How Would You Deal With an Office Medical Emergency?
Gwyn Ashcom, MPH Although you may not think of an office setting when it comes
to emergencies, quick thinking in an office has saved many workers
from injury or even death. Coworkers may not have told you about
their medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma or epilepsy.
Or you may not have told them about yours. So there are hazards
in the office to watch out for.
“First aid” is just that—urgently needed care
that’s administered until a patient is seen by a professional.
Although emergencies in an office may not be as common as in typically
dangerous occupations, it pays to be prepared. Here are some first
aid tips for potential office emergencies. Remember, the first
step is always to dial 911.
• Fainting or loss of consciousness: Tap the patient on
the shoulder and ask, “Are you OK?” If there’s
no response, see if the victim is breathing. If not, give mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation. Administer CPR only if there are no signs of circulation
or a pulse and you’re properly trained. While waiting for
help, raise the patient’s legs higher than their body, loosen
their clothing and apply cold cloths to their face.
• Choking: Use the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge whatever is choking
the person. Never strike someone on the back, as that may push
the foreign matter deeper down the windpipe.
•
Heart attack: If the patient is conscious, help the person sit
(not lie) down. Ask if the patient is taking medication and needs
help using it. If the person is unable to speak, look for an emergency
medical ID card or bracelet. Keep the patient warm. Loosen his
or her collar. If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
If breathing and the pulse have stopped, and you’re trained,
administer CPR and use an AED if one is available.
•
Stroke: Keep the patient warm. Turn the head of a vomiting patient
to one side. Don’t give the patient any stimulants or anything
to eat or drink.
•
Nosebleed: Have the patient sit down and lean forward (don’t
tilt the head back!). Apply pressure by squeezing the nose
closed along with cold compresses around the area. If the bleeding
doesn't
stop, take the patient to a hospital emergency room.
One
more piece of advice; know where your office’s first
aid kit is, what’s in it and how to use what’s in it.
If you do use something in it, make sure your supervisor knows,
so it can be replaced. Check the patient for any medical ID tags,
bracelets or cards to tell paramedics about. Likewise, if you have
a personal medical condition, make sure there’s someone at
work who knows you have the condition and who’s familiar
with first aid for it.
Maybe
now you’re wondering where you could get training
in CPR and First Aid? The Center for Student Health and Counseling
(SHAC) offers training for CPR/AED as well as First Aid for a fee
of $28 a person. SHAC uses the AHA (American Heart Association)
course curriculum for both courses. The Heartsaver AED course in
particular was designed to achieve one primary goal: to improve
rates of survival from sudden cardiac arrest by strengthening the
early access, early CPR, and early defibrillation links in the “Chain
of Survival” in every community. The Heartsaver program targets
all lay responders, such as security personnel, employees in the
workplace, family members of patients at high risk for sudden
cardiac death, and other laypersons. These responders are trained
in the use of CPR, barrier devices, relief of FBAO (Foreign Body
Airway Obstruction), and AED (automated external defibrillation)
use.
So
what’s an AED? An AED is a device that administers an
electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. The device
is able to assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation
is needed, and then administer an appropriate level of shock. Audible
and visual prompts guide the user through the process. A number
of PSU students, staff and faculty are trained to use an AED in
case of emergency, and PSU is proud to be able to provide this
life saving tool on campus. (follow this link to see a map of all
the AED locations on campus).
If
you’re interested in setting up a training for either
CPR/AED, First Aid or both for your department, or you have questions
regarding creating/maintaining your office first aid kit, contact
Gwyn Ashcom at 503-725-5123 or by email at gwyn@pdx.edu.
|