

‘D’ stands for ‘Danger’.

‘D’ means you must:

Assess the situation

Check for danger.

Slide 15

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty‘R’ = ‘Response’ from the casualty:

Try to get a response from the casualty – do not shake them

Get a history

Identify how the casualty feels

Check the physical condition of the casualty

Be alert to possibility of shock.

Slide 16

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty‘A’ = ‘Airway’:

Check airway is free of obstructions

If casualty is not breathing, open airway

Remove visible obstructions from mouth & nose

Obstructions prevent breathing impede provision of rescue breathing.

Slide 17

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty‘B’ = ‘Breathing:

Check breathing by looking, listening & feeling for breathing for up to 10 seconds

If casualty is not breathing, administer rescue breathing/mouth-to-mouth resuscitation/EAR

If casualty is breathing then monitor them.

Slide 18

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualtyOne ‘vital sign’ is respiration rate:

Watch chest/stomach rise & fall for 15 seconds counting how many times the chest/stomach rises

Multiply figure by four

Record findings.

Slide 19

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualtyRespiration rates:

Normal range in an adult when resting is 12 to 20 respirations per minute

Below 12 respirations per minute is ‘slow’

Above 20 respirations per minute is ‘rapid’

Slower than 12 – or faster than 20 respirations per minute – may indicate a problem affecting the casualty's ability to get oxygen.

Slide 20

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty‘C’ = check ‘Circulation’:

This will indicate if heart is beating

No pulse = no heartbeat & no circulation

If you cannot detect a pulse, begin chest compressions

If casualty is not breathing and there is no pulse, administer CPR.

Slide 21

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualty‘Pulse rate’ vital sign:

Normal adult pulse rate at rest is 60 to 80 beats per minute – average is 72 beats per minute

A resting pulse rate of more than 80 beats per minute is higher than normal

Causes of high pulse rate can be shock, bleeding, heat, dehydration, fever, pain or exercise.

Slide 22

Assess vital signs & physical condition of casualtyTry to obtain history, signs & symptoms from the casualty to help make a more informed diagnosis – this will better indicate the first aid needing to be given.

While waiting for professional help to arrive:

Provide whatever first aid is needed

Monitor the casualty & record observations

Reassure them everything is OK and they will be fine.

Slide 23

Summary – Element 1

When assessing the situation when providing basic first aid to casualties:

Protect yourself and others against injury

Protect the casualty against further injury

Look for physical & other hazards when you arrive on scene

Take action to guard against identified hazards

(Continued)

Slide 24


Never simply rush in and start providing first aid – assess the situation first: every time

Never move a casualty until they have been assessed unless there is a risk of further or worse injury to them

Be prepared to ask bystander and others for help

Call emergency services immediately

(Continued)

Slide 25


Implement DRABC

Check if casualty is conscious or not

Check to determine if the casualty is breathing or not

Check to determine if the casualty has a pulse or not

Apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, cardiac compressions or CPR as required

(Continued)

Slide 26


Observe vital signs & physical condition of casualty & record observations

Maintain ongoing monitoring of casualty when providing first aid.

Slide 27

Apply basic first aid techniques

Performance Criteria for this Element are:

Provide first aid management in accordance with established first aid procedures and available resources and equipment

Monitor casualty’s condition and respond to the casualty’s condition in accordance with accepted first aid principles and enterprise guidelines

(Continued)

Slide 28

Apply basic first aid techniques

Seek first aid assistance from others in a timely manner as appropriate

Record accidents and injuries in accordance with enterprise procedures.

Slide 29

Provide first aid management

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation/EAR:

Should be given when diagnosis reveals the patient is not breathing

If the casualty is breathing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not required – manage bleeding & other injuries

Place breathing casualty into ‘Recovery Position’.

Slide 30


To place breathing casualty into Recovery Position:

Kneel beside casualty

Place furthest arm at right angles to the body

Place nearest arm across chest

Lift nearest leg at knee so it is fully bent

Roll patient away & on to the side while supporting head/neck & keeping the leg at right angles.

Slide 31


CPR (Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation):

Is necessary when casualty has no pulse and is not breathing

Ensure professional help has been called for

30 compressions (at rate of 100/minute), then 2 breaths

CPR may be provided by two people – one gives compressions; the other gives breaths.

Slide 32


Managing bleeding:

‘Bleeding’ is loss of blood

Wear disposable gloves when treating bleeding

Apply bandage to clean wounds

If object is stuck in the wound stabilise it; do not press on it or try to move or remove it.

