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First Aid

A primary goal for Environmental Health & Safety is the protection of employees from on-the-job injuries and illnesses. When injuries or illnesses do occur, immediate respond to the needs of the injured or ill is important.

First aid is the immediate, temporary treatment given in the event of an accident or illness before the doctor arrives. First aid also includes self-help in the absence of medical facilities and personnel. Immediate first aid may be the difference between complete recovery, permanent impairment, or death.

 

Basic Procedures for First Aid

  1. Check the victim(s) quickly for any life-threatening conditions, such as the following:
  • Unconsciousness
  • Trouble breathing
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Severe bleeding
  • Head, neck, or back injury.
  1. Call 911 or the UHD emergency number x9811 (713-221-9811), and:
  • provide the location of the emergency;
  • describe what happened and what seems to be wrong;
  • describe what first aid is being given;
  • DO NOT hang up until the dispatcher hangs up; and
  • return to the scene to help care for the victim.
  1. If the victim is unconscious, open his or her airway and check for breathing, pulse, and severe bleeding.
  1. While waiting for medical professionals to arrive, begin rescue breathing or CPR and then control any severe bleeding and treat for shock or administer other appropriate first-aid treatment (AED).

First Aid/Emergency Care Liability Considerations

State employees who are placed in situations requiring first aid or emergency care should be aware of the Good Samaritan Law. The purpose of this statute is to encourage both certain medically trained persons and laypersons to render aid in emergency situations. The statute provides a waiver for acts constituting ordinary negligence. The basic provisions of this statute are as follows:

  • A person who in good faith administers emergency care at the scene of an emergency but not in a hospital or other health care facility or means of medical transport is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent.

This provision does not apply to a person administering care for or in expectation of remuneration or whose negligent act or omission was a producing cause of the emergency for which care is being administered.

  • Persons not licensed in the healing arts who in good faith administer emergency care as emergency medical service personnel are not liable in civil damages for an act performed in administering the care unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent.

This provision applies without regard to whether the care is provided for or in expectation of remuneration.

 

Information provided by the State Office of Risk Management (SORM).