SJAM First Aid at Workplace flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Out-of-hospital chain of survival

Five links: early recognition and call for help, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced life support, and post-resuscitation care. Each link must occur quickly to maximise survival from cardiac arrest.

Primary survey DRABC

Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Assess and correct each step in order before moving on, then reassess regularly; uncontrolled danger must be dealt with before approaching the casualty.

Implied consent (unconscious casualty)

If a conscious adult can consent, ask before treating. For an unconscious casualty or a child without a parent present, first aid is given under implied consent as a reasonable person would want help.

First aid PPE

Disposable gloves are the minimum; add eye protection and an apron or mask where body fluid splash is likely. Wash hands before and after, and use a barrier device for rescue breaths.

Emergency call information

State the exact location with landmarks, the number of casualties, what happened, hazards present, and your callback number. Stay on the line until the dispatcher ends the call.

Mechanism of injury

The forces involved in an incident, such as fall height or vehicle speed, predict likely injuries. Use it to decide whether to suspect spinal, internal or multiple injuries before examining the casualty.

Adult CPR ratio

Thirty chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Compress at 100 to 120 per minute to a depth of 5 to 6 cm, allowing full chest recoil between compressions.

Compression hand position

Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, lower half of the sternum, with the second hand on top and fingers interlocked. Keep arms straight and shoulders above the hands.

AED pad placement

On an adult, place one pad below the right clavicle and the other on the left mid-axillary line at about the fifth intercostal space. Pads must touch bare, dry skin.

No-shock advised AED

If the AED prompts 'no shock advised', do not press the shock button. Immediately resume chest compressions and continue CPR until the AED reanalyses or emergency services take over.

AED with implanted pacemaker

Place pads at least 8 cm away from a visible implanted device. Do not delay defibrillation; the device is protected, and a shock is safe for the casualty.

Paediatric AED use

Use paediatric pads or the attenuator key for children under 8 years or about 25 kg if available. If not available, use adult pads, ensuring they do not touch each other.

Hands-only CPR

Continuous chest compressions without rescue breaths, at 100 to 120 per minute. Suitable for untrained rescuers, telephone-guided CPR, or when unwilling or unable to give mouth-to-mouth.

Direct pressure bleeding control

Press firmly on the wound with a dressing or clean cloth and maintain pressure. Add further dressings on top if bleeding soaks through; do not remove the original dressing.

Tourniquet application rules

Use for life-threatening limb bleeding that pressure cannot control. Apply 5 to 7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time applied.

Amputated part preservation

Wrap the part in sterile gauze, seal it in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice and water. Never place the part directly on ice or in water.

Signs of shock

Pale, cold, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness as the body's compensation fails.

Shock positioning

Lay the casualty flat and raise the legs about 30 cm unless fracture, spinal, pelvic or head injury is suspected. Keep warm, give no food or drink, and monitor breathing.

Impaled object management

Leave the object in place. Pad around it with bulky dressings and stabilise it to prevent movement, then control bleeding and seek urgent medical help.

Evisceration abdominal wound

Do not push organs back inside. Cover the wound with a moist sterile dressing and then an occlusive layer, keep the casualty still with knees bent, and call emergency services.

Rule of Nines adult

Head 9%, each arm 9%, front trunk 18%, back trunk 18%, each leg 18%, perineum 1%. The casualty's palm including fingers is about 1% of body surface area.

Cooling a burn

Hold the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, starting within three hours of injury. Never use ice, and keep the rest of the casualty warm to prevent hypothermia.

Chemical burn first steps

Brush off dry chemical powder before irrigating. Then flush with copious running water; irrigate a chemically burned eye for at least 20 minutes and remove contact lenses.

Fracture immobilisation

Splint the limb in the position found, immobilising the joints above and below the fracture. Check circulation, sensation and movement distal to the injury before and after splinting.

Suspected spinal injury care

Keep the head, neck and spine aligned and do not move the casualty unless there is immediate danger. If movement is essential, use a log roll with enough helpers.

RICE soft tissue injury

Rest, Ice for 15 to 20 minutes wrapped in cloth, Compression with an elastic bandage, and Elevation. Avoid heat, alcohol and massage during the first 48 hours.

FAST stroke test

Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services. Note the exact time symptoms began, because it may determine which treatments are possible.

Suspected heart attack first aid

Sit the casualty at rest, loosen tight clothing, and call emergency services. Give 300 mg aspirin to chew if there is no allergy and no active bleeding risk.

Hypoglycaemia conscious casualty

Give a fast-acting sugar such as glucose tablets, a sweet drink or candy. If there is no improvement in 10 to 15 minutes, repeat the sugar and call emergency services.

Seizure first aid

Protect the casualty from injury, do not restrain them or put anything in the mouth, and time the seizure. Use the recovery position afterwards and call emergency services if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Determining first aider numbers

The required number of trained first aiders comes from a documented risk assessment covering workforce size, shift patterns, site hazards, remoteness from emergency services and the needs of vulnerable workers.

First aid kit inspection

Check the kit at scheduled intervals and after every use. Replace expired items, record the checks, and keep the kit accessible, clearly signed and known to all staff.

Accident record contents

Record the date, time, place, casualty details, what happened, treatment given, and who provided it. Keep the records confidential and retain them for the legally required period.