Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction affecting the whole body.

 

Developing Anaphylactic Shock

The anaphylactic shock may develop within seconds or minutes of contact with a trigger and is potentially fatal. In an anaphylactic reaction, chemicals are released into the blood that widen (dilate) blood vessels. For this reason blood pressure will fall and air passages narrow (constrict), resulting in breathing difficulties. In addition, the tongue and throat can swell, obstructing the airway. The amount of oxygen reaching the vital organs can be severely reduced causing hypoxia.

 

Common Triggers of Anaphylactic Shock

Common triggers of anaphylactic shock include food (such as nuts, shellfish and eggs), wasp and bee stings, latex, certain medications, etc. In the event that a person develops an anaphylactic shock, an emergency treatment with an injection of adrenaline will be required.

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish anaphylaxis from asthma, fainting, and panic attacks. Asthma however typically does not entail itching or gastrointestinal symptoms, fainting presents with pallor rather than a rash, and a panic attack may have flushing but does not have hives.

 

Anaphylactic Shock and Food

Many foods can trigger anaphylaxis. This may occur after the first known ingestion. Common triggering foods vary around the world due to cultural cuisine. For example, in Western cultures, ingestion of or exposure to peanuts, wheat, nuts, certain types of seafood like shellfish, milk, fruit and eggs are the most prevalent causes. On the other hand, sesame is common in the Middle East, while rice and chickpeas are frequently encountered as sources of anaphylaxis in Asia. Severe cases are usually caused by ingesting the allergen, However, some people experience a severe reaction upon contact. On the positive side, children can outgrow their allergies. By age 16, 80% of children with anaphylaxis to milk or eggs and 20% who experience isolated anaphylaxis to peanuts can tolerate these foods. However, any type of alcohol, even in small amounts, can trigger anaphylaxis in people with Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

To educate about common food allergens, eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Management of Food Allergens course. The course is designed to introduce participants to understanding food allergens and management of associated risks. Furthermore, after completing the course, participants will be able to understand their requirements under Irish food safety legislation as well as following best work practices.

 

What to do if someone Suffers Anaphylactic Shock

In case someone is developing anaphylactic shock:

1. Call 999/112 for emergency assistance. Specifically, tell the ambulance dispatcher that you suspect anaphylaxis.
2. If the casualty has an auto-injector of adrenaline, help them to use it. If they are unable to administer it, and only if you are trained to use it, apply the injector as trained to do so.
3. Help the casualty to sit up in the position that best relieves any breathing difficulty. If they become pale with a weak pulse, help them to lie down with legs raised and treat for shock.
4. Monitor and record vital signs; breathing, pulse and level of response, while waiting for help to arrive. Repeated doses of adrenaline can be given at five-minute intervals if there is no improvement or the symptoms return.

 

How to Recognise Anaphylactic Shock

Development of anaphylactic shock might have features of allergy:

• Red, itchy rash or raised areas of skin (weals).
• Red itchy, watery eyes.
• Swelling of hands, feet and/or face.
• Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In addition, the following signs might be present:

• Difficulty breathing, ranging from a tight chest to severe difficulty, causing the casualty to wheeze and gasp for air.
• Pale or flushed skin.
• Visible swelling of tongue and throat with puffiness around the eyes.
• Feeling of terror.
• Confusion and agitation.
• Signs of shock, leading to collapse and loss of consciousness.

Remember, the aim of helping someone in anaphylactic shock is to ease their breathing. In addition, a shock treatment might be required. In the event that the patient’s condition is deteriorating, an urgent transport to the hospital might be required. Unfortunately, anaphylactic shock can develop rapidly and patients’ health might degrade even faster, ultimately resulting in fatality.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

Emergency medical condition – asthma, is a respiratory medical condition. In an asthma attack, the muscles of the air passages in lungs go into spasm. As a result, the airways become narrowed, which makes breathing difficult.

 

Asthma Triggers

Sometimes, there is a recognised trigger for an attack. For example, an allergy, a cold, a particular drug or cigarette smoke. At other times, there is no obvious trigger. Many sufferers have sudden, unexpected attacks.

 

How to deal with Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

People with asthma usually deal with their own attacks by using a reliever inhaler at the first sign of an attack. Most reliever inhalers have blue caps. Preventer inhalers have brown or white caps and are used to prevent attacks. They should never be used during an asthma attack.

 

Recognising Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

Recognising Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma is usually very straightforward. Signs of Asthma are usually:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Wheezing.
• Difficulty speaking, leading to short sentences and whispering.
• Distress and anxiety.
• Features of hypoxia, such as a grey-blue tinge to the lips, earlobes and nailbeds (cyanosis).
• Exhaustion in a severe attack. If the attack worsens, the casualty may stop breathing and lose consciousness.

 

What to do in Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

There are some steps we can take to help someone in Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma:

1. Keep calm! Reassure the casualty. Get them to take their usual dose of the reliever inhaler. Ask them to breathe slowly and deeply.
2. Sit them down in the position they find most comfortable.
3. A mild attack should ease within a few minutes. If it does not, the casualty may take one to two puffs from their inhaler every two minutes until they have had ten puffs.
4. Call 999/112 for emergency assistance if the attack is severe and one of the following occurs; the inhaler has no effect, the casualty is getting worse; breathlessness makes talking difficult, they are becoming exhausted.
5. Help the casualty to continue to use their inhaler as required. Monitor their vital signs: breathing, pulse and level of response until help arrives.

