Covid First Aid for Adults
Assist your casualty from a safe distance as much as possible. This will minimise your shared breathing zone. As long as they are able to communicate with you this should be possible in terms of asking them questions to assess their situation and even explaining to the casualty how to treat their own injury/condition.
It is of up most importance however that the casualty still receives the full & correct treatment. You must still focus on the 3P’s;
- Preserve Life
- Prevent Worsening
- Promote Recovery
To Preserve Life you will need to complete CPR, with the below covid changes;
- Recognise cardiac arrest by looking for the absence of signs of life & the absence of normal breathing. Do not listen or feel for breathing by placing your ear and cheek close to the casualty’s mouth. If you are in any doubt as to whether the casualty is in cardiac arrest, start chest compressions until help arrives.
- Call 999 immediately, if the casualty is showing ANY covid signs you must tell the call handler at the point.
- Ask for help, if you have access to a first aid kit, defibrillator & other first aiders send someone for these now.
- Before commencing CPR, cover the casualties mouth & nose with a cloth/towel to minimise transmission but still allow for the casualties breathing to restart.
- If available, ensure you wear;
- A surgical mask
- Disposable gloves (these will already be in your first aid kit)
- Eye Protection
- Apron
You could add the other items to your first aid kit for use during the pandemic.
- During the pandemic, ONLY GIVE COMPRESSIONS and use the defibrillator. Do NOT give mouth to mouth breaths.
To prevent a condition from worsening & promote recovery;
- If you suspect serious illness/injury call 999 immediately and notify them of ANY covid signs in your casualty.
- When delivering any first aid ensure you wear;
- A surgical mask
- Disposable gloves (these will already be in your first aid kit)
- Eye Protection
- Apron
- Minimise the time you spend in the casualties breathing zone. Ask them to do things for you where possible.
Cleaning up after a first aid event remains as important as ever. Ensure you;
- Safely discard all disposable items (gloves, face masks, bandages etc) and thoroughly sterilise any reusable items.
- Wash your hands with soap & water or an alcohol hand sanitiser as soon as possible to avoid transferring any infection.
Covid First Aid for Paediatrics
It is unlikely that a child in cardiac arrest is caused by a cardiac problem, in fact it is more likely to be caused by a respiratory issue. This means ventilations remain crucial to increasing a child’s survival.
As this is the case there are no changes to paediatric first aid treatment.
We would however suggest the following;
- Call 999 immediately. If the casualty is showing ANY covid signs you must tell the call handler at the point.
- Ask for help, if you have access to a first aid kit, defibrillator & other first aiders send someone for these now.
- If available, ensure you wear;
- A surgical mask
- Disposable gloves (these will already be in your first aid kit)
- Eye Protection
- Apron
You could add the other items to your first aid kit for use during the pandemic.
The Resuscitation council have given the following statement for Paedaitric’s;
It is likely that the child/infant having an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will be known to you. We accept that doing rescue breaths will increase the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus, either to the rescuer or the child/infant. However, this risk is small compared to the risk of taking no action as this will result in certain cardiac arrest and the death of the child.
Check your risk assessment
Due to the pandemic you will have reviewed your risk assessments, however no everyone has considered refreshing their first aid risks & requirements.
A few points to check when it comes to your first aid requirements during the pandemic;
- Are all your first aiders back at work?
- Do you still have sufficient first aiders for any new company structures?
- Are your first aiders happy to continue treating during the pandemic?
- Are any of your first aiders high risk (elderly, pregnant, medical conditions) and should refrain from their duties during the pandemic?
- Ensure you have supplied your first aiders with the current Covid first aid advice as we have outlined above.
Keep up to date with best resources
At this unusual time you must keep first aiders up to date on the current guidance for administering first aid. The best way to do this is by using the below resources;
