First Aid as the words suggest is the care given to a casualty before professional help is required. This help can literally mean the difference between life and death.
The aims of First Aid are:
To preserve life
To prevent the worsening of any injuries
To promote recovery
Why do we need First Aid and more importantly the correct products.
Accidents do happen particularly in the home [ approx 2.8million per annum ]
You are 20 times more likely to have a fatal accident than win the lottery!
Top 5 Accidents
A] Falls
B] Strikes & Collisions
C] Cuts & Tears
D] Foreign Bodies
E] Burns
First Aid Misconceptions
A] You should put butter/cream on a burn. WRONG. The only thing you should put on a burn is water. Keep the butter for cooking!
B] To do First Aid you need lots of training. WRONG. What you need is commonsense!
C] You need lots of expensive equipment.WRONG. The basics are readily available at affordable prices.
Who uses First Aid?
By law everyone in a working environment whether it is a one-man business or a worldwide plc. Also sports, leisure and the private sectors. Basically everyone, everywhere!
Try this test:
Using the alphabet think of all the areas from A – Z where people could be hurt from an abbatoir to a zoo. Once you have got to Z go back to the beginning you`ve just started!
Do you have a first aid kit in the home, in the car, at work? Do you take a first aid kit when you go on holiday or to a sports function. If you have to think about these then the answer is probably. At home you should have at least a first aid kit a fire extinguisher a fire blanket and sufficient smoke alarms. In the car at least a first aid kit and fire extinguisher. On holiday or sports a relevant first aid kit and inthe workplace the products required by health and safety regulations.
The government in their “preparing for emergencies” booklet advises everyone to learn basic first aid.
It is good housekeeping and commonsense for everyone to do.
BE PREPARED - BE SAFE
jim withers has over 25 years experience in the health & safety sector and has brought innovative products such as MOBIMEDIC to the marketplace. Find out about at the following sites
http://www.medi-scot.com http://www.medi-scot.co.uk http://www.mediscot.com http://www.mediscot.co.uk
