Its #nationalsafetymonth and Internal Medicine Center is working to help inform our patients on how to identify risks and keep each other safe this June, and for a lifetime. Today we take a look at how preparation today can make a difference tomorrow. We all know that on any given day, anything can happen, from a slip and fall at home to a major pile up on the interstate to a natural disaster occurring near work. If we all take a moment to access potential risks and formulate plans on how to respond, we will be steps ahead in the event of an incident, whenever it occurs. Here are some things that can help.
Get Trained in First Aid and CPR
Even the fastest paramedics could take 8 to 12 minutes to get to a patient after calling 9-1-1. Being trained in first aid and CPR could mean the difference between life and death. When trained in first aid, the following steps are helpful in the event an emergency:
• Recognize the emergency
• Check the area for safety (If it’s not safe, don’t enter)
• Check the victim and ask for permission to provide assistance
• Call 9-1-1 when appropriate
• Care for the person
• Have the person seek medical attention when needed
When calling 9-1-1, be prepared to give this information to the dispatcher:
• Your name
• The phone number you are using
• The location and number of victims
• The victim’s approximate age, sex and condition (Responsive? Breathing? Bleeding?)
• What happened to the victim and any special circumstances?
• What is being done for the victim?
The dispatcher may also give you instructions on how to help the victim. Stay on the line until the dispatcher says you can hang up. First aid and CPR training can give you the skills you need to handle life’s everyday bumps and bruises, and the confidence to respond quickly and correctly to more severe injuries and life-threatening situations that can occur. Learn more at nsc.org/trainFA.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Being prepared is key when seconds count. When it comes to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, be sure to keep a fully stocked emergency preparedness kit in your home and vehicle. This kit can include supplies like food, water, necessary medications, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight and a first aid kit. You remember those emergency drills you had in school? Do the same kind of thing with your family. Practice your home emergency plan. A home fire plan should include things like checking to make sure smoke detectors are working properly; drawing a diagram of your home with emergency exit locations like windows and doors. Have an escape route for every room and designate an outdoor meeting place where your family will come together after an escape. It’s also important to make sure that children know what phone number to call in the event your family gets separated. You also want to have a plan for older family members and pets.
Common Items for First Aid Kits
Having a first aid kit on-hand at home and work can help prepare you for accidents when and if they happen. For the workplace, according to OSHA, a first aid program should be reviewed periodically. Training supplies, equipment and policies should all be modified as necessary to ensure safety and health is maintained on the job, despite any changes in safety hazards, worker schedules or worksite locations.
Typical first aid kits should contain the following items below.
