HSE People - Health and Safety Community

Respected Readers,

Dengue is the most widespread mosquito-borne infection which in recent years has become a major international public health concern. The magnitude of dengue problem has increased dramatically and has extended fears of an outbreak especially within Punjab and throughout the country.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan is a training and consultancy company and working within our scope to conduct dengue prevention awareness sessions to adopt better preventive measures to avoid becoming dengue virus carrier. We have decided to observe Dengue Awareness Week from Sep 19 to 24, 2011 and will answer the questions asked from us and share other information with them to feel confidence while fighting against this outbreak. We have created a new email address (dpp@firstaidtosavealife.com) where you can send your questions/queries to us.

Below is the link to an awareness campaign started by First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan for public interest and information to be shared with others as well.

Awareness Campaign

To Your Safety,

Faisal Javed Mir

As-Salam-o-Alaikum Respected Readers,

Today we will share with you one new topic which is Psychological First Aid (PFA). When terrible things happen in our communities, we want to reach out a helping hand to those who are affected. Although everyone is affected in some way by these events, there are a wide range of reactions and feelings each person can have. Psychological first aid has been recommended by many international and national expert groups. PFA should be offered to people in severe distress after being recently exposed to a traumatic event.

What is Psychological First Aid?

Psychological first aid (PFA) describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support. PFA involves the following themes:

• providing practical care and support, which does not intrude;
• assessing needs and concerns;
• helping people to address basic needs;
• listening to people, but not pressuring them to talk;
• comforting people and helping them to feel calm;
• helping people connect to information, services and social supports; &
• protecting people from further harm.

PFA also involves factors that seem to be most helpful to people’s long-term recovery. PFA is for distressed people who have been recently exposed to a serious crisis event. You should not force help on people who do not want it, but make yourself easily available to those who may want support.

It is very important to act in ways that respect the safety, dignity and rights of the people you have decided to help. There is a lot to say on PFA and we will continue this service in better interest of our readers.

To Your Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com

As-Salam-o-Alaikum Respected Readers,

Today we will share with you why it is important to avoid direct contact with blood.

There is a potential for transmission of infection, if direct contact with blood has occurred. Although rare, injuries from an infected patient’s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including Hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because of this transmission risk, a great care should be taken whenever you decide to administer first aid.

The main risk is exposure to infections, especially blood-borne viruses (BBV).

Transmission of infection depends on a number of factors, including the person’s natural immune system.  We know the number of injuries each year is high, and only a small number are known to have caused infections that become serious illnesses. The blood-borne viruses of most concern are:

• Hepatitis B;
• Hepatitis C; and
• HIV.

As we don’t know at time of administering first aid at emergency scene so avoiding direct contact with blood is the most important personal safety tip. In many of the real life scenarios, you may not carry first aid kit with you but you can improvise the items available with you or get them from your surroundings to maintain your safety as well. These incidents are avoidable, and reducing them is primarily dependent on high quality education & training. And our this post will help you to learn the basics of blood-borne viruses infections.

If you suffer an injury from a sharp object or have had direct contact with blood which may be contaminated:

• Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water;
• Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap;
• Don’t scrub the wound whilst you are washing it;
• Don’t suck the wound;
• Dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing;
• Seek urgent medical advice (for example from your Occupational Health Service), as effective prophylaxis  (medicines to help fight infection) are available; &
• Report the injury to your employer.

A significant proportion of blood-borne viruses infections occur when first aid providers fail to follow the standard personal protective procedures and dos and don’t told to them during their training sessions. These incidents are avoidable, and the above brief information can help you to take care of yourself from such worries.

Bloodborne Pathogens is an accredited training program which help students in managing disease exposure from materials that contain blood or other infectious body fluids. This course provides essential knowledge necessary to help reduce or eliminate the risk of bloodborne pathogens. This course is based on the latest guidelines released in October 2010.

To Your Safety & Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com

As-Salam-o-Alaikum Respected Readers,

Today we would like to throw light on corporate responsibility and social sustainability system. Many organizations act responsibly towards the people, their employees, and communities to contribute to social development in the areas where they live and work. They think that it is the essence of their commitment to their corporate social responsibility and they are very right but there are some organizations those doesn’t live up to the expectations even more fulfill their regulatory requirements. 

Basic life saving first aid skills is one of the subject one should consider is their responsibility to provide life saving skills to their employees and to contribute to communities where they live and work. In order to respond immediately and effectively to emergencies/disasters, which may occur during work timing or commuting to/from home to office and vice versa.

As most of the organizations collectively embrace the need to improve their impact on the society but the concept of sustainability is no longer just an investment in some of the occasional events, while I applaud increased efforts by number of organizations toward sustainable design and worker safety. There are some organizations those take responsibility of their services and products as well as invest in development of personal safety skills of their employees.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan’s community training programs are also one of the service where we share basic life saving first aid skills at large-scale and not for profit. At large-scale and especially at corporate sector, we should consider this and contribute/volunteer towards our community and society such program those can make difference in the lives of the families of our employees, communities and our fellow citizens.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan also share the same sense of responsibility and have developed community training programs and currently working on many more programs and school safety program and AED implementation program are part of those efforts. Despite the fact that many organizations neglect this aspect in their corporate social responsibility we will remain active in incorporating personal safety awareness and life saving skills, to truly protect the future, protecting the lives of workers and serve to community and our fellow citizens.

With this First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan also wishes our fellow citizens, a very happy Independence Day. Long Live Pakistan.

To Your Prosperity,
Faisal Javed Mir

Welcome Respected Readers,

Today we will update you on “Use of Aspirin in chest pain (sign of cardiac arrest)”.

Use of Aspirin while suffering with chest pain was not addressed in 2005 guidelines but it is now included in the latest guidelines.

Courtesy to American Heart Association (AHA) for sharing with us that evidences from two large, randomized studies clearly demonstrated that the administration of aspirin within the first hours of onset of chest discomfort in people with acute coronary syndromes reduced mortality.

Let see how it is drafted in the latest guidelines.

2010 Guidelines: “While waiting for EMS to arrive, the first aid provider may encourage the victim to chew 1-adult (not enteric coated) or 2 low-dose baby aspirin if the patient has no allergy to aspirin, other contraindication to aspirin, such evidence of a stroke or recent bleeding.”

It is very clear from the above excerpt that first aid provider may encourage and not states that he/she should himself/herself can administer (if semi-conscious then it is already late for this). Meanwhile, first aid provider should also (if appropriate) ask patient of any allergy to aspirin or other contraindications if he/she knew and could be of great help for EMS personnel as well.

To Your Success,
Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com/2011/07/24/use-of-aspirin-in-chest-pain/

Welcome All and Our Respected Readers,

Today we will update you on “Modified Recovery Position” which is named as “HAINES”; High Arm IN Endangered Spine.

As we all know that there are lot of conditions associated before to take decision to put victim in recovery position. As a general rule a victim should not be moved, especially if you suspect, from the victim’s position or the nature of the injury, that the victim may have a spinal injury BUT as a real time situation dictates you to do so in a way your or victim’s life in in danger then place the victim in a modified High Arm IN Endangered Spine (HAINES) recovery position. The step by step guide to do so is:

1:- The casualty’s arm should be fully raised by ‘rotating it outwards’ to ensure it is beside the casualty’s head. This is achieved automatically by ensuring the palm is facing upwards.

2:- The casualty’s upper limb to be placed across the chest, with fingers pointing to the opposite shoulder.

3:- Bend the casualty’s nearest lower leg at the knee.

4:- The rescuer’s hand is then placed under the hollow of casualty’s neck and head to provide stabilisation.

5:- The casualty is then carefully rolled away by the rescuer, by simultaneously pushing on the casualty’s nearest shoulder with the first aider’s forearm of the stabilising hand and the casualty’s flexed knee ensuring large casualty’s do not roll into the prone position.

6:- Whilst still supporting the head and neck, place the hand of the casualty’s upper arm ‘Palm down’, placing the fingers under the Armpit of the underarm. As soon as the hand from the upper arm is placed into the armpit, ensure the Forearm is flat on the surface and is position at 90 degrees to the body. When the casualty is positioned on their side, check the airway and if required, clear with the face turned slightly downwards to permit drainage from the mouth.

We look forward to your comments (if any).

To Your Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com

Robert Gordon University Thursday 1^st September 18.00

As a leader in engineering design and information management solutions to the Oil & Gas industry, AVEVA is keen to contribute to the debate and to fully understand the role of Information Systems within Health & Safety.

As such we would like to invite you to come along to our engaging event to be held at Aberdeen Business School on the evening of Thursday, 1^st September 18:00 for 18.30 start.   The purpose of this event is to showcase the findings of an independent study carried out by researchers at Robert Gordon University, in order to provide the industry as a whole with  a better understanding of the role information management plays in managing health and safety in the Oil & Gas Industry. The research also explores how organisations achieve improvements in health and safety performance based on factors that range from culture to technology.

Hosted by Jeremy Cresswell, editor of the Press and Journal’s ENERGY supplement and honorary Professor at RGU’s Business School, the evening will commence with a presentation of the report’s findings by Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of Aberdeen Business School. This will be followed by a panel discussion of the topics raised and we are delighted to announce the panel members comprise

-          Malcolm Webb, Chief Executive of Oil & Gas UK

-          Brian Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for KCA DEUTAG Drilling Ltd

-          John Pearson, Managing Director Europe and West Africa for AMEC Natural Resources

-          Robin Davies, Vice President Integration & Business Improvement for Subsea 7

Refreshments on arrival and a post event buffet will be provided.  There will be ample parking at the university and no parking restrictions are in place. 

We would be delighted to welcome you along to join the debate. To ensure we have enough space available I would be very grateful if you could inform us of your intention to attend by contacting Matt Wren, Marketing Coordinator for AVEVA’s UK operations; matt.wren@aveva.com +44 1246 572916.

See the event online at www.aveva.com/rgu

Welcome Respected Readers,

Our today’s post on Online CPR Training Class Vs Conventional Classroom CPR Training is very important to understand as many of the training providers in market are offering online CPR training courses and they issue certificates to participants as well.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan recommends such practices for informal learning, to create awareness, to engage students in practicing more and more; to encourage them while online practices on low risks involved if you do hands-only CPR etc. But First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan is not in favor of online CPR class and then certifies and issue certificates to participants as it is not recommended by American Heart Association. We at First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan have clear understanding of the matter and have given our words and commitment in our “Practical Skills and CPR Training” policy. Below are some of the extracts from our policy document on this issue.

“It is the policy of First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan that CPR learning curriculum’s which ignore the importance of associated physical skills practice are not adequate to meet the reasonable performance measure and should be avoided. ………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Henceforth, First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan will not issue a certificate to those participants who have completed only theory part of any training course and have not participated in practical skills necessary to achieve reasonable outcome.”

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan also offers blended training courses but there is mandatory requirement that every student have to appear for practical (physical) skill assessment before authorized instructor and will get completion certificate only if he demonstrates correct use of life saving skills. Instructor will also allow them time and chances to clear their misunderstandings and re-appear there required to do so.

With this we would like to quote here the extracts from American Heart Association’s latest guidelines released in October, 2010.

“Methods to improve bystanders willingness to perform CPR include formal training in CPR techniques, including compression-only (Hands-Only) CPR for those who may be unwilling or unable to perform conventional CPR; educating providers on the low risk of acquiring an infection by performing CPR; and specific training directed at helping providers overcome fear or panic when faced with a actual cardiac arrest victim.”

American Heart Association further states in the below paragraph about the role of EMS in an emergency situation and transfer of instruction to untrained bystanders which unfortunately some of the training providers misunderstood and claiming that there is no harm in online CPR training classes which we and most of other training providers did not see in below paragraph.

“EMS should provide dispatcher instruction over the telephone to help bystanders recognize victims of cardiac arrest, including victims who may still be gasping, and to encourage bystander to provide CPR if arrest is likely. Dispatchers may also instruct untrained bystanders in the performance of compression-only (Hands-Only) CPR.“

With above AHA also stated in their same document, “BLS skills can be learned equally well with practice while watching (video-based) training as through longer, traditional instructor-led courses”.

Along with above AHA also recommends, “BLS courses should include periodic assessment of rescuer knowledge and skills with reinforcement provided as needed”.

Now how one can pass on reinforcement feedback when two (trainee and instructor) of them are not present at one scene? How one can go for periodic assessment sessions? Etc.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan wanted to clear misunderstanding in Pakistan on this issue and have posted this to answer all the misconceptions with references from latest guidelines released by AHA in October 2010.

We will look forward to you for your words on online CPR class vs traditional CPR class and appreciate if you positively take part in our upcoming survey on this subject.

To Your Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com

Welcome Our Respected Readers,

We often come up to situations where we regret why I decided to participate in this training session or even we analyze that this training didn’t proved to be worth for me. But very less often we prepared ourselves before the upcoming training session for ideas, questions and sketch our plan how to go for course and setting an objective to meet after this training.

