Find out more about what to do if someone is having a stroke and learn more about what a stroke is, causes, signs & symptoms here:
A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone is having a stroke and what to do to help.
First Aid
The Importance of First Aid and CPR Training in the Workplace
First aid
Emergencies can strike anywhere and anytime. Whether you are at work, at home or just walking along the streets, accidents happen and they are often unforeseen. You may be extra careful with your actions to be prevent accidents, but there are instances when they do happen and you are the first person on the scene. If that happens, do you know what to do?
Reasons Behind Why First Aid Training Is Really Important at the Workplace
A lot of companies have invested in their employees to learn first aid and CPR training. This is a crucially important skill especially when faced with an emergency or disaster. The workplace is no stranger to emergency cases, with hundreds or even thousands of employees coming day in and day out, and with natural disasters such as earthquakes and fire that can happen anytime.
Learning first aid and CPR can be extremely helpful during emergency cases, from isolated and simple cases to complex cases. In these times, your first aid and CPR skill may be the only thing in between another person’s life and death.
- You Can Save Someone’s Life
In cases of emergencies and accidents in the workplace, medical responders may not be right on the scene immediately. However, the patient may need immediate help if they are severely injured, unable to move, breathe or in severe pain. The position of the patient after the accident and identifying the injury are two crucial factors for first aid. Knowing first aid and CPR will let you know how to respond in emergencies and accidents, how to position the patient properly and if they need CPR in severe cases. You can help keep the patient alive until the paramedics arrive and take over.
- You Can Save Money
For some companies, employers invest in first aid and CPR training and education of their employees is one way to save money, time and effort. For instance, employees who are trained and certified to respond on first aid cases can save time, effort and money of medical responders, especially if the patient has already been stabilized. In addition, a complete medical staff will not be required if employees are certified on first aid and CPR. Instead, employers can hire only a part of the medical staff such as one company doctor and nurse. Also, health insurance should provide to every employee for healthcare.
- You Can Relieve Someone’s Pain Instantly
There are many different kinds of accidents that can happen in the workplace and even more types of injuries, wounds and cuts that can happen in an accident. These injuries can be extremely painful for the patient and can even lead to major procedures when they are tended to in the hospital. Your role as the first responder in the scene is to assess the injury and intensity of pain that the patient is experiencing. When you identify the injury and cause of pain, you will be able to know what type of first aid to administer to relieve the pain and lessen the injury.
- Employees Will Be More Confident
For many employees, learning the skills of first aid and being certified for CPR is one way to make them feel more confident about themselves. When employees know that they are equipped to handle emergency cases and accidents, they become more confident in themselves which, in turn, will reflect in their own performances at work.
- Promotes Security
First aid training and CPR certification for employees will promote the feeling of security among staff, as they know that they can respond properly and effectively when accidents do happen. This promotes trust and confidence among staff tom know that they will be in good hands. In addition, knowing that their fellow employees are trained for first aid will make them feel more secure because they know that they will be tended to should there be any emergency situations.
Of course, it is fairly important to always remain calm and not to panic when faced with an emergency situation. Learning first aid and CPR will let you save someone in a literal life and death situation. You can learn more about how to act and react on these situations by taking an Online First Aid Class in addition to your training.
“Finger Armor”: Aids Fixing a Finger or Toe With Healing Properties
“Finger Armor”: Aids Fixing a Finger or Toe With Healing Properties
– Anyone who has suffered through the problem of keeping a band aid on a toe or finger will quickly see the benefit of this product. Finger Armor is a line of bandages with or without ointment that are specially designed for use on the finger tips and toes, that features a protective, cushioned “cap” which encapsulates the finger or toe tip. Also featuring flexible, stretchable materials and super sticky adhesive for long wear and securement of the Finger Armor. The design intent is to provide sufferers of dry, cracked, painful fingertips and toes with a more efficient aid in healing, by offering working hands and feet the needed protection and time to heal from cuts, scrapes, damaged cuticles, or dry cracked skin.
