first aid & the law + Safety & First Aid (Class 1 readings)

First aid protection act

1. A person who voluntarily provides emergency medical services, aid, or advice to the victim of an accident or medical emergency at the immediate scene of the accident or emergency is not liable in damages for injury or death to the victim caused by the person’s acts or omissions in providing the medical services, aid or advice unless that person is grossly negligent.

2. Section 1 doesn’t apply if the person providing the medical services, aid, or advice

• is employed expressly for that purpose

• Does so with a view to gain

3. For greater certainty, section 1 applies to a member of a volunteer organization that provides first aid, ski patrol, neighborhoods watch or patrol or other similar services who receives a payment or other benefit in recognition of his or her services, so as long the payment or other benefit is not provided as a result of an employer-employee relationship

4. This act may be referred to as chapter G65 of the continuing consolidation of the statues of Manitoba.

5. This act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent

can a first aider be sued for giving first aid?

Two legal situations in which you might give first aid

• part of your job

• You may simply be a passer by who sees an emergency and wishes to help an injured or ill person

Giving first aid as part of your job

Legal duty to respond to an emergency at your workplace

• must do what you can to help the situation based on your level of training

  • Driving an emergency vehicle

• Make sure your certification

giving first aid as passer by

In Canada (except Quebec) and most of the United States, you do not have a legal obligation to help a person in need.

• if you don’t help an injured person, you are not at fault

Good Samaritan Law

protects people who choose to help someone in need

Principles of Good Samaritan Law

If you help a person when you have no legal duty to do so. Your legally protected from being sued as long as

• You identify yourself and get permission to help the injured or ill person before you touch them.

• You use reasonable skill and care while helping the person.

• You are not grossly negligent in what you do.

• You do not abandon the person.

Reasonable skill and care

expected to use reasonable skill and care according to your level of knowledge and skills of first aid.

• give first aid with caution (don’t aggravate or increase an injury)

• Do what you can do

• First do no harm

Negligence

if you help someone who needs emergency medical care, you will not be sued for what you do

• only sued if you are grossly negligent

Grossly negligent

A severe lack of care that demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of others, potentially leading to legal liability.

when giving first aid

make sure to use common sense and make sure your actions are in the casualty’s best interests

• give the care that you would like to get

abandonment

never abandon a casualty in your care. Once the casualty accepts your offer. Do both leave him/her if that worsens their condition. You must stay with them until

• handed them over to medical help

• Another first aider

• No longer want your help - the problem is no longer an emergency

• Becomes to dangerous

assisting in the administration of medicine

may not administer medication but them may assist in the administration of the medication

5 rights of administering medication

1. Right medication

2. Right person

3. Right dosage

4. Right administrative route

5. Right time

Bronchiodialater

Treat asthma

• Remove the cap of the puffer shake well, assist the casualty in taking the medication

  • exhale completely and upon inhalation spray as much inhaling as much as possible

aero chamber

tube like device that retains the aerosolized medication. Improve delivery of the asthma medication to the casualty

epipen

treat anaphylaxis reaction

• check expiry date ensure correct patient name

• Remove cap and administer into deltoid or thigh

Nitroglycerine

angina pectoris, acute coronary syndromes, certain respiratory conditions

• stray or pills under the tongue (sublingual), paste applied to the skin, continuous slow- release-patch

Asa aspirin

experiences chest pain, cardiac origin

• rapid clinical anti-platelet effect with a near total inhibition of thromboembolic A2 production

• Reduces coronary re-occlusion and recurrent ischemic events

• Early administration = decreased mortality rates

• Should be given as soon as possible to all patients with suspected ACS

Number 1 rule first aid

give first aid safely

Hazards and assessing risks

3 types of risks

1. Energy source

2. Hazards from secondary or external factors

3. Hazards of rescue or first aid procedures

Energy source that caused the original injury

is the energy still active, could anyone be injured from it

hazards from secondary or external factors

Conditions that present a hazard

hazards of rescue or first aid procedures

risk of someone being injured and by the rescue and first aid actions

infection

could pass from person to person = safety hazard

• there is more of a serious infection when there is blood and other bodily fluids since the viruses that cause AIDS

How high is the risk of getting aids

highly unlikely you would contract AIDS by giving artificial respiration (AR) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Universal precautions that should be used

• Hand washing

• Wearing gloves

• Minimizing mouth to mouth contact during artificial respiration

• Eye shield and Mask

• Careful handling of sharp objects

Handwashing

good idea to wash your hands often whenever you are around people

Gloves

prevent direct contact between the first aider and the casualty

• wear gloves when you touch blood, bodily fluids, tissue, or anything that may have touched

• Put on your gloves as you approach an emergency scene

• Keep them in an accessible place

• Allways inspect the gloves (trap some air in the fingers)

Minimize mouth to moth contact

slight risk of infection during artificial respiration

• use of special mas or sheild designed to prevent disease transmission

  • Masks with a one way value (disposable or has a disposable valve

eye shield and mask

your eyes and mouth provide a good route for infection

• exposed to bodily fluids/ blood

  • Eye protection (safety glasses), face masks are standard for protection

sharp objects

if a sharp object touches infected blood and then pricks you or cuts you you could become infected

• wear gloves, handle sharp objects with extreme care

• If you become exposed activate your organizations post exposure protocol

What should you do at the conclusion on any first aid

clean up all contaminated materials, objects, and surfaces must become a priority

What is the most important concern?

safety is the most important concern