On duty certified first aid personnel:

There will always be one delegated certified member of staff on duty during any shift to deal with incidents requiring basic first aid, these first aiders will be named on the sign at the first aid point. It is staffs responsibility to ensure they know who these staff are and who to speak to in the case of an incident, however all incidents within back of house should first be reported to the kitchen Manager who in turn will inform the GM.

 

First aid point:

There will be a signed delegated first aid point at at least one point throughout the back of house all BOH staff must make themselves aware of where this is and take note of the presence of a first aid book and poster naming the qualified on duty first aider.

Recording First Aid Accidents: Accident / Incident Report books are located at bar area and one should also be kept by kitchen first aid box.

 

The following information should be recorded:

• Full name, date of birth and address of the injured person

• Position (if staff member)

• Date entry was made

• Date and Time of the incident

• Place and circumstances of the incident

• Details of treatment administered

• Details about what happened to the person immediately afterwards (eg went back to work, went home, went to hospital)

• Record of person completing the form

 

Equipment to ensure is always available in first aid box:

It is the responsibility of both first aiders and supervisors to ensure that the first aid boxes are kept replenished of stock and available for use in the correct first aid points.

 

The basic contents should include the following:

• Leaflet giving general guidance on first aid

• Minimum of 20 assorted sizes of blue sterile waterproof plasters (food handlers must wear these)

• Two sterile eye pads

• Two triangular bandages

• Two large, individually wrapped, sterile, un-medicated wound dressings

• Six medium-sized, individually wrapped, sterile, un-medicated wound dressings

• Sterile Cleansing Wipes

• A pair of disposable gloves

• Scissors

• Burnshield® Dressing

• Bandage, 7.5cm x 4.5m

• Microporous tape, 2.25cm x 10m

• Six safety pins

 

Advice on dealing with Incidents:

Allergic reaction Anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) is a severe allergic reaction that can occur after an insect sting or after a person eats certain foods, for example. The reaction can be very fast, happening within seconds or minutes of contact with the thing a person is allergic to. During anaphylactic shock, a person may find it difficult to breathe and their tongue and throat may also swell, obstructing their airway.

If you suspect a person is experiencing anaphylactic shock, call 999 or 112 straight away.

 

Check if the person is carrying any medication. Some people who know they have severe allergies may carry an adrenaline injector, which is a type of pre-loaded syringe. You can either help the person administer their medication or, if you're trained to do so, give it to them yourself.

Make sure they are comfortable and can breathe as best they can while waiting for medical help to arrive. If they are conscious, sitting upright is normally the best position for them.

 

Choking

The information below is for choking in adults and children over one year old.

• If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. In situations like this, a person will usually be able to clear the blockage themselves. If choking is mild:

• Encourage the person to continue coughing to try to clear the blockage.

• Carefully remove any obvious obstruction from the mouth using your first two fingers and thumb.

• Do not put objects or fingers into the person's throat as this could push the obstruction further into the airway or cause vomiting.

• If the obstruction is severe and the person is struggling to breathe, give up to five back blows (between the shoulder blades), using the heel of your hand. Carefully check the mouth and, if possible, remove any obstruction after every blow.

• If this does not clear the obstruction, perform abdominal thrusts by following the steps below. This technique should not be used on babies under one year old, pregnant women or people who are obese:

• Stand behind the person who is choking.

• Place your arms around their waist and bend them well forward.

• Clench one fist and place it just above the person's belly button and below the breastbone.

• Place your other hand on top, then pull sharply inwards and upwards.

• Repeat this up to five times until the object stuck in their throat comes out of their mouth.

• The aim is to get the obstruction out with each chest thrust rather than necessarily doing all five. If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance and continue until help arrives.

 

The person choking should always be checked over by a healthcare professional afterwards to check for any injuries caused by abdominal thrusts or any smaller pieces of the obstruction that remain.

 

Burns and scalds

Burns and scalds are damage to the skin caused by heat. A burn is usually caused by dry heat, like fire or a hot pan. A scald is caused by wet heat, like steam or a hot sauce or soup. You need to be extra careful when treating burns. The longer the burning goes on, the more severe the injury will be, and the longer it may take to heal. So you need to cool the burn as soon as possible.

If someone has a severe burn or scald they are likely to suffer from shock, because of the fluid loss, so they will need urgent hospital treatment.

 

If you think someone has a burn or scald, there are five key things to look for:

• Red skin

• Swelling

• Blisters may form on the skin later on

• The skin may peel

• The skin may be white or scorched

 

What you need to do:

Stop the burning getting any worse, by moving the casualty away from the source of heat. Start cooling the burn as quickly as possible. Run it under cool water for at least ten minutes or until the pain feels better. (Don’t use ice, creams or gels – they can damage tissues and increase risk of infection). Assess how bad the burn is

It is serious if it is:

• Larger than the size of the casualty's hand

• On the face, hands or feet

• A deep burn If it is serious, call 999 or 112 for emergency medical help. Remove any jewellery or clothing near the burn (unless it is stuck to it).

