Knowing how to conduct first aid is a skill everybody should acquire because it can help save lives at home, work, or in public institutions. Injuries occur at home, both major and minor, and some significant injuries at home include cuts, choking, burns, insect bites, poisoning, bruises, trips, falls, and glass-related injuries.
Sometimes, you may be living with someone having heart problems who sometimes undergoes cardiac arrest or heart attack. This is where CPR and AED certification is vital on top of the basic first aid.
Suppose the person you’re living with gets a cut while chopping tomatoes. Whether a minor or major injury, you must perform first aid to stop the blood flow before taking them to the hospital. But, while you’re in dire need to help the person, maybe save their life, your life must be a priority.
You should take precautions to ensure you don’t get infections as you conduct the first aid. Below are some of the measures you should take:
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
Conducting first aid aims at saving others, but you must not put yourself or the person you’re trying to save life into jeopardy. You can only do this by wearing PPE like gloves, masks, protective eyewear, aprons, and protective suits.
Some diseases like HIV can spread through blood transmission, and because you don’t know the status of the person you’re trying to save, ensure you always wear gloves. This can also prevent you from contracting diseases that spread through skin-to-skin contact. Wearing gloves is essential, especially if the injury is from a cut and the blood is oozing.
PPEs like masks can prevent you from contracting airborne diseases and covid 19.
Wash your hands and other skin surfaces
When conducting first aid on someone with a cut, you should ensure you wash your hands to avoid contaminating the wound. You might carry bacteria in your hands from dirty surfaces that might bring more harm than good to the wound.
After conducting the first aid, whether you wore gloves or not, you must thoroughly wash your hands to avoid possible infections from the person. You should wash your hands with running water and soap. In case there is no running water, consider using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Be cautious while using sharp objects.
Suppose you are using sharp objects like scalpels or razors; you need to be extra careful not to prick yourself as it can lead to blood exchange, thus putting you at risk of contracting infections.
Use protective resuscitation masks for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
When a person you’re living with has had a cardiac arrest or heart attack, and you need to perform CPR, use CPR breathing barriers. Many people don’t know how to use these CPR breathing barriers; you can try a less complex pocket mask.
Avoiding eating, smoking, or drinking while conducting first aid
While conducting first aid, foods or drinks might get exposed to infection by bacteria, and if you eat the food, you might get diseases. Also, avoid applying cosmetics.
Use a designated disposal container.
When dressing wounds from cuts or burns, ensure the equipment used is disposed of in an appropriate container away from the reach of children.
Conclusion
Getting a First Aid Course near me to gain knowledge is essential as it helps us attend to minor injuries that do not require going to hospitals. It can also help us save the lives of our friends and relative as we wait to get medical attention from healthcare providers.
However, when giving this essential service, you must work on your safety by taking precautions to avoid exposure to infections.
