The Basics of First Aid Free

Assess the Scene It's not every day that something requires first aid in the workplace. That's why preparedness is important - so you're confident in knowing what to do when something does happen.

Scenario 1 There is a birthday celebration in the office, while everyone is gathering around the table getting ready to sing. Karen, your co-worker, who was sending one last email, has suddenly collapsed onto the floor. What should you do? Keep swiping to find out...

You should take a moment to assess the scene, to make sure it is safe for you and everyone else, and to be certain you know what type of first aid is required.

Bleeding Bleeding is a serious medical emergency. If a co-worker is bleeding heavily, you have to stop the flow of blood while you wait for EMS personnel to arrive.

Scenario #1 It is 10 minutes until the end of the working day. Your co-worker, Scott, still has four sets of documents to trim and bind by today for some important executive meetings, that start first thing tomorrow morning. In an attempt to quickly finish, your co-worker doesn't pay attention when he is using the razor blade. As a result he has cut himself across his hand. Scott is bleeding heavily, what should you do?

Do's of How to Stop Bleeding Do apply a bandage, after you have put gloves on. The bandage will absorb any excess blood and provide a clean surface for the wound to clot on. Next, apply pressure with your hand directly over the wound.

Do place any amputated parts in a bag of ice. In the event that a body part has been cut off, have someone else place the amputated part in a plastic bag with ice. Give the package to EMS personnel or rush it to the hospital. In many cases, severed limbs can be reattached.

To help Karen with shock, it's important to lay her down and cover her with something to keep her warm.

Raising her feet is also recommended.

Anaphylactic shock Anaphylactic shock, is the most potentially life threatening form of an an allergic reaction. It occurs when someone is exposed to something they are severe allergic to. Common allergens include insect bites, medicines, or certain foods.

Symptoms Symptoms usually occur within 20 minutes to 2 hours of exposure. Symptoms can include hives, overall weakness, and swelling of the throat. If these symptoms occur, call 911 as quickly as possible for the best chance of survival.

Ask if the person has medication. If so, give it to them right away. People with severe allergies also usually wear a medic alert tag, so look for that, too, in order to help give EMS workers the best possible information.

Scenario #1 Riley, a middle aged receptionist has recently started doing exercise during his lunch break.

One day after his workout, he starts breathing heavily and loudly. Suddenly he develops a pain in his chest, that radiates down his arm.

First Aid for heart attacks Begin with calling emergency services. Then, make the victim comfortable by sitting them or lying them down. Try not to move the person too much.

Loosen any tight clothing at the waist or neck.

Ask the victim if they have heart medication. Only administer it if you know how.

Choking Scenario #2 Johnny is celebrating his birthday in the office, and everyone is enjoying their cake.

If abdominal thrusts don't work, call 911 immediately.

Finger Sweeps If the object is clearly visible, perform a "finger sweep". Take your index and middle finger to grasp the object. Don't try the finger sweep if there is any anger of pushing the object further into the throat.

Electrical Shock Jim is taking a dangerous risk - he's removing his toast from the toaster with a knife.

Suddenly, Jim drops to the floor, toaster in hand and still gripping the knife. Jim is getting an electric shock!

The most important thing to do is to not touch Jim - he's got live electrical current flowing through him, and the current will pass on to you if you make contact.

If the person isn't breathing after getting an electrical shock, it's time to perform CPR.

Eye Injury Dave opens a jar of pickles, but pickle juice sprays him in the eyes.

The first thing Dave should do is flush his eyes with water for 15 minutes - pickle juice is acidic, so the same procedure should be followed for any other liquid chemicals.

For solids (particles, dust, powders, etc.) in the eye, flush with water until the particle comes out. If it won’t come out, cover the eye and seek medical attention. Don’t rub the eye, or let the victim rub it!

Classifying Burns You might have heard of a "third degree burn" on TV or in books - but what does this actually mean? It's actually a sliding scale. Let's explore each type of burn...

A first degree is the least severe. This just involves a reddened top layer of skin - for example, sunburn.

A second degree burn is more serious, including blistering in addition to reddened skin and pain.

First- and second-degree burns may be treated with cold, running water for relief of pain. Then cover the burned area with a moist, sterile dressing. Don’t break blisters on second-degree burns.

For third degree burns, you must call emergency services immediately. Try your best to keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.

Broken Bones Walking down the stairs distracted by his phone, Jim falls over - unfortunately it looks like he's broken his arm on the way down.

The rule for treating people who may have broken bones is never to move them unless it’s necessary for their safety - neck and back injuries are especially risky.

The wrong move could cause paralysis or death. If you suspect broken bones, call for emergency medical assistance, and instruct the victim not to move.

Look for swelling and deformity, and treat the person for shock if they show symptoms. Apply ice if it looks like the person has a broken bone, and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.

Heat & Fainting It's a hot day in the office, and Paula is feeling the heat. After moving 50 boxes to a new facility, Paula collapses from heat exhaustion. Working in a hot environment or on a hot day can be very stressful for your body, especially if you’re not used to the heat.

Heat exhaustion may start out as discomfort and fatigue but can quickly develop into something more serious. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include pale or flushed appearance, weakness, heavy sweating, headache, moist and clammy skin, dizziness, and sometimes, nausea or a slight fever.

Jeremy has been working all day at the market stall and he's starting to feel a bit woozy...

Jeremy faints because he's been standing up all day. Fainting can occur when blood pools in the legs, reducing the blood flow to the brain. People may faint when they are standing for a long time in the heat. Fainting can also be brought on by stress.