Slide 33


Responding to a casualty with clothes on fire:

Cover with fire blanket

Roll on ground until flames go out

OR

Tell casualty to drop and roll to put flames out.

Slide 34


Treatment of burns:

Place burn under cold running water for 10 minutes

Cut/lift away clothing covering the burned area

Leave clothing that sticks to burned area

Remove jewellery from burned limb

Apply a sterile dressing

Raise the limb to reduce swelling

(Continued)

Slide 35


If burned area is large, use cleanest material available to cover the burned area

Do not clean burned area before applying dressing

Do not apply ointments or medications

Do not break any blisters

Be alert to shock setting in.

Slide 36


Electrocution:

Do not touch electrical wire or casualty

Find electricity source & turn it off

If you cannot turn off electricity:

• Protect self by standing on dry & non-conductive item

• Push casualty away, or push source of the electricity away from the casualty, with non-conductive pole

Check breathing

Find and dress entry & exit burn wound.

Slide 37


Snakebite:

Apply firm crepe or elastic bandage over bite, then rest of limb

Stop arm or leg from moving

Do not allow the casualty to move

Monitor breathing

Watch for shock.

Slide 38


Animal bites:

Clean the bite thoroughly with soap or antiseptic

Wash the bite with water

Cover the bite with a sterile dressing

Immobilise injured arm or leg

Take casualty immediately to a medical facility.

Slide 39


Insect bites/stings:

Remove any stingers

Wash bite or sting site

Apply ice or cold compresses

Treat serious reactions the same as snakebite

Monitor breathing

Be alert to allergic reaction

Look for MEDIC ALERT tag or emergency insect bite treatment kits on the casualty.

Slide 40


Anaphylaxis/anaphylactic shock:

Summon professional medical help

Search for rescue medication - EpiPen®

• Inject into outer thigh

• Do not inject intravenously

• Do not inject into buttock

Prepare to administer CPR.

Slide 41


Choking:

Use heel of hand to give up to five blows between the shoulder blades

Check casualty’s mouth quickly after each blow & remove anything there

Give up to five abdominal thrusts if casualty is still choking

Check mouth after each abdominal thrust.

Slide 42


Treating fractures:

Remove jewellery on injured limb

Dress open wounds or burns before applying splint or sling

Cover exposed bone with a dressing

Do not try to push bone back under skin

Do not try to straighten or ’put together’ injured limb

Place the fractured arm in a sling or splint.

Slide 43


Placing a sling on a fractured arm:

Place sling under injured arm so it is centered, base of sling is beyond the elbow and top corner is over the shoulder of the injured side

Position forearm with the hand slightly raised

Bring lower portion of material over injured arm and over shoulder of the uninjured side

Tie the two corners in a knot on the side of the neck on the uninjured side

Twist pointed end of sling and tuck it in at elbow.

Slide 44


Applying a splint:

Place one splint on each side of the arm or leg

Aim is to immobilise joints above and below the fracture

Secure splint above and below fracture site with little movement to the injured areas

Use chest wall to immobilise a fractured arm

Use good leg to immobilise the fractured leg if nothing is available.

Slide 45


Treating sprains:

Use RICE

• R = Raise the limb

• I = Ice the area

• C = Compress the area

• E = Elevate the injury.

Slide 46


Managing possible head or spinal injuries:

Do not move casualty

Obtain medical help immediately

Keep casualty still – tell them not to move

Support head & neck

Use rolled up towels/blankets to keep head still

Cover to keep warm.

Slide 47


Signs of shock:

Sweaty but cool skin, pale color, or bluish skin around the mouth

Shallow, fast breathing

Rapid pulse that becomes weaker.

Slide 48


As shock progresses casualty may:

Display signs of anxiety

Have unusual thirst

Yawn and sigh

Become nauseous.

Slide 49


Treat shock by:

Calling an ambulance

Treating major wounds or stop heavy bleeding

Positioning casualty on their back with blanket

Keeping the casualty calm

Reassuring them

(Continued)

Slide 50


Splinting fractured legs before elevating them

Raising legs so feet are slightly higher than heart

Not elevating legs if you think casualty has broken back

Placing casualties in Recovery Position

Loosening tight clothing, including boots

Preventing casualty from being too warm or cold.

Slide 51

Monitor casualty’s condition

Things to note or monitor:

Pulse and respiration

Colour of skin

Mention of pain

Requests

How long casualty was unconscious

Comments made relating to cause of the injury.

