Page 51 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

Chapter 1 Health and safety practices and systems

5 Check the injured limb for a pulse. No pulse indicates a more serious problem
that could require immediate surgery. If this is the case, seek emergency help
IMMEDIATELY.
6 Lightly squeeze the person’s fingers or toes. A lack of sensation may indicate
a spinal injury or nerve damage. Again, if this is the case seek emergency
help IMMEDIATELY. Stay with the person at all times until the emergency
services arrive at the scene, and try to reassure them.

If you have not completed a first-aid or CPR course, you MUST seek
immediate medical attention for the person to ensure that no more damage is
inadvertently done.

Dealing with unconscious people

A person can faint or fall unconscious for many reasons:
● after strenuous work or exercise
● shock or emotional upset
● excessive heat
● the side effects of drugs or medication
● a blow to the head (concussion)
● a fit or seizure.
Fainting involves loss of blood to the brain, leading to dizziness, nausea, cold
sweats and a partial or complete loss of consciousness, which usually is brief
and the person makes a full recovery in a matter of minutes. The real danger
here is not the period of unconsciousness, but the damage that can arise from
the resulting fall.

More serious unconsciousness comes from a blow to the head (called
concussion), a fit or a seizure. In these cases, recovery can take much longer and
have underlying health implications later. The watchwords here are ‘always seek
immediate medical advice’.

What should you do?

1 Try to break the victim’s fall.
2 Loosen any items of clothing that might restrict the flow of blood, such as
neck ties and shirt buttons.
3 Lie the patient on their back and raise their legs to encourage blood to flow
to the brain.
4 Make sure they are breathing and that their airway is clear. If they are not
breathing, start artificial respiration STRAIGHT AWAY!
5 If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position (see pages 41–2).
ATTEMPT THE FOLLOWING ONLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO SO.

1 Opening and maintaining the airway is your first priority, to ensure there
are no obstructions, like the tongue, that could prevent normal breathing. To
do this, place one hand on the casualty’s forehead and gently tilt their head
backwards, then lift their chin using only two fingers.

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