Jobsite First Aid Basics

Awareness of the basics can save a life while help is on the way. (Get certified for hands-on skills.)

Common situations

• Serious bleeding — apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth; keep pressure on.
• Shock — keep the person lying down, warm, and calm; call 911.
• Burns — cool with running water; don't apply ice or ointments to serious burns.
• Eye injuries — flush with clean water; don't rub; get medical help.
• Falls / suspected fractures — don't move the person unless they're in danger; call 911.

When in doubt, call 911 and don't move a seriously injured person.

Going Deeper (Intermediate)

When medical help isn't nearby, OSHA requires a trained first-aid provider and adequate first-aid supplies (ANSI Z308.1) on site. The priorities, in order:

• Scene safety first — don't become victim #2.
• Call for help / activate EMS.
• ABCs — Airway, Breathing, Circulation; control life-threatening bleeding.
• Treat for shock; don't move suspected spinal injuries unless in danger.

Advanced / Pro-Level

Trade-relevant emergency skills:

• Severe bleeding (Stop the Bleed): direct pressure → pack the wound → tourniquet "high and tight" for life-threatening limb bleeds; note the time applied.
• Amputations: control bleeding; wrap the part in moist gauze, seal in a bag, keep cool (not on ice), send with the patient.
• Eye injuries/chemical splash: flush 15 minutes at an eyewash; don't remove embedded objects.
• Falls/head/spine: assume spinal injury — minimize movement, monitor for loss of consciousness.
• Bloodborne pathogens (1910.1030): use gloves/barriers; the employer needs an exposure-control plan.
• Keep EMS access info and AED locations posted; document every incident.

Practice Challenge

A worker severs an artery in his forearm and is spurting blood. Direct pressure isn't controlling it. What's the next step? (Answer: apply a tourniquet high and tight above the wound, tighten until bleeding stops, note the time, and get EMS — life over limb for arterial bleeding.)

In Practice

A deep cut bleeds heavily — firm, continuous direct pressure with a clean cloth controls it until help arrives. Don't peek every few seconds; keep the pressure on.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Releasing pressure too soon to 'check' a bleed
• Moving a seriously injured person unnecessarily
• Putting ice or ointment on a serious burn

Takeaway: Direct pressure for bleeding, keep shock victims down and warm, cool burns with water — and when in doubt, call 911 and don't move them.

⚠️ Awareness only — NOT a substitute for hands-on certification. Get certified in First Aid/CPR/AED through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and call 911 in any real emergency.