Slide 52


When monitoring casualty:

Reassure them

Ensure professional medical help is on way

Do not allow smoking

Do not give or allow them alcohol

(Continued)

Slide 53


Do not give food

Avoid giving liquids

Keep crowds and onlookers away

Keep them still

Protect them from natural elements.

Slide 54

Seek assistance from others

Ask for help from:

Other staff

Members of the public

Bystanders and onlookers

Friends and family members of casualty.

Slide 55


When seeking help from others:

Do not be afraid of asking for help

Most people will help if asked

Get them to confirm professional help has been called for

If one person refuses, ask someone else.

Slide 56


People may be asked to:

Give information about causes of injury

Provide directions to emergency services

Contact friends or relatives of the casualty

Help carry or move the casualty

(Continued)

Slide 57


Help protect casualty

Communicate with emergency services

Record verbal information you give them

Obtain first aid requisites for you.

Slide 58


When seeking assistance:

Do so quickly

Ask questions

Thank them

Give them something to do.

Slide 59

Record accidents and injuries

After an incident there may be a need to complete:

An Incident Report

An Injury Register.

Slide 60


Enterprise procedures and requirements:

Must be a written report

Must be completed as soon as possible

Must be in an approved form

Must record names of those involved

(Continued)

Slide 61


Must record date and time

Must identify location of event or incident

Must describe action taken

Must identify causal factors, if known

Report must be forwarded as directed.

Slide 62


When applying basic first aid procedures:

Follow DRABC

Ensure professional medical assistance has been summoned

Apply rescue breathing if casualty is not breathing

Place conscious casualties into the Recovery Position

Apply CPR where there is no pulse

(Continued)

Slide 63


Wear disposable gloves

Run burns under cold water

Remove jewellery if possible

Do not break burn blisters

Check to determine if casualty has MEDIC ALERT tag

Dress burns or wounds before applying splints

Do not try to straighten broken limbs

(Continued)

Slide 64


Use RICE procedures to treat sprains

Do not move a casualty with suspected neck or spinal injuries

Take & record the vital signs & physical condition of the casualty

Be prepared to ask others for help

Complete internal records as required.

Slide 65

Communicate details of the incidentPerformance Criteria for this Element are:

Request appropriate medical assistance using the most relevant & appropriate communication mechanism

Convey details of casualty’s condition & first-aid management activities accurately to emergency services or relieving personnel

Prepare reports to supervisors in a timely manner, presenting all relevant facts according to enterprise guidelines.

Slide 66

Request medical assistance

The importance of obtaining professional medical help:

You are not a professional medical provider

Obtain professional help before rendering first aid

Summoning professional help is ‘best practice’ because it is best for the casualty.

Slide 67


Professional medical help can be obtained by:

Asking someone else to call for help

Yelling out for help

Flagging down a passing vehicle

Activating a ‘Fire’ alarm.

Always summon medical assistance.

If you have to choose, delay rendering first aid until you have called for assistance.

Slide 68


Facilitate the arrival of emergency services or other help by:

Opening gates

Moving vehicles

Asking others to signpost location of the casualty.

Slide 69

Convey details of casualty

When speaking with emergency services to summon help:

Be guided by them

Speak clearly and calmly

Never hang up until directed to do so.

Slide 70


Emergency operators will want details regarding:

Exact location of the casualty

Number, age and gender of casualties

Type of injuries and symptoms

Details of first aid already given

Whether situation is life threatening

If you need over the telephone assistance.

Slide 71


When assistance arrives:

Identify self

Allow professionals to talk or ask the questions

Provide accurate information about casualty and treatment

Add any other relevant information

Follow instructions given to you

Provide local knowledge/information.

Slide 72

Prepare reports

When preparing a formal report:

Refer to notes taken at the time

Refer to previous records

Ensure ‘facts’ are differentiated from ‘beliefs’

Identify causes and action to prevent recurrence

Sign and date the report.

Slide 73

Prepare reports

Enterprise guidelines regarding reports:

Complete as soon as possible

Complete individually

Complete in writing

Forward to designated person by required time

File for future reference.

Slide 74


When communicating details of a first aid incident:

Ensure professional emergency services or medical authorities have been summoned to all events

Allow telephone operators to ask for information as opposed to giving them details

Use whatever local facilities or options exist to call for help

(Continued)

Slide 75


Be proactive in seeking assistance

Facilitate the arrival of emergency services

Convey casualty vital signs and physical conditions to professionals on their arrival

Complete detailed internal reports to describe the incident and help prevent a recurrence.

Slide 76

Documents

Unit Code: D1.HRS.CL1.12 D1.HOT.CL1.12 D2.TCC.CL1.15 Slide 1