Coffee break - first aid quiz

1. How would you treat a minor burn or scald?

2. How would you administer first aid to a casualty with a small splinter?

3. What are the legal requirements for mental health first aid cover in a workplace?

4. Nose bleeds, do you know what to do?

Answers below...

How would you treat a minor burn or scald?

A minor burn is a common injury, such as a burn to the tip of a finger when cooking. The skin may be red and sore or, there could be a blister.

1. Cool the burn. Do this immediately with cold water for 10 minutes or, until the pain is eased. If water is not available, use any cold harmless liquid (e.g. milk) immediately then move to a tap.
2. Remove jewellery and loose clothing. Do this this very gently, before the area starts to swell. Do not remove anything that is stuck to the burn.
3. Dress the burn. Dress the burn with a sterile dressing that won't stick. Cling film is ideal - discard the first two turns of the film and don't wrap it tight as the limb might continue to swell.

How would you administer first aid to a casualty with a small splinter?

If a splinter is embedded deeply, see the note below.

1. Carefully clean the area with warm soapy water. Pat the area dry. Do not disturb the splinter.
2. Using a pair of clean tweezers, grip the splinter as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull it out at the same angle that it entered. 
3.  Gently squeeze around the wound to encourage a little bleeding. Wash the wound again, then dry and cover with a dressing.

Deeply embedded splinters

If a splinter is embedded deeply, difficult to remove or on a joint, leave it in place. Use sterile dressings and bandages to 'build up' around the object.  This will apply pressure around the wound and support the object. Send the casualty to hospital to have the object removed.

What are the legal requirements for mental health first aid cover in a workplace?

Providing physical first aid support has been a requirement for all workplaces since introduction of the 1981 Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations. Physical first aid has become ingrained in our culture. However, with research suggesting that nearly half of us will experience a mental health issue in our current job, it’s easy to see why the public, employers and mental health campaigners have been calling for mental health first aid to be given equal legislative status in the workplace.

A campaign to ensure every workplace makes provision for mental health first aid – ‘Where’s Your Head At?’ – was backed by over 200,000 members of the public, as well as 50 leading employers, who wrote to the Prime Minister November 2018 to express their support.

The campaign went to the House of Commons early 2019, with MPs from across the five largest parties supporting a preliminary motion to bring our outdated health and safety legislation up to speed. The campaign has begun its journey in Parliament. Setting a baseline for mental health support would make a huge difference to so many people’s lives.

For more information read our article: Mental health first aid for the workplace

Nose bleeds, do you know what to do?

Weakened or dried out blood vessels in the nose can rupture as a result of a bang to the nose, picking or blowing it. More serious causes of a nosebleed could be high blood pressure or a fractured skull.

1. Sit the casualty down, head tipped forward. Leaning forward stops the blood going into the airway or stomach. 
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose. Pinching the nose helps the blood to clot. 
3. Ask them to breathe through their mouth and to spit out any blood. Advise the casualty not to breathe through the nose for a few hours. Avoid blowing or picking the nose, and hot drinks for 24 hours.
4. Continue to pinch the soft part of their nose for ten minutes.
5. Seek medical advice if the bleeding continues for more than 30 minutes, or if the casualty takes 'anti-coagulant' drugs (such as warfarin), take or send them to hospital in an upright position.