CHAPTER-6
FIRST AID & HANDLING EMERGENCIES
Objective
Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to:
Work safely in various laboratories and workshops to Perform emergency and First
Aid Procedures
FIRST AID AND HANDLING EMERGENCIES-INTRODUCTION
• Right actions during emergencies is the key to
industrial safety where, potential hazards and
possible accidents are prevalent
• Preparedness for emergency situation is
highly important, as it may reduce the
damages, both human and non-human
• In the subsequent section, emergency and first
aid procedures will be discussed
WORKPLACE EMERGENCY
• A workplace emergency is an unexpected situation that threatens the workers,
employees, contractors, general public, customers and other stakeholders
• It may be due to controllable and uncontrollable causes like accidents, fire, toxic gas
leakages, chemical spills, explosions, radiological accidents, floods, hurricanes,
earthquakes etc.
Preparedness and Response:
• Provide training for the worst-case situations
• Prepare the emergency action plan
• Alert the employees about the emergency
• Develop an evacuation plan
• Establish an evacuation route
• Define the roles of safety wardens and coordinators
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
• Method of reporting fire or any other types of accidents
• Emergency escape routes and procedures – floor plans, refuge area etc.
• Names and phone numbers of the coordinators and wardens and emergency contact
lists
• Assigning special duties to persons responsible for shutdown, performing emergency
duties and operating fire extinguishers
• Medical duties and designated rescue workers
• Types of alternative communications
• Assembly points and public announcement systems
• Detailed training before the inception of the workers to the specific departments and
periodic continuous training is the key for preparedness and response during
emergency.
FIRST AID
First aid is the instantaneous assistance that is given to a person on injury or illness- minor
or major, on the first instance itself before taking him for specialized medical care.
First aid is administered for mainly three purposes:
• Prevent worsening of the condition
• Preserve life
• Promote the recovery
FIRST AID - Unconscious/Unresponsive
When a person is found unresponsive or unconscious.
the basic principle adopted as first aid is ABC
• Airway – Clear the airway when someone is
unresponsive. Keeping the person in the recovery
position, clear the vomit or fluid seen.
• Breathing – After clearing the airway, if still no
response provide rescue breathing i.e. blowing air
into the person’s mouth to supply the necessary
oxygen
• Circulation – If the person involved fails to breath,
he should be given chest compressions as a first
aid. This will help circulation and saves time and
life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVb6n9osplM
FIRST AID - Cardiac Arrest
If a person is found in cardiac arrest, perform a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or he can be helped
by using an automated external defibrillator (AED) that can be operated even without a trained person
around.
Use of CPR and AED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozzZVQQTvo4
CPR Training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lwRQTGzKcw 4.44 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7kqiAu2gC8 3.27 Minutes
FIRST AID - Burns
First aid for burns depends on the types of burn:
First Degree Burn: It is minor burns that causes
swelling and redness on the skin and is affecting
the outer layer of the skin. It affects the
epidermis of the skin.
FIRST AID - Burns
Second Degree Burn: It causes redness,
swelling and blistering along with it. It is a
major burn and is more severe when it
happens on hands, joints, face and is
more than three inches wide. This type of
bure is the most painful and affects the
dermis of the skin.
SAFE STEPS First Aid: Burns - YouTube
FIRST AID - Burns
Third Degree Burn: It is a severe burn that
affects the deeper layers of the skin and is
often seen as blackened or white skin and
numbness as well and is life threating and
affects the hypodermis of the skin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_5tuB1YMK0
FIRST AID - Burns
The first action to provide during burning is to stop the burning process. Chemicals need
to be cleaned if it is a chemical burn. Electricity needs to be cut off, if it is an electrical fire
For the first and second degree burn:
• Cool the burned area with running water for a long time
• Apply ointment if the burn is a minor one
• Apply a light gauze bandage
• Do not break any blisters if formed
For major burns, call for emergency medical attention. For pain relief ibuprofen or
acetaminophen upon the advice of the plant nurse. In case of third degree burn, do not
apply ointment, do not soak the burn with water and do not remove the burned clothing
sticking to the area.
FIRST AID – Broken Bones or Fracture
All injuries to hands and feet are considered as
fracture or broken bones until otherwise
confirmed by an X-ray and the person affected
need to be taken for medical assistance, however
it does not require an emergency rush to hospital.