For additional information about Asthma, please see eLearn Safety fully online course titled Common Medical Emergencies: Asthma. This course will provide information to gain a better understanding of asthma and associated risk factors.

In addition, this St. John Ambulance first aid training video shows you what signs to look out for and how to help someone having an asthma attack. If you think someone may be having an asthma attack, it is important to know how to help them:

How to Treat an Asthma Attack – First Aid Training – St John Ambulance

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Importance of Paediatric First Aid Training

Importance of Paediatric First Aid training is tremendous. Basic first aid training and knowledge can save a distressed child’s life. First aid, in general, is the act of giving someone who is in medical emergency initial help and assistance until access to professional medical assistance can be provided.

 

Legal Framework

The Child Care Act, 1991 (early years services) Regulations 2016 state that a registered provider shall ensure that a person trained in first aid for children is, at all times, immediately available to the children attending the pre-school service. This training must cover both infants and children and enable the Paediatric First Aider to work in different roles. These roles might be roles in childminding, nannying, pre-school work, creche work, teaching, au pair roles, and any role with the responsibility for looking after children.

But there is another aspect to the importance of Paediatric First Aid Training beyond the legal framework. Such training is designed to empower parents with the confidence and competence to respond effectively to emergencies involving children.

 

Practical Importance of Paediatric First Aid Training

A core responsibility of the Paediatric First Aider is to assess the patient quickly for any life threatening injuries.

An infant or child’s body cannot survive without oxygen. 3 to 4 minutes without the oxygen, the brain will begin to die and the damage to the brain will be irreversible. To prevent this, in Paediatric First Aid we aim to quickly assess the patient as follows:

• Primary Survey. The aim of the primary survey is to rapidly assess the infant or child for life threatening emergencies to airway, breathing and circulation. In addition, here we aim to treat each emergency before moving on to the next part of the primary survey. In general, the primary survey consists of checking the patient against the DR ABC acronym (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation). This approach should be used for every patient the Paediatric First Aider is required to assess.
• Secondary Survey. Once the primary survey is completed, a secondary survey should be completed by the Paediatric First Aider. The purpose of this survey is to find any other injuries such as fractures, dislocations, etc. In addition, the purpose of this survey is to find out the patient’s medical history. On some occasions, whether life threatening conditions are detected in the primary survey, it may not be possible to complete the secondary survey.

 

Raising Awareness

There are a number of ways in which one can train and refresh their knowledge in Paediatric First Aid. eLearn Safety offers fully online, blended and face-to-face environmental and occupational health and safety courses. One of such courses is Paediatric First Aid course. At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Assess the paediatric patient.
• Perform the CPR on a child and infant.
• Place the child and infant in the recovery position.
• Know how to treat the choking child and infant.
• Stop bleeding.

Furthermore, there are a number of useful resources available online. Such resources are St. John Ambulance and their Paediatric First Aid Get Advice section. This is First Aid advice for children and babies including choking, croup, drowning, head injuries, hypothermia, how to do a primary survey, CPR and the recovery position. In addition, the HSE provides information about how to treat cuts and bleeding in babies and children and when to get medical help via their webpage First aid.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Understanding People in the Workplace Environment

Understanding people in the workplace environment is essential if we are to achieve a safe workplace. In reality, accidents in the workplace are ‘people’ problems. At some point in any work-related situation, immediate or distant, people and decisions were involved. Undoubtedly, it is the task of modern safety management systems to recognise that fact. Consequently, the opportunities for mistakes and the harm that can arise when they are made should be minimised.

To err is human. We all make mistakes. Awareness of our limitations is needed before we can set up systems successfully which take those limitations into account and maximise safety efforts in any workplace.

 

Behavioural factors

Understanding behavioural factors, or as often referred to as ‘human factors’ are essential in understanding people in the workplace environment. These factors which may affect human performance include:

• Perceptual, mental and physical capabilities of people.
• Interaction of people with their organisations, jobs and working environment.
• Influence of equipment and systems design on human performance.
• Organisational characteristics which influence safety-related behaviour.
• Social and inherited characteristics of people.

Modern techniques of managing safety and health incorporate best practice within them so as to produce and influence a positive safety culture.

 

Promotion of a Positive Safety Culture

Promoting and fostering positive attitudes to safety and health can be done by:

• Effective communication. Passing information to and from, and regular consultation with the employees.
• Achieving a positive commitment to safety by senior management that is both real and visible.
• Maintaining good training standards.
• Maintaining good working environments with a high potential for safe working conditions to be achieved.

All these can be, and must be, found within organisations committed to a high standard of excellence in safety and health at work.

 

Maintaining Good Training Standards

Training for health and safety is not an end in itself, rather, it is a means to an end. With this in mind, a few conditions need to be present for any safety training to be successful:

• The active commitment, support and interest of management,
• Necessary finance and organisation to provide the opportunity for learning to take place, and
• The availability of suitable expertise in the subject.

eLearn Safety is a training organisation which provides high quality online, blended and face-to-face safety training courses. To this end,  eLearn Safety program development and delivery is driven by customer service values where the learner is able to engage in the learning process however and wherever they want. In addition, all eLearn Safety staff are highly trained and receive ongoing CPD. A number of fully online Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety courses is available through eLearn Safety courses website page.

Safety is not just for the workplace. Safety is part of everyday life; from first aid to food safety, these skills improve the quality of life not only in the workplace but at home and in the community.

In addition to eLearn Safety courses, there is a number of available workplace safety information available online. For example, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) provides a wealth of information about the topic via their Workplace Health website page. Additionally, Citizens Information offