AgSafe, Coalition for Health and Safety in Agriculture
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The
following safety module is intended to be used as a refresher
safety awareness session and is in no way to be used as a
substitute for job training nor for proper equipment use.
It is very important for
you to get immediate treatment for every injury, regardless how small you may
think it is. (See Figure 1.) Many cases have been reported
where a small unimportant injury, such as a splinter wound or a puncture wound,
quickly led to an infection, threatening the health and limb of the employee.
Even the smallest scratch is large enough for dangerous germs to enter, and in
large bruises or deep cuts, germs come in by the millions. Immediate examination
and treatment is necessary for every injury.
What
is first aid? It is simply those things you can do for the
victim before medical help arrives. The most important procedures
are described below.
Bleeding is the most visible
result of an injury. Each of us has between five and six quarts of blood in our
body. Most people can lose a small amount of blood with no problem, but if a quart
or more is quickly lost, it could lead to shock and/or death. One of the best
ways to treat bleeding is to place a clean cloth on the wound and apply pressure
with the palm of your hand until the bleeding stops. You should also elevate the
wound above the victim's heart, if possible, to slow down the bleeding at the
wound site. (See Figure 2.) Once the bleeding stops,
do not try to remove the cloth that is against the open wound as it could disturb
the blood clotting and restart the bleeding. If the bleeding is very serious,
apply pressure to the nearest major pressure point, located either on the inside
of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow, or in the groin area where the
leg joins the body. Direct pressure is better than a pressure point or a tourniquet
because direct pressure stops blood circulation only at the wound. Only use the
pressure points if elevation and direct pressure haven't controlled the bleeding.
Never use a tourniquet (a device, such as a bandage twisted tight with a stick,
to control the flow of blood) except in response to an extreme emergency, such
as a severed arm or leg. Tourniquets can damage nerves and blood vessels and can
cause the victim to lose an arm or leg.
Shock can threaten the
life of the victim of an injury if it is not treated quickly. (See Figure
3.) Even if the injury doesn't directly cause death, the victim can go into
shock and die. Shock occurs when the body's important functions are threatened
by not getting enough blood or when the major organs and tissues don't receive
enough oxygen. Some of the symptoms of shock are a pale or bluish skin color that
is cold to the touch, vomiting, dull and sunken eyes, and unusual thirst. Shock
requires medical treatment to be reversed, so all you can do is prevent it from
getting worse. You can maintain an open airway for breathing, control any obvious
bleeding and elevate the legs about 12 inches unless an injury makes it impossible.
You can also prevent the loss of body heat by covering the victim (over and under)
with blankets. Don't give the victim anything to eat or drink because this may
cause vomiting. Generally, keep the victim lying flat on the back.
A victim
who is unconscious or bleeding from the mouth should lie on
one side so breathing is easier. Stay with the victim until
medical help arrives.
Never move an injured person
unless there is a fire or when explosives are involved. The major concern with
moving an injured person is making the injury worse, which is especially true
with spinal cord injuries. If you must move an injured person, try to drag him
or her by the clothing around the neck or shoulder area. If possible, drag the
person onto a blanket or large cloth and then drag the blanket. (See Figure
4.)
Ask the victim to cough,
speak, or breathe. If the victim can do none of these things, stand behind the
victim and locate the bottom rib with your hand. Move your hand across the abdomen
to the area above the navel then make a fist and place your thumb side on the
stomach. Place your other hand over your fist and press into the victim's stomach
with a quick upward thrust until the food is dislodged. (See Figure
5.)
There are a many different
types of burns. They can be thermal burns, chemical burns, electrical burns or
contact burns. Each of the burns can occur in a different way, but treatment for
them is very similar. For thermal, chemical or contact burns, the first step is
to run cold water over the burn for a minimum of 30 minutes. (See Figure
6.) If the burn is small enough, keep it completely under water. Flushing
the burn takes priority over calling for help. Flush the burn FIRST. If the victim's
clothing is stuck to the burn, don't try to remove it. Remove clothing that is
not stuck to the burn by cutting or tearing it. Cover the burn with a clean, cotton
material. If you do not have clean, cotton material, do not cover the burn with
anything. Do not scrub the burn and do not apply any soap, ointment, or home remedies.
Also, don't offer the burn victim anything to drink or eat, but keep the victim
covered with a blanket to maintain a normal body temperature until medical help
arrives.
If the
victim has received an electrical burn, the treatment is a
little different. Don't touch a victim who has been in contact
with electricity unless you are clear of the power source.
