First Aid Is Important For The Workplace
Some of us have a knack for predicting illnesses. We have a sixth sense, so to speak. Others may not be so lucky and find themselves suddenly in dire need of medical care. It turns out that there are some simple first aid techniques that could save lives if you're ever faced with an emergency at work.
The first step towards being prepared for workplace emergencies is to learn the basics of workplace safety. This includes knowing how to prevent exposure to toxic agents, how to respond when you should evacuate, and treating injuries properly even without advanced knowledge or training from a medical professional (Although if you do get the chance, certainly consider it). Knowing these basics is crucial before your next conference meeting or lunchtime trip outside the office.
There are a few specific instances during which proper first aid knowledge can be helpful. For example, you may need to treat a wound or cleanse an area of debris. You will also have to give first aid after an injury has occurred. And regardless of why you're administering first aid, your accomplices will be more comfortable and trusting if you do it properly. Knowing how to properly handle emergency situations is one of the most valuable skills any employee could have in the workplace. When faced with emergencies at work, employers should educate their employees on basic first aid techniques they can use to care for injured individuals until medical professionals arrive and take over care from the affected employee(s).
The following first aid techniques will help you when you're faced with an emergency situation from your workplace.
Treating Burns
It's important to prevent burns whenever possible. Burns are the result of damaged skin, and they can be prevented by wearing proper protective equipment, not stoking an open flame, and taking safety measurements (such as temperature and electrical potential) before starting a fire. However, there are certain cases in which a burn is unavoidable. When this occurs, you may have to deal with the pain yourself by washing the injury with soap and water and administering some basic first aid treatments such as sterile dressings, bandaging, or ice-packs. To treat a burn correctly: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. If a person has suffered a burn to the hands, wrist, or arm, this should be done with hot soap. For minor burns and deep burns, wash the affected area with room temperature water and apply an over-the-counter antiseptic product to the wound. For large burns (greater than 3 inches in diameter), apply an over-the-counter burn product such as Telfa and bandage the gauze loosely around the wound for several hours. If you're able to, mop up any remaining spillage with a disinfectant spray such as Lysol or bleach. Continue applying first aid dressing or bandage until medical professionals can verify that there is no lasting damage to tissue or muscle.
Treating Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts and scrapes can be very damaging to the body if they're left unattended. If you suffer an injury in which a cut or scrape occurs, you'll need to clean it well with soap and clean water. If a wound is small, a cleansing agent such as hydrogen peroxide may be used as well. If you suspect that the wound is infected or could become infected, seek medical attention immediately by going to your local emergency room. For minor cuts and scrapes, wash the affected area with warm soapy water for 15 minutes. If the cut or scrape is more than 2 inches in diameter, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin Ointment. For larger cuts and scrapes, apply one of these ointments (such as Neosporin Double-Strength) in addition to the antiseptic ointment. Apply a liberal amount of the antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage. If the wound develops an infection, seek medical attention immediately by going to your local emergency room or following directions from your physician.
Treating Wounds
There are a number of reasons why someone may need to seek medical attention for a wound. The following is a list of the most common types of wounds that an employee could be faced with: Minor cuts and scrapes may heal on their own if allowed to do so. If the wound is not causing pain, the employee may choose to ignore it and resume working after it's healed. However, if the cut or scrape is large enough, more serious problems could occur. For example, bacteria can begin to fester in the wound and cause infection. Not only will this make you more susceptible to other infections, but also it might make you sick if left unattended. This is why employees should always check for wounds or other signs of injury but should not hesitate to seek medical attention if necessary. It's also important to note that cuts and scrapes can become infected. In order to prevent infection, you'll need to properly clean the wound and follow your doctor's directions on how to treat the infection with more specific antibiotics.
Burns have a certain bacteria often present in them called Staphylococcus aureus which can cause serious infections if left unattended. In order to avoid such infections, you will need to make sure that any open burns are cleaned thoroughly with soap and water using hot water if possible. Also, it's important to make sure that the burn is completely covered and protected from additional injuries. Burns tend to take a long time to heal and can be painful if not properly treated in time. If you're experiencing pain due to burns or if the wound has not healed after about 10 days, it's important to seek medical attention because more serious infections could be present.
Wounds are often more severe than cuts or scrapes and can cause serious health issues if left untreated for too long. Any cut or scrape that has caused damage to another organ should be attended to immediately by going to the doctor. For example, a blood clot that needs to be extracted from the heart, large open wound that causes bleeding, an abscess (an infection in which material is injected into the body cavity instead of draining out), or damage to an internal organ are all serious wounds and must be dealt with by your doctor as soon as possible.
If you're suffering from an injury at work and no one else is able to help you (for example, if your co-worker has been injured), it's important that you find a way to communicate with your coworkers. This can be done in a number of ways, including but not limited to:
Gestures – If you're able to gesture without further injuring yourself or someone else, you can use hand signals to get the attention of coworkers. For example, raising one's hands above one's head could mean "Help!" or "I need assistance!", whereas a wave can mean "Where are you?".
See also Non-verbal communication for additional helpful gestures.
Voice – If you have no other choice but to communicate verbally with your coworkers, it's important that you try your best to stay calm. Yelling will not help your situation and only create confusion between workers, which could potentially make things worse.
Conclusion
Employers have an obligation to their employees to provide a safe place in which to work. It is understandable that employers cannot protect their employees from every possible accident, but they can take certain precautions (such as training or offering proper gear) that could help keep their workers safer during the workday.
If you've been injured at work, it's important to know your rights as an employee. First off, you should know that you are protected by state and federal labor laws and you should never be afraid of reporting your injuries. Also, if you need assistance in understanding what your rights are or how to go about reporting an injury, the Department of Labor has a number of resources available on their website.