Cover the burned area with kitchen cling film or another clean, non-fluffy material, like a clean plastic bag. This will protect from infection. If necessary, treat for shock (shock is a life-threatening condition, not to be confused with emotional shock). If you are unsure if the burn is serious then tell the person to see a doctor. Bleeding If someone has severe bleeding, the main aim is to prevent further loss of blood and minimise the effects of shock (see below).

First, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance as soon as possible.

• If you have disposable gloves, then use them to reduce the risk of any infection being passed on.

• Check that there is nothing embedded in the wound. If there is, take care not to press down on the object. Instead, press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself.

 

If there is nothing embedded:

• Apply and maintain pressure to the wound with your hand, using a clean pad if possible.

• Use a clean dressing to bandage the wound firmly.

• If the wound is on a limb and there are no fractures, raise the limb to decrease the flow of blood.

• If bleeding continues through the pad then apply another pad over the top and bandage it in place. Do not remove the original pad or bandage.

• If a body part has been severed, such as a finger, do not put it in direct contact with ice. Wrap it in a plastic bag or cling film, then wrap it in a soft material and keep it cool.

 

Once it is wrapped, if possible, place the severed body part in crushed ice.

• Always seek medical help for the bleeding unless it is minor. If someone has a nosebleed that has not stopped after 20 minutes, go to the nearest hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) department.

 

Electricity

If someone has been electrocuted, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance.

• Switch off the electrical current at the mains to break the contact between the person and the electrical supply.

• If you cannot reach the mains supply: Do not go near or touch the person until you are sure any electrical supply has been cut off.

• Protect yourself by standing on some insulating material (such as a phone book).

• Using something dry and non-metal, such as a wooden broom handle, push the person away from the electrical source, or move the source away from the person if this is easier.

• If the person is not breathing, carry out CPR and call an ambulance. Always seek medical help unless the shock is very minor.

 

Fractures

It can be difficult to tell if a person has a broken bone, or a joint or muscle injury. If you're in any doubt, treat the injury as a broken bone.

• If the person is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or is bleeding severely, these must be dealt with first.

• If the person is conscious, prevent any further pain or damage by keeping the injury still until you get them safely to hospital.

 

Assess the injury and decide the best way to get them to hospital. If they have a broken finger or arm, you may be able to drive them yourself without causing more harm.

• If they have a broken leg, do not move the person but keep them in the position you found them in. Support the injured part with anything you have handy, for example rolled up blankets or clothes. Call for an ambulance. • If you suspect they have injured or broken their spine (back) do not move them and call for an ambulance.

• Look out for signs of shock. If the person is pale, cold and clammy, has a weak pulse and rapid shallow breathing, they are probably in shock (see below but do not elevate legs).

• Do not give the person anything to eat or drink as they may need a general anaesthetic when they reach hospital.

 

Shock

In the case of a serious injury or illness, it is important to watch for signs of shock. Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the circulatory system fails and, as a result, deprives the vital organs of oxygen. This is usually due to severe blood loss, but it can also happen after severe burns, severe vomiting, a heart attack, bacterial infection or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). The type of shock described here is not the same thing as the emotional response of feeling shocked, which can also occur after an accident.

Signs of shock include:

• pale, cold, clammy skin

• sweating

• rapid, shallow breathing

• weakness and dizziness

• feeling sick and possibly vomiting

• thirst

• yawning

• sighing

 

If you notice any signs of shock in a casualty, seek medical help immediately: Dial 999 or 112 as soon as possible and ask for an ambulance.

 

Treat any obvious injuries.

• Lay the person down if their injuries allow you to and, if possible, raise and support their legs.

• Use a coat or blanket to keep them warm, but not smothered.

• Do not give them anything to eat or drink.

• Give lots of comfort and reassurance.

• Monitor the person.

If they stop breathing, start CPR.

• Do not give them anything to drink.

 

Nose Bleeds:

Nose bleeds can appear very dramatic but are usually not serious. Apply firm pressure with finger & thumb below the nose for 10 minutes to stop the bleeding, be careful afterwards not to dislodge the clot.

 

Head Injuries:

Minor knocks or bumps can be treated with a cold, damp cloth. Seek advice from your GP or Accident & Emergency immediately if the person exhibits unconsciousness, double vision, drowsiness, confusion, or vomiting. Sprains: Elevate the effected limb and apply a cold compress like crushed ice or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel or similar cloth for 15 to 20 minutes. The application of a firm bandage or compression bandage may help to ease the strain, the strain should then be rested. It may take several weeks to fully recover.