Document jmXYYgNEjpEk5y02OM4ZxwzXR

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES port for treatment immediately upon being injured, regardless of the extent of the in jury, has resulted in much headway in the reduction of infection and disability, and also in the avoidance of false claims of in jury and disability A first-aid program should include the following s 1 Properly trained and designated first aid ers on every shift 2 A first-aid unit and supplies, or first-aid kit 3 A first-aid manual 4 Posted instructions for calling a physi cian and notifying the hospital that the patient is enroute 5 Posted method for transporting ill or in jured employees and instructions for call ing an ambulance or rescue squad 0 An adequate first-aid record system Fust-aid procedures, approved by the con sulting physician, should embrace the type of medication, if any, to be used on minor injuries, such as cuts and bums These are two examples where there is often consider able difference of opinion regarding proper treatment In areas where chemicals are stored, handled, or used, emergency flood showers (Fig 38-4) and eye-wash fountains (Fig 38-5) should be available The equipment and supplies should be in accordance with the recommendations of the physician, and service should be rendered only as covered by written standard proce dures, signed and dated by him If it is in tended to furnish temporary relief for minor nonoccupational ailments, such as colds and headache, the physician should specify the procedures to be followed The limitations of lay first aid must be thoroughly under stood The majonty of states have medical prac tice acts under which a person is limited to a certain definite procedure when attending anyone who is sick or injured--except, of course, under the direct supervision of a physician It is important, therefore, that anyone who is responsible for first aid have a full understanding of the limits which re strict the work Since unwise treatment might involve the company in serious com plications, the first-aid attendant should be duly qualified and certified by the Bureau of Mines or American Red Cross These certificates have to be renewed at specified intervals First-md training The American Red Cross first-aid textbook and the United States Bureau of Mines manual of first-aid instruction are recommended for the teach ing of first aid It is often found that acci dents occur less frequently and as a rule are less severe among persons trained a Fig. 38-5 Emergency eye-wash fountain Courtesy Hews Dnnktng Fountain Co first-aid work It is therefore advisable that as many industrial workers as possible be given this training The National Safety Council publishes posters and pamphlets that can be used for training employees Another valuable reference is Principles for First Atd for the Injured, by H Proc ter and P S London of die Birmingham (England) Accident Hospital The book was published in 1982 by Butterworths & Co (Ltd ), London, but is available through Butterworths Inc, Washington, D C Medical records Industrial medical records provide data far use m job placement, in establishing health standards, in health maintenance, in treatment and rehabilitation, in workmen's compensation cases, m epidemiologic studies, Small Plant Health and First Aid Serv ices Division of Occupational Health, Penn sylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, Pa 38-9