Overview
As a First Aiders, it’s critical that you deal with an incident safely and confidently ensuring the welfare of yourself, your casualties and any bystanders.
Remember bystanders can be of great help especially if their trained First Aiders. They can get an AED (where necessary), manage crowds and hazards, help clean up and be a support for you.
Your responsibilities can be broken down into the following categories:
Arrival at the Scene
Your first priority is to ensure there are no immediate dangers and threat to life, your’s included.
Knowing the history of the incident and any casualty information could help you determine the right treatment.
Communicate with your Casualties
Obtain Consent
Once you’ve identified yourself as a First Aider it’s imperative you get consent.
For an adult who can simply ask “Can I help?”. If they refuse you may still be able to promote recovery by calling for the emergency services.
For a child or someone who is unconscious, implied consent is assumed. You simply help the best way that you can.
Never attempt skills that exceed your level of training.
Remember to remain calm and help until professional assistance arrives.
Communicate with your Casualties
Irrespective of the severity of the incident, your casualty or bystanders could be in a state of shock or confusion.
Groups you should pay specific attention to are children, the elderly, hearing or visually impaired people as well as anyone with learning difficulties including where English isn’t the person’s native language.
Remember to:
- Be honest about their condition
- Use simple language to avoid distress
- Take your time and maintain eye contact
- Avoid using jargon or medical terms
- Allow them to explain what’s happened or how they’re feeling.
This will help to put them at ease and for you to build rapport so you treat them more effectively.
Contacting the Emergency Services
Contacting the Emergency Services
Where possible use the casualties phone to dial 999 or 112. Remember LIONEL when making the call:
L
LOCATION – What3Words is a great app. It provides you with 3 unique words to locate your exact position.
I
INCIDENT – what are you dealing with. A road traffic collision, someone who’s fallen over…
O
OTHER SERVICES – do you need assistance from the police, fire service, coastguard, mountain rescue?
N
NUMBER OF CASUALTIES – this is key to ensuring the right level of assistance arrives.
E
EXTENT OF INJURIES – this will prioritise as to whether you get the help first
L
LOCATION – Repeat
Prioritising First Aid Treatment
Your casualty will be prioritised by the emergency services not by their age but by their condition:
Are they?:
- Breathing
- Bleeding
- Break / Burn
- Other Condition
Your priority is to help the casualty maintain their own airway until professional assistance arrives.
Cleaning Up and Infection Control
You must protect yourself, your casualty and bystanders from the risk of infection.
Every precaution should be taken including:
- Cleaning your hands
- Wear non-latex disposable gloves
- Avoid coughing or sneezing over wounds
- Don’t touch any wounds
- Dispose of all soiled dressings in a clinically waste
- Dispose of any syringes or needles in a purpose made sharps bin bag.1
Infectious Diseases
It’s worth placing individually wrapped face coverings into your first aid kits to protect yourself and others who are still concerned about infectious diseases such as covid.