A lot of adults are very aware of what to do when the worst happens, but do your children? Who is there to help when mum slips in the shower, dad overcooks the BBQ and burns his hands, or things get out of hand with friends? These are questions we get asked a lot, and we have run a few courses for teenagers in the Chesham area.
This article is for teenagers, and is designed around the kind of things that could affect them, like what to do with a drunk friend, should you move someone if they have fallen from a height, or a bike, and should you remove that embedded object?
First of all, do you know where the first aid kit is? Is it stocked? If you are going out on a long bike ride, or horse riding, think about purchasing a basic first aid kit. Most pound stores and supermarkets sell them.
Secondly, when calling 999 make sure you speak clearly, and give them emergency services as much information as possible. Response times are linked to the severity of injury, so if a casualty is cold, clammy and feeling sick make sure you tell them that, as this could be shock, which escalates something like a bleed. The same with someone who is drunk, who slips and bang their head, make sure the emergency services are told this also, rather than the casualty is just drunk.
If in doubt, do not delay. The emergency services will listen to your problem and give advice, if they think it is serious, a blue light response will be sent.
So would you know what to do if someone was difficult to wake, in and out of cautiousness? Remember; CHECK BREATHING. You should look for repeated signs of breathing, chest rising and falling, hearing and feeling the breath repeatedly. One breath may not mean they are breathing. So look for normal breathing.
A breathing unresponsive casualty should be placed in the recovery position . Look on youtube for videos on how to do this.
A non breathing unresponsive casualty needs medical help, call 999 and start CPR, youtube has a host of videos to show how to do this as well. Everything you do is better than nothing, so don’t be afraid to give it a try, you can’t make the situation worse. Fall advice from the 999 call. They will stay on the phone until the ambulance arrives.
Burns are also relatively easy to deal with, and treating quickly and correctly can massively help with the recovery.
10 minutes under a cold tap for all burns (20 if a chemical burn) This is very important, ignore what you see on facebook, eggs, toothpaste and butter are not good for burns. Use cling film after treating with cold water, for the same reason it is used to cover a new tattoo. Keeps is clean, stops it from drying out, and does not stick to the burn. DO NOT remove items that are stuck to the burn. Let the professionals do that bit.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. How do you treat a bleed?
A. Pressure on the wound, elevate above the heart, and lay the casualty down, as they could pass out.
Q. Should I remove an embedded object, like glass?
A. Small spinters are fine to remove, anything that you can’t wash out, should be left in, removing an object could result in a more serious bleed. Always seek advice if you are not sure
Q. What number do I call in an emergency if I am abroad in Europe?
A. 112 – Europe wife emergency telephone number, answered by Multilingual (English) speakers.
Q. How would the emergency services find me if I am injured somewhere remote?
A. Most smartphones come with or can get a maps app such as Google Maps, this app can give you your exact location. However the call itself should locate you to the emergency services.
Q. Should I use the recovery position if someone has a potential spinal injury?
A. If you are on your own and the casualty is unresponsive, but breathing, always place the casualty in the recovery position to maintain an open airway and breathing.
Q. Should I move an alert casualty with a spinal injury?
A. No, keep them calm, and stop them from moving. If they are sick you will need to get them on their side, try and keep their neck and spine in line if possible.
Do you have a question? Ask us via our website or facebook page: Omnia Training Solutions – omniasolutions.co.uk
