Emergency Procedures and First Aid
The Need for Emergency Procedures
Why do we need them?
Because despite all the precautions you take, things can still go wrong.
What incidents?
- Fires.
- Bomb threats.
- Spillage of a hazardous chemicals.
- Release of a toxic gas.
- Severe weather.
- Multiple casualty accidents.
- Terrorist/security incident.
Emergency Procedure Arrangements
- The foreseeable emergencies.
- Procedures for raising the alarm.
- Procedures to be followed.
- Suitable emergency equipment.
- Responsible staff.
- Dealing with the media.
- Contacting emergency services.
Emergency Procedure Arrangements
The organisation needs to arrange:
- Communication equipment:
- Landline/mobiles, etc.
- Contact details:
- National and local numbers.
- Responsible individuals:
- With necessary information.
Training and Testing
Additional training for nominated individuals on:
- Their roles in the emergency.
- Safe handling of any equipment.
Emergency procedures should be practised through drills and exercises.
First-Aid Requirements
Requires appropriate first-aid provision:
- Facilities:
– An appropriate location where first-aid treatment can be given. - Equipment:
– Suitably stocked first-aid kits and other equipment. - Personnel:
– Trained staff.
First-Aid Facilities and Equipment
First-Aid Facilities:
- Centrally located; accessible by emergency services.
- Clean and adequately heated, ventilated and lit.
- Hand-wash facilities, chair, clinical waste bin, etc.
Equipment:
- First-aid kits.
- Eye-wash stations.
- Emergency showers.
- Blankets.
- Splints.
- Resuscitation equipment.
- Stretchers.
- Wheelchairs.
- Other equipment as required.
First-Aid Personnel
The basic principle of first aid is to keep the injured person alive until professional medical assistance arrives.
The ‘3 Ps’:
Preserve life.
Prevent deterioration.
Promote recovery.
And to treat minor ailments that require no further medical help.
Group Exercise
Discuss the issues that you would need to consider to decide the level of first-aid cover in your workplace.
Extracted Text
First-Aid Personnel
NEBOSH-IGC
International General Certificate
Trained personnel:
- Appointed person – no or basic training only.
- Emergency first aiders and first aiders – full EFW or FW training.
Coverage will depend on:
- The general risk level of the workplace.
- The hazards present in the workplace.
- Accident history.
- Vulnerable persons.
- The number of workers.
- Work patterns and shift systems.
- Workplace location.
- Size and spread of the workplace.
Group Exercise
What factors would you consider when selecting individuals to be first aiders?
Selecting Staff to be First Aiders
- Reliable, calm, good communication skills.
- Aware of own limitations and of the training.
- Ability to absorb new knowledge and learn.
- Ability to cope with stressful situations.
- Able to accept responsibility.
- Physically fit enough.
- Consideration of the need for first aiders considering gender, ethnicity and religious convictions.
- Must be able to be released from normal duties to attend an incident.