If the victim is still in contact with the power source, electricity
will travel through the victim's body and electrify you when
you reach to touch. Once the victim is clear of the power
source, your priority is to check for any airway obstruction,
and to check breathing and circulation. Administer CPR if
necessary. Once the victim is stable, begin to run cold water
over the burns for a minimum of 30 minutes. Don't move the
victim and don't scrub the burns or apply any soap, ointment,
or home remedies. After flushing the burn, apply a clean,
cotton cloth to the burn. If cotton is not available, don't
use anything. Keep the victim warm and still and try to maintain
a normal body temperature until medical help arrives.
Heat exhaustion and heat
stroke are two different things, although they are commonly confused as the same
condition. Heat exhaustion can occur anywhere there is poor air circulation, such
as around an open furnace or heavy machinery, or even if the person is poorly
adjusted to very warm temperatures. The body reacts by increasing the heart rate
and strengthening blood circulation. Simple heat exhaustion can occur due to loss
of body fluids and salts. The symptoms are usually excessive fatigue, dizziness
and disorientation, normal skin temperature but a damp and clammy feeling. To
treat heat exhaustion, move to the victim to a cool spot and encourage drinking
of cool water and rest. (See Figure 7.)
Heat
stroke is much more serious and occurs when the body's sweat
glands have shut down. Some symptoms of heat stroke are mental
confusion, collapse, unconsciousness, fever with dry, mottled
skin. A heat stroke victim will die quickly, so don't wait
for medical help to arrive--assist immediately. The first
thing you can do is move the victim to a cool place out of
the sun and begin pouring cool water over the victim. Fan
the victim to provide good air circulation until medical help
arrives.
The first thing to do is
get the victim away from the poison. Then use provide treatment appropriate to
the form of the poisioning. (See Figure 8.) If the poison
is in solid form, such as pills, remove it from the victim's mouth using a clean
cloth wrapped around your finger. Don't try this with infants because it could
force the poison further down their throat. If the poison is a gas, you may need
a respirator to protect yourself. After checking the area first for your safety,
remove the victim from the area and take to fresh air. If the poison is corrosive
to the skin, remove the clothing from the affected area and flush with water for
30 minutes. Take the poison container or label with you when you call for medical
help because you will need to be able to answer questions about the poison. Try
to stay calm and follow the instructions you are given. If the poison is in contact
with the eyes, flush the victim's eyes for a minimum of 15 minutes with clean
water.
In order to administer
effective first aid, it is important to maintain adequate supplies in each first
aid kit. (See Figure 9.) First aid kits can be purchased
commercially already stocked with the necessary supplies, or one can be made by
including the following items:
- Adhesive
bandages: available in a large range of sizes for minor
cuts, abrasions and puncture wounds
- Butterfly
closures: these hold wound edges firmly together.
- Rolled
gauze: these allow freedom of movement and are recommended
for securing the dressing and/or pads. These are especially
good for hard-to-bandage wounds.
- Nonstick
Sterile Pads: these are soft, superabsorbent pads that provide
a good environment for wound healing. These are recommended
for bleeding and draining wounds, burns, infections.
- First
Aid Tapes: Various types of tapes should be included in
each kit. These include adhesive, which is waterproof and
extra strong for times when rigid strapping is needed; clear,
which stretches with the body's movement, good for visible
wounds; cloth, recommended for most first aid taping needs,
including taping heavy dressings (less irritating than adhesive);
and paper, which is recommended for sensitive skin and is
used for light and frequently changed dressings.
- Items
that also can be included in each kit are tweezers, first
aid cream, thermometer, an analgesic or equivalent, and
an ice pack.
As with getting medical
attention for all injuries, it is equally important that you report all injuries
to your supervisor. (See Figure 10.) It is critical
that the employer check into the causes of every job-related injury, regardless
how minor, to find out exactly how it happened. There may be unsafe procedures
or unsafe equipment that should be corrected.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
publication is compiled from various reference sources and
is designed to provide current and authoritative information
on the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding
that the publishers are not engaged in rendering medical,
legal, accounting or other professional service. AgSafe, the
Safety Center, Inc., and FELS believe the information provided
to be correct, but assume no liability for consequential or
other damages attendant to the use of this material. In no
event shall the liability of AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc.,
or FELS for any claim, however designated, exceed the purchase
price, if any, for this publication. No claim may be maintained
against AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc., or FELS in any tribunal
unless written notice of the claim is delivered to the applicable
entity within 30 days of its discovery. Information about
the Agsafe Project can be obtained by writing to Agsafe, 140
Warren Hall, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720
.
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