Considerations+for+administering+first+aid.


 * __What does the individual need to consider in administering first aid?__**

- traffic accidents - water environment - electricity || * Analyse the particular safety issues associated with each physical environment and formulate specific self-protective strategies that should be observed. || - HIV/AIDS - Blood-borne viruses (Hepatitis B and C) || * Describe the procedure to be taken to reduce risk of contract with body fluids and in the event of contact with body fluids in first aid settings. || - Legal implications, e.g. Occupational Health and safety legislation, litigation - moral obligate ions, e.g. duty of care, responsible citizenship - common sense versus heroics || * Debate the legal and moral dilemmas associated with providing first aid.
 * Students learn about: || Students learn to: ||
 * * physical environment
 * * infection control and protection
 * * legal and moral dilemmas

- debriefing - counselling || * Identify available sources of support for those involved in the delivery of emergency first aid. ||
 * Distinguish between a manageable first aid situation and an emergency situation ||
 * * support following first aid situations

The physical environment may include factors such as weather conditions, time of day, water and traffic environments including possible hazards especially if electricity is involved. A management plan is useful when dealing with traffic accidents especially those that involve young people and babies. - Your safety is priority. Check for potential danger .e.g. exposed wires or leaking petrol. - Determine how many people are involved in the accident and what condition they appear to be in. Most conscious casualties will experience shock. This factor needs to be managed. - Take charge of traffic and ensure one person is calling the ambulance. Use a safely parked car to warn oncoming vehicles of an accident by putting the hazard lights on. If the accident occurs at night use the headlights for lighting. - Use bystanders at scene to assist you: calling the ambulance, calling the police, help with people who are not injured but may be suffering from shock. - If possible turn engine off od he car/s that the accident affected. - Commence DRSABCD and manage casualties loosing blood. - If you are alone, apply DRSABCD and seek help as soon as possible.
 * Physical environment**
 * __Traffic accidents__:

Examples of situations resulting in first aid practices include: - a toddler falling into a swimming pool - a boot obtaining passengers capsizing - a weak swimmer swimming outside the flags - a person getting caught in a rip Considerations and methods of administering first aid in a water environment: - Assess potential risks to your own safety. If you are a weak swimmer do not enter the water or swim a long distance to the swimmer. This will put you in danger. - Observe the scene carefully and look for any possible aids to assist you such as a rope, kick board or stick. - Be aware of hidden dangers underwater e.g. rocks, sharks, jelly fish. - Make judgements about the state of the casualty to determine
 * __Water environment__:
 * If they are calm or in shock, panic
 * Whether someone is injured
 * The swimming ability of those involved
 * How responsive casualties are to verbal commands

Depending on the distance and condition of the casualty as well as your own abilities apply the following: -If the casualty is unconscious treat as spinal injury and use a tow such as a head tow.
 * Reach**: use a kick board reaching out from the side of the pool
 * Throw**: if a person is able to swim – use a rope or floating device enabling the casualty to reach the shore, boat or side of the pool
 * Wade**: wade to the person and provide necessary aid enabling them to reach the shore, use encouragement to reassure the patient
 * Row**: use a boat or canoe to reach the person and administer aid
 * Swim**: swim to the person
 * Tow**: this method has the most risk as the casualty may panic or act irrationally. It is also physically demanding.

[|Physical environments]

=**__Electricity __**=  =Factors to consider when person is in danger: =

-Turn off the power source, where possible, and remove the plug
==-if unable to turn off the power, use a non-conducted item, such as broom-handle or piece of wood, stand on a dry area and attempt to move the power source. == ==-Stand clear of high voltage power lines until the power source has been cut off as fatal shocks can be received from a distance away. Contact emergency services. ==

-once scene is safe, continue DRSABCD and injury management.

 * Infection control and protect****ion**

Blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B and C )
Hepatitis B and C are viruses transmitted through blood to blood contact and therefore it is possible to contract both at the same time, or it is even possible to get one at a different time to the other. Hepatitis B is also transferred through semen, vaginal secretions and saliva but to a lesser extent. Both cause an infection in the liver and can develop into more fatal conditions (such as liver cancer). They can both be spread easily so it is important to be blood aware and avoid coming into contact with other people’s blood. It is important to be precautions by constantly washing your hands with soap and water, covering exposed wounds, applying disposable gloves before touching a wound, blood or any other bodily fluids, disposing of used equipment in a secured plastic bag, using a resuscitation mask and cleaning contaminated surfaces with detergents, water and antiseptics. There are vaccinations available to prevent individuals from getting Hepatitis B.

HIV is an acronym for ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ which weakens the immune system by attacking the white blood cells which fight infections and causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) when a majority of the white blood cells have been destroyed. The results of having a weak immune system can cause various infections and cancers make take hold. HIV can be spread in blood and bodily fluids through a number of ways, including the sharing needles and other injecting equipment. Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but it can be prevented by medicines, being hygienic and being cautious. This consists of taking extreme care when using sharp objects so the sharing of bodily fluids does not occur and taking medicines targeting HIV. Blood and bodily fluids are not likely to be transferred unless the first aider has open wounds. In the case of having open wounds ensure that they are fully covered in waterproof dressing before giving first aid.
 * HIV/AIDS**

__**What is OH&S?**__

Occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation in Australia aims to prevent injury and disease to persons in the workplace. Probably the most important principle in each Act, from an employment-related perspective, is the ‘duty of care’. This is placed in employers so that they are provided a safe place to work in employers also have the right to protect their workers from diseases and further injuries at work. If these rights and laws are not met, fines will be distributed.

Duty of care describes the legal duty owned by on individual to another to act in a certain way.A first aider has a duty of care to the patients, but also to themselves, so must act accordingly to assure they are always safe. If you chose to exercise you first aid knowledge, the first aider must act in the best interest of the patient.
 * Moral Obligations**

The common law does not impose an automatic duty on first aiders to go to the aid of every casualty they come across. However, first aiders do have a duty to provide first aid assistance if they have voluntarily taken on that role. For example, a nominated first aid officer in a workplace owes a duty of care to assist another person in that workplace. First aiders are expected to perform to the best of their ability until professional help arrives. a injured person can legally refuse any treatment. once the first aider has commenced treatment they are then committed to 'duty of care' until professional help arrives.

Under Australian law a member of the public or first aider in the community, usually has no legal duty of care requiring them to stop and provide assistance to an injured/ill person. This is from a legal viewpoint rather then a moral one. There are however, instances where the first aider/member of the community is obliged to stop and provide assistance. For example, a driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident, is required to stop and provide assistance to anyone in the accident, to the best of their ability. This applies to any person with or without any first aid training. All members of staff have a duty of care, to themselves and others on our grounds, to provide assistance when required, to the level of their ability, including calling on expert assistance when necessary as set out in this plan.
 * __ Duty of Care __**

__**Legislation**__

Each act has individual differences, but their basis of their provisions are very similar in many ways. The content of the legislation is comprehensive, and each Act has individual differences, but their basic provisions tend to be similar in each case. The following provisions appear in each one: · Employers have a duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees and other people who attend the workplace. · Employers must provide work systems that are safe and without risk to health. · Employers should train employees to work in a safe and competent manner. · Requirements to take steps to prevent injury, illness and disease. · Requirements to consult with employees and their representatives over OHS matters. · Provisions for workplace inspectors to visit workplaces, investigate accidents and enforce provisions of the legislation.

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