The first aid in such situations are as below:
• Use a splint to keep the part still
• Do not try to straighten the bone
• Put a cold pack over the injured part
• The person should not be allowed to move, if
spinal injury is suspected
• Transport to the hospital for medical assistance.
SAFE STEPS First Aid: Broken Bones – YouTube
FIRST AID – Nose Bleeds
Causes for nose bleeds are
• Nose picking
• Hot air
• Blowing the nose hard
• High blood pressure
• Chemical fumes
• High altitudes
The first aid in such situations are as below:
• Lean forward
• Pinch the nose just below the bridge and check after sometime whether bleeding is stopped or else
repeat the same
• Apply a cold pack on the bridge of the nostrils
• If not stopping take the person for medical assistance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmmhxW0vVXA
FIRST AID – Bleeding
• Bleeding might occur from capillaries, veins and arteries
• Bleeding from capillaries stops soon and is often trickling only, from
the veins it will be dark red blood that flows consistently and from the
arteries, it would be bright red and sprouts out and large quantity of
blood may be lost.
All types of bleeding can be stopped and the first aid in such situations are
as below:
• Wash and use a glove to get protected from contagious diseases like
HIV, Hepatitis B etc.
• Rinse the wound with good water
• Cover the area by using gauze of good cloth
• Apply direct pressure, which might help stopping the loss of blood
• Keep the part that is bleeding above the heart level
• If the cloth is soaked with blood, use another cloth over it, do not
remove the cloth
• If bleeding stops, apply bandage or else take the person for medical
assistance
https://youtu.be/8pTaqY40-Rs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ag8rhvpCuE
FIRST AID – Sprain
Symptoms of sprain is similar to that of a fracture unless otherwise confirmed by an X-ray. It is
generally an injury on the ligaments of the ankles or wrists. Person who has sprain would
experience severe pain when he is trying to move, unable to bear the weight.
It is not a serious injury can apply cold packs and go for medical assistance.
FIRST AID – Wasp/Bee Stings
Wasp or bee stings are painful and can be dangerous for those allergic to bee venom.
The first aid in such situations are as below:
• Try to remove the stringer quickly
• Wash the area with soap, water and disinfectants
• Apply ice or cold pack
• The plant nurse must administer some medication to those who are allergic to bee
stings
FIRST AID – Chocking
Blockage of the throat by food or any other particle entrapment
is chocking which might lead to unconsciousness or to death.
The first aid in such situations is performing a Heimlich
maneuver and the process is as below:
• Make the person lean forward by standing behind and
pressing him
• Put your arms around the waist of the person
• Clench your left fist and keep it between the rib cage and
navel (For right handed persons)
• Grab the clenched fist with the other hand
• Push the clenched fist in backward and upward direction
under the rib cage in five quick thrusts and repeat this cycle
till the object is coming out
• This procedure can be done before the medical assistance
arrives
https://youtu.be/nfHGzD93XuU
SAFETY IN LABORATORIES AND WORKSHOPS
• Safety in laboratories and workshops can be easily ensured by
always following the instructions of the teachers, supervisors and
technicians
• Students need to clearly understand the priority of safety and must
be highly disciplined
• Discipline is when you are proud in following the rules even when no
one is watching you
• Right from the parking place as you enter the university campus,
watch for the signals and visual instructions.
• Put your PPE as mandated by the laboratories and workshop.
• In workshops safety shoe, lab coat, coverall is compulsory and
gloves, apron and other as it is provided.
• Never try to operate a machine if not trained
• In chemistry labs watch for the labels and material safety data sheet
• In electrical workshops follow the instructions for electrical safety
SAFETY IN LABORATORIES AND WORKSHOPS
• Wash your hands thoroughly after the work and before contacting others and
eating food
• Grease which contains lead is carcinogens
• Sit in the correct posture while working in computer labs
• While doing an outdoor task like surveying, especially during summer, drink a lot
of water and be safe against sun strokes
• Always participate in the mock safety drill with seriousness and understand the
evacuation processes
CONCLUSION
• Providing first aid to a person injured is the most important
step in protecting him before reaching the adequate
medical assistance.
• First aid equipment must be in well maintained condition
and the person responsible for providing first aids must
always be available. They need to make sure that their
absence is always by informing and making necessary
arrangements.
• OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151(b) promulgates the
methods of first aid in a general industry.