Today, we will look into this that how someone can chalk his pre-training plan and focus to be an effective participant who ends in great learning session.

Do you have any question(s)?

No. Why not? How come you are coming to attend a training session and you don’t have any question in mind? Your surely have but you didn’t consider it worth to write it before going to class you don’t miss it during the class. So often participant don’t write their question well before the training session and think they can get maximum from the session because they think they are very attentive and nobody can be 100% attentive during the whole session. I am not wrong it is proved with the help of independent research studies that people often lost attentiveness and their conscious mind if they listen or see something (someone) for longer than 3 minutes. Hence, we may lost what we want to ask so why not to write the questions in your mind before going to real training.

 Do you listen carefully?

Try hard to get the other persons point of view. Don’t accept ideas which seem unsound but remember: on almost every question there are several points of view. So be patience, listen carefully and learn from the experiences of other participants as well.

Don’t monopolize. Do you?

Don’t speak for more than 1 to 2 minutes or so at a time. Make your point in a few words, then give someone else a chance. Don’t make a speech as others may involve into longer discussion and main topic is left behind (a good trainer or instructor will never let this happen).

Don’t shy and why now when you have already decided once to learn/practice!

Don’t let yourself discourage from asking questions. If you didn’t understand, say so. Ask questions and remember: “my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Disagree but in a friendly manner.

If you didn’t like any idea or comment or thinking of trainer or any other participants from class then it is good to say so but in a friendly manner. Avoid win-loss contests as I have heard that “attitudes are contagious” and you don’t want to be everyone in the class to be in a same role so disagree in a friendly manner.

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it”.

Being a volunteer student is much of learning experience.     

If there is a need of volunteer in class for demonstration of any technique then you should be the first to grab the opportunity. It could be very good learning experience. Give yourself more and more chances to learn directly from the instructor.

How you plan for lunch session during trainings?

Are you one of those who take care of public relations more than their lunch? If not then it is really good but eat wisely as the session after the lunch may be very sleepy or difficult to pay attention on lectures. Now it is the time to change your seat, make new neighbors and change the seating position as well as angle. Tell this to instructor of class before doing this and tell him the reason.

When this training session will end?

The training session will only end for you when you ask yourself, “what I have learnt and how much I have contributed in the course?” Now if you are satisfied with the answer of your question and your colleagues can notice the change then you can, you can’t relax as you have to share your experience with them, but you consider yourself a winner.

In the end remember only one thing before going to any training session, “failure to plan is planning to fail”.

To Your Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com

Respected Readers,

We hope that you are finding our posts regularly and we will do our best to continue this service to you. Today we would like to share with you the results of an independent survey conducted in the United States of America. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive® on the usefulness of first aid kits/cabinets in workplaces.

This telephone based survey was conducted in March-April this year targeting the adults and older. 68 percent of those surveyed said they would be more productive at work if provided access to a first aid kit or cabinet.

The senior director of the company said that the results of this survey has put more emphasis on the first aid kits/cabinets and largely related it to the overall productivity as well. He further stated that the increasing number of absences due to employee illness further makes the case for on-site first aid kits or cabinets in the workplace. He further added that ensuring that employees are equipped with the first aid supplies necessary to combat minor illness and injury in the workplace is essential to maximizing productivity and reducing costs for businesses.

Survey results included these:

• 88 percent of those surveyed agreed employers should be required to provide a first aid kit or cabinet at each office or workplace;
• 74 percent of employed adults think employers should be required to provide at least one at each work site.

The common cold is the leading cause of missed workdays, resulting in an average loss of 8.7 work hours per cold episode, which cited for the estimated economic cost of lost business productivity due to the common cold as approaching $25 billion, most of which is attributed to on-the-job productivity loss.

I would like to mention one example from my personal experience where employer was keen to distribute helmets and personal first aid kits to their employees in every Friday meeting based on their inputs of hazard identification reports in a week time. I have observed remarkable improvement in their employee's approach towards personal safety through this incentive program. I hope someone may want to implement this idea in their company as well.

Also, see our earlier post on “Summary of achievements of first 10 years of 21st century” as well.

Note: This post is only posted on HSE People and not yet posted on our website. This will be released Sunday, June 19, 2011 on our website.

To Your Success,

Faisal Javed Mir

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan