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KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WHILE GIVING FIRST AID

Assessing your own safety is the most important point when giving first aid. When becoming a first aider, we need to make sure that we are not in danger, otherwise we will not be able to help anyone. In order to properly protect yourself, you need to consider personal protective equipment such as gloves, a mask, and a mask for artificial respiration.

When performing first aid, we must pay attention to a number of different hazards that we can see, sense or hear. These include, for example, escaping gas in a stove, fire, traffic, broken power line. In addition to easily recognizable hazards, it is important to focus attention on invisible hazards such as the so-called "silent killer" carbon monoxide, electric current, microorganisms from body fluids of the injured person. In addition, it is important to focus on a number of external factors such as the surroundings of the accident scene and hazards that may arise from the victims themselves such as biological hazards transmitted by blood, body fluids and secretions.

External factors may also endanger the injured person. Check whether the hazards affect the health and/or life of the victim and if possible eliminate the hazards first, regardless of the severity of the injury requiring immediate first aid.

There are two types of safety equipment necessary at the scene. The first includes items that protect the rescuer from potentially infectious material (disposable gloves, masks, safety glasses). The second group concerns materials that increase the safety of the entire scene (warning triangle, reflective vest, reflective elements on clothing, flashlight, car emergency lights). Several people are often injured at the scene of an accident. It is important to take proper care of the aseptic principles while providing assistance.

Often as a result of haste, stress, the person providing help may infect the wound of the victim by not changing disposable gloves. A new set of dressing materials should be used for each injured person (including putting on a new pair of gloves). Of course, for your own safety, you should remove the gloves properly so that there is no direct contact with the blood of the victim. Used dressing materials should be put in one place (e.g. a disposable bag) and disposed of in an appropriate place. Disposing of such waste in the public trash is a potential biological agent of infection for others.

Providing first aid is a legal obligation. Poland is a country in which it is punishable to consciously fail to provide first aid to an injured person. Therefore, if you are a witness of, for example, a car accident, do not be afraid to provide help, obviously remembering to ensure your own safety on the scene first. Because only a convinced, safe rescuer can fully devote himself to providing premedical first aid.

 
Last update: 3/25/2021