Occupational Health does not deal with medical or first aid emergencies but can offer advice on local procedures.
For information on how to get hold of a first aider in an emergency see: Procedure for calling a First Aider
Follow your departmental procedure for dealing with an emergency using the following information as guidance to assist.
For all work injuries or illnesses the departmental first aider should be contacted for initial assistance.
What to do
If someone is injured in an accident stay calm and:
- first check that you and the casualty are not in any danger. If you are, make the situation safe.
- when it's safe to do so, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance, if necessary.
- carry out basic first aid.
If you call 999 or 112 you will be asked what service you require and also:
- your telephone number
- the address you are at - exact location of incident
- what is wrong with the casualty and are they unconscious, not breathing or bleeding
- type of incident (e.g. unconscious breathing patient or unconscious non breathing patient
- gravity of incident (e.g., CPR is in progress)
- details of condition from diagnosis (eg diabetic, person has a cardiac history) if known
- hazards i.e. chemical spill, stairs
You may be offered advice as to how to assist the casualty until help arrives.
If someone is unconscious and breathing
If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position until help arrives.
If someone is unconscious and not breathing
If a person is not breathing normally after an incident, call for an ambulance and then, if you can, start CPR straight away. Use hands-only CPR if you are not trained to perform rescue breaths.
An accident / incident form must be completed and sent directly to the Safety Office