The ERO as first aider

Make sure you are fully familiar of the equipment and situations in your organisation, so that you can act as quickly and efficiently as possible.

1. Preparing to administer first aid

First aid equipment:

• Depending on the organisation’s Risk Assessment & Evaluation (RI&E) you have a standard first aid kit or one with additional equipment 
• Should be kept at eye level in a place where they are clearly visible, or they must be clearly indicated and quickly accessible
• Must be checked regularly, and if necessary refilled regularly 
• Make sure you know where it is located and how to use it (including the AED in some organisations)
• Must contain gloves to protect EROs from infection

Besides paracetamol, EROs do not provide medicine! 

2. Safe working

Working Conditions Act:

• Employers are obliged to provide their employees with the equipment they require to work safely. This includes EROs, who must have the equipment they need to provide emergency response and to protect them when they perform their emergency response tasks. 
• Employees do bear a responsibility to work safely. That means that you must perform your emergency response tasks.

3. Approaching a victim

Approaching a victim:

• EROs should always in principle be deployed in twos
• When you reach a victim, you need to determine as quickly as possible if the situation is life-threatening
• Approach a victim form the direction in which he is facing, so that he does not have to move his head

The first thing after you have approached a victim is determine whether the victim respond:

• The victim does not respond when you speak to him or shake his shoulders:
  • Must assume that he has suffered a cardiac arrest 
  • Later you learn what action you must do than
• The victim does respond:
  • Reassure the victim and other people involved
  • Ask the victim and witnesses what happened
  • Ask the victim if he is in pain and, of so, where? 
  • Observe for more information
  • If the victim is outside check if he is properly protected from the weather
    • Hypothermia can often be a risk, cover the victim with an insulation blanket and shelter him from the wind. If possible place a blanket under the victim, too, ensuring however that he is moved as little as possible

 determine what assistance the victim requires. Your actions are intended to prevent the injuries from getting worse and, if necessary, to pass the victim over to the professional emergency services in the best condition possible. 

4. Calling in the professional emergency services

Depending on the situation, you should call 112 or contact a doctor. If in doubt, consult a doctor!

Call 112 in the case of:

• Life-threatening situations, such as unconsciousness, shock, severe anxiety, inhalation of hot smoke and/or gases, pain in the chest, severe headache after an accident, a stroke, an epileptic seizure or second and third-degree burns
• Serious accidents

Preferably ask someone else to call 112, so that you can start to provide emergency assistance.

If you think that professional assistance is required but the victim does not want you to call the emergency services, consult with the operator in the ambulance service incident room or a doctor. 

5. Reassuring a victim

Reassure the victim by:

• Telling him that you are an ERO and know how to administer first aid
• Continually explaining what you are going to do and why
• Taking his account of the incident seriously and responding to his concerns about other victims and/or material damage
• Being calm and caring and, if necessary, holding the victim’s hand
• Always remaining friendly, even if the victim himself is not
• Not saying anything about injuries and possible consequences

6. Moving a victim

Only move a victim if it is absolutely necessary because the situation is dangerous, as moving the victim could make any injuries worse. If you need to move, there are different options:

• Help the victim to hop
• Use the Rautek emergency grip Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3  | Step 4
• Lay the victim down Step 1 | Step 2
• Drag the victim by pulling on his clothes, ankles or arms Step 1 | Step 2

7. Dealing with bystanders

An incident always attracts spectators. Keep them at a distance so that they do not interfere with the emergency response activities. Try in any case to stay calm and focus on helping the victim.