Casualties Galore

First Aid at Work.

Last weekend saw us in Kent teaching canoe coaches outdoor first aid.  This week we had a change of venue and style teaching a First Aid at Work Course for our Friends at Regis Gymnastics.

With the Canoe coaches we were able to be quite adventurous and have plenty of debate.  There are few absolutes in the world of first aid.  My favourite answer to a students question is 'that depends'.  every situation is unique and everyone is an individual, that's what Trauma care such a fascinating subject.

Bandaging a twisted ankle.

Our FAW work courses are still based on our experience of practical patient care but one has to work within the health and safety policies of the organisation you are working for.  Also an ambulance is a few minutes away so there is little need to get too creative.  Our responsibility as a First Aider is primarily to do no harm and to support a casualty until help arrives. 

This could be little more than staying calm and offering support waiting for the ambulance or it could involve performing extended CPR until help arrives.

 

CPR practice.

The key to first aid in the work place is to stay calm.  Keep it simple and get help as soon as possible.  This will give the casualty the best chance of making a full recovery.

The first rule is Do Not Become A Casualty Yourself,

The real world is seldom like the television,  Some beautiful blonde is unlikely to collapse in front of you on her back in an ideal location requiring a few chest compressions before making a spontaneous recovery.  The real world is far less exciting and much more traumatic people have accidents when the weathers cold and wet and you are fed up tired and late for an appointment.  

So how to condense 3 days of training into something useful that you might use to save a life,

That's pretty simple really.  

Consider Airway Airway Airway..  If you casualty cannot maintain their airway because they are unconscious  then they will stop breathing and die.  Simple.

Once you have checked your casualty is unresponsive and not just asleep at their desk.  You need to open their airway.  Simply tilt there head back gently using slight pressure on their chin and forehead,

Don't pull back too far especially in an infant or you will hyper extend the neck and potentially block the airway again.

Once they have an Airway you can check if they are breathing.  Get your face right down to their mouth.  Look at the chest.  Is it rising and falling can you hear their breathing or feel it on your cheek.  If the answer is no or they are not breathing normally then immediately call an ambulance and begin Chest Compressions.

Vinne Jones says it all.