Each year, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 Singaporeans suffer a heart attack and approximately 50 percent of them die outside the hospital, without medical help. Often, these kind of unexpected events are those that affect us the most.
First-aid
First-aid is the act of immediate and initial support that one can render on-site, including putting together a sling for an injured forearm or dressing a small wound for a victim. Consoling the sufferer can also be regarded as first-aid. These seemingly simple acts can become the most important gestures to a victim. Here are some levels of first-aid:
Awareness first-aid: The course is usually conducted, without charge, at residents' committee gatherings and community clubs for senior citizens by security companies, in an effort to train and equip the public with simple first-aid skills.
Basic first-aid: This is an entry-level programme for schools to educate their under-eighteen pupils on immediate aid, thus enabling students to help themselves and others in times of crisis.
Standard first-aid: The course is usually conducted for child-care teachers, fitness coaches and the general adult public. This course provides a certificate with three-year validity.
Occupational first-aid: In line with the Factories Act, it is mandatory to have trained occupational first-aiders at site in all registered workplaces. The difference between this certification and the rest is, those certified will cover a toxicology module that will better equip the first-aiders during an emergency involving hazardous substances. The certificate is also valid for three years.
Implementing a first-aid system that works
Although the Ministry of Manpower made first-aid systems compulsory only for higher-risk industries such as factories and childcare centres, safety systems are recommended for corporates. It's a welfare provision that has obvious benefits to employers and employees. The recommended number of first-aider to staff size is, at least one for a headcount of 100 and below, and an additional first-aider for every 50 staff above that. For example, in a company of 200 employees, it is advised for the firm to have a minimum of three first-aiders.
Keep records
First-aiders should record all the cases they treat. Each record should include at least the name of the patient, date, place, time and circumstances of the accident and details of injury suffered and treatment given. An account of first-aiders' certification dates and the dates of additional, specific or refresher training should be recorded as well. The record allows you to track all first-aid activities and assess the success of your first-aid system. A successful safety system is one that relies on prevention. It's not judged by the amount of accidents you aided but the number of accidents the safety system had a hand in preventing.
Assess the current first-aid system
It is required to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first-aid to be given to your employees if they are injured or become ill at work. What is adequate and appropriate will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first-aid needs. The minimum first-aid provision on any worksite is to have both a suitably stocked first-aid box and an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements. The next step is to inform your employees of the first-aid arrangements. Many small firms will only need to make the minimum first-aid provision. However, there are factors which might make greater provision necessary. The following checklist covers the points you should consider:
- What are the risks of injury and ill health? Is anyone working with hazardous substances or dangerous tools and machinery?
- Are there different levels of risk at various parts of your establishment?
- What is the record of accidents and cases of ill health?
- How many people are employed on site?
- Are there inexperienced workers or disabled employees?
- Is there shift work or out-of-hours working?
- Do members of the public visit your premises?
How to choose first-aiders?
The number of first-aiders you need depends primarily on assessment of risk, number of employees and location of those employees. Qualified first-aid personnel should be available at all times when people are at work, and this may mean appointing more than one. It is essential that people who are reliable and likely to remain calm in an emergency are considered for selection. In addition, a first-aider should have the aptitude and ability to cope with an intense course of study, and be able to use the knowledge and skills learnt during the course. The appointed person usually takes charge of the first-aid equipment and is someone who can handle the physical demands of providing proper first-aid.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
In Singapore, more than 2,000 people suffer from acute heart attacks each year, and at least half of them die in the same year. But not everyone realise that heart attacks, if attended to in the first few minutes, need not be fatal. CPR courses generally cover various aspects of rescue breathing and resuscitation techniques, such as artificial ventilation and cardiac compressions. The courses provide a practical guide for a person to help during various medical emergencies such as heart attacks, stroke, drowning, choking, poisoning and electrocution.
When the heart stops, death is virtually certain if no resuscitation is given within the first few minutes. During this short period, the victim's life hangs on the quick response of bystanders. Therefore, immediate medical help provided on the spot in these vital first minutes could save lives, as well as having a clear psychological support value for the victim and other people involved. Workforce preparedness in first aid allows employees to remain vigilant and be ready to render assistance.
V. Krishnan, managing director
Life Saving Training Centre
http://www.lstc.com.sg/
