Occupational Health, Safety and Emergency First Aid
Health and safety baseline
CIT work carries physical and psychological load: manual handling of heavy cases, driving fatigue, shift work, stress and violence exposure. Know the employer's prevention obligations (risk assessment, prevention advisor, protective equipment) and the worker's duties (follow procedures, report hazards, use equipment correctly, undergo required medical surveillance).
Physical safety in operations
Manual handling: assess the load, keep it close, bend the knees, avoid twisting, use team lifts for heavy cases. Driving: fatigue management, breaks, no alcohol or drugs, no phone use. Vehicle safety: seat belts, safe following distance, defensive driving. Environmental hazards: traffic, weather, slippery surfaces, and the risk of being struck while loading.
Emergency first aid
Know the basic chain: secure the scene (safety first, including traffic and the threat), assess responsiveness and breathing, call emergency services (112), start CPR and use an AED if available, control bleeding with direct pressure, treat shock by keeping the casualty warm and still, and hand over to professionals. In a CIT context, first aid is delivered only when the scene is safe; the threat takes priority.
Traps
- Rushing to a casualty in an unsafe scene.
- Forgetting to call 112 or to give a precise location.
- Moving a casualty unnecessarily.
- Ignoring one's own fatigue as a safety hazard.
- Assuming first aid replaces the emergency call.
Rule of thumb
Scene safety → alert → assess → act → hand over. Never become a second casualty.
Worked example
A crew member collapses during loading. Correct response: stop the operation, secure the vehicle and area, call 112 with the exact address, begin assessment and CPR if needed, and send the second guard to guide the ambulance.