Made of materials like standard adhesive bandages Finger Armor offers a rectangular unit with a stretchable cushioned cap in a variety of sizes to accommodate the fingers or toes. The underside of each Finger Armor bandage is lined with medical-grade, cushioned gauze material and bordered with adhesive side flaps sized appropriately to overlap and seal. The back of each bandage is comprised of stretchable fabric that permits unencumbered movement of the finger or toe while in use. Yet, it is the “Cushion Cap” that sets this clever product apart from the common bandage. This takes the form of a dome-shaped accoutrement made of cushiony material that surrounds the tip of the finger or toe including the nail and cuticle, covering downward, past the first knuckle. The Cap is infused with a healing topical (such as Neosporin or similar) or offered without medication. TV test marketing has recently been completed and indicates strong consumer interest in Finger Armor.
Finger Armor is Patent Pending and was invented by Christopher Cahoon of Easton, PA who said, “Finger Armor is not only for cuts and scrapes but works equally well on skin damage from exposure to cold, dry heat, humidity and harsh chemicals. It provides “armor” for throbbing appendages in medicated comfort while giving the finger (or toe) time to heal. It is virtually invisible because it blends with the skin color. After spending tons of money on every type bandage and tape in the marketplace users will see that the cushioned cap of Finger Armor works perfectly.”
For more info go here.
First Aid for Mental Health Patients
First aid for mental health
At least one million volunteers will be taught, free of charge, how to provide emergency medical care and attention to those suffering from a mental health issue. As part of a new innovative Government programme, volunteers will be professionally trained on how prevent further distress to those suffering from a mental illness.
Mental health, often considered a taboo in society, is finally being shown the respect and attention it deserves. Unlike a regular injury or medical emergency which can be examined, analysed and treated, a mental illness is often hidden behind a patient’s smile and difficult to diagnose and treat, especially when it comes to first aid. The main problem when it comes to mental health is the stigma attached to it, which prevents those suffering from reaching out for help when they’re most at need. The build-up of distress can have more serious consequences and so the early signs must be noticed and quickly addressed to prevent further harm to the patient.
Whether it is an eating disorder, depression, anxiety or a more serious mental health condition such as Psychosis, understanding how to treat a patient in a medical emergency will take training and awareness of the tell-tale signs. This is where the new government incentive comes into play. The new mental health first aid training program which will begin in autumn 2017, will ask members of the public to sign up and register their interest in being trained. Hosted by the MHFA, an international public health programme, volunteers will be taught how to recognise human distress and provide mental health first aid. Based on the theory of, assess the risk, listen non-judgmentally, offer reassurance and information, encourage professional help and encourage informal support, the programme hopes to protect vulnerable members of the community who are unlikely to seek medical help or support themselves, the training will be available in schools, universities, the armed forces and the police.
As the NHS is stretched when it comes to resources and staff, the new initiative aims to inform and educate the public on how to effectively help those suffering with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health related illnesses before seeking further professional help. Ministers are said to have invested around £15 million into the program which is part of a wider campaign to update the NHS mental health services.
CE Safety offer first aid training courses to UK individuals, corporations and businesses to promote employee welfare and health. For more information please visit www.cesafety.co.uk
What should I keep in my first aid kit?
First Aid for Cyclists App – St John Ambulance
It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries.
Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.
Your basic first aid kit
A basic first aid kit may contain:
plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes
small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings
at least two sterile eye dressings
triangular bandages
crêpe rolled bandages
safety pins
disposable sterile gloves
tweezers
scissors
alcohol-free cleansing wipes
sticky tape
thermometer (preferably digital)
skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
antiseptic cream
painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen
cough medicine
antihistamine tablets
distilled water for cleaning wounds
eye wash and eye bath
It may also be useful to keep a basic first aid manual or instruction booklet with your first aid kit.
Medicines should be checked regularly to make sure they are within their use-by dates.
Summary
It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries. Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.