First aid is the most basic care after any injury or incident where medical treatment is needed. It may be administered, or at least started, by the first responder whether or not they are trained. However, those trained in first aid are invaluable in service to those in emergency situations.
Some of the services they may provide are:
- Keeping the patient calm until help arrives
- Slowing blood loss with applied pressure
- Using bandages on wounds
- Placing calls for appropriate assistance
Those trained in first aid know it is just as important to know what not to do, such as not extracting a knife or other objects from a wound until more advanced assessment has taken place.
First aid training is especially important for those involved in outdoor activities and sports such as hunting, fishing, mountain climbing and hiking. In these situations there may be an extended time period before more advanced medical help can be reached.
This first aid training should involve:
- Treatment for snakebites and spider bites
- How to set broken bones
- Signs and symptoms of head injuries
- Signs and symptoms of hypothermia
- Signs and symptoms of local plant life allergens
- CPR
A standard first aid kit should contain:
- A pocket mask and face shield for administering CPR safely
- Band aids
- Sterile dressings (eye pads, gauze pads, non-stick pads)
- Occlusive dressing (petroleum for chest wounds)
- Moleskin (blister prevention and treatment)
- Gauze rolls
- Elastic bandages
- Sterile butterfly strips
- Sterile isotonic saline
- Antiseptic cleaner
- Burn pads
- Flashlight
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Masks
- Bandage scissors
- Tweezers
- Lighter
- Alcohol preps
- Syringe for irrigating wounds
Other items may be added appropriate to your level of expertise.
OSHA First Aid Regulations
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) encourages first aid training in all businesses and industries, but in several states this training is mandatory. According to their guidelines, all employees in the workplace should be educated in first aid.
Many manufactures and construction businesses have first aid classes with an OSHA instructor. Workplaces must also have a properly supplied first aid kit readily available in case of injury. Various industries first aid kits may require slightly different items to be on hand as the needs differ.
There must also be a kit and plan in place to deal with bloodborne pathogens if a worker is injured in a way that causes bleeding.
All workers must be made aware of hazardous chemicals and other dangers in any work environment.
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