NOOR HAZIEYANTIE BINTI HAMDAN

20190329-01-11118

First Aid and its importance

First aid consists of the initial support provided to someone in the middle of a medical
emergency. This support might help them survive until professional help arrives. In other cases,
first aid consists of the care provided to someone with a minor injury. For example, first aid is often
all that’s needed to treat minor burns, cuts, and insect stings.

The first aim of first aid is to preserve life, which involves the key emergency practices to ensure
that the casualty isn’t in any mortal danger. Remember though, this includes preserving your own
life as you shouldn’t put yourself in danger in order to apply first aid. Its at this stage where you
should do a quick risk assessment to check for dangers to the injured person, yourself or bystanders
which could cause the situation to escalate. If in doubt, do not attempt to apply first aid and
immediately call for a medical professional.

An employer has a duty to provide information, instruction, training and supervision about first
aid facilities and services for employees. Legal provision of First Aid was under Section 15(1) of
The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514). This act provides that every employer and
the self-employed person must ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work
of all his employees. The provision of first aid facilities and first aiders is in compliance with the
welfare component of this general duty of employers and self-employed persons.

Before a medical professional does arrive, you will need to apply first aid treatments in order to
stabilise the condition of the injured person. This comes under the ‘ preserve life ’ banner, and
follows this flow of procedures: by checking for consciousness, open the airway, check for
breathing Follow airway, breathing, of resuscitation, administer CPR if needed, check for
circulation and check for bleeding, controlling any major bleeding.

The major components of workplace first aid facilities are the first aider, first aider box, first-aid
room and first-aid equipment. The factors that need to be considered in order to implement it are
the type of industry or hazards, number of workers, number of work shifts and location of
workplace and status of infrastructure in relation to the nearest medical clinic or hospital.

First aider is a person who has successfully completed a first-aid course and has been awarded
with a certificate of proficiency in first-aid by a recognised institution. The criteria of first aider are
mature, physical fit and responsible. He/she should free from blood borne infectious diseases such
as Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. The training for first aider recognised first aid course are basic life
support or basic trauma life support. First aiders should be able to remain calm under pressure and
help reduce the overall stress levels of the injured person as well as other people who may be
concerned. Reassurance can provide more support that you might expect in an emergency situation
and help people make the right decisions.
 First aider numbers are depending on the size and layout of the workplace. Besides, the number
and distribution of employees including casual and shift worker arrangement also determine
numbers of first aider. Not only that, it depends on the distance from the workplace to the nearest
available and appropriate medical services. Their responsibilities are to give immediate first-aid
treatment and arrange without delay for the injured person to be send to the doctor, hospital or
home according to the seriousness.

The first aid box should provide atleast one first aid box for every 100 employees or part thereof.
Extra first aid boxes should be provided for each additional 50 employees at the workplace. In a
large establishment, which covers a wide area or occupies several floors in a building, more than
one first aid kit will need to be provided. The first aid box must be located not more than 100 metres
from the furthest workplace and not more than one story above or below the floor level of the
workplace for easier accessible. It should be portable or mounted as to allow it to be remove or
carried towards the injured person.

The first aid room must be well-designed with a large space to hold a couch and still have space
for people to move around. That room must be provide with emergency lighting and area with high
privacy. Besides, the room should easily to cleaned the wall, floor and ceiling and non slip floor.
There must be a clear sign of first aid room to ensure that every identify the area. The room should
be located at the area where there was accessible to work area and car park. The recommendation
items in first aid room are first aid box, sink with tap water, paper towels, disposable plastic apron,
antiseptic hand wash soap splints.
HOW TO PERFORM CPR

1. Check responsiveness, checking for consciousness, check for circulation and check
for bleeding, controlling any major bleeding. Tap their shoulder and shout, “Are you
OK?”

2. If they are not responding, call 911 or ask a bystander to call 911 before performing
CPR.

3. Place your ear next the person’s mouth and listen for no more than 10 seconds. If
you do not hear breathing, or you only hear occasional gasps, begin CPR.
4. Perform 30 chest compression. Place one of your hands on top of the other and
clasp them together. With the heel of the hands and straight elbows, push hard and
fast in the center of the chest, slightly below the nipples. Push at least 2 inches
deep. Compress their chest at a rate of least 100 times per minute. Let the chest rise
fully between compressions.

5. Perform two rescue breaths. Making sure their mouth is clear, tilt their head
back slightly and lift their chin. Pinch their nose shut, place your mouth fully over
theirs, and blow to make their chest rise.

6. Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until the person
starts breathing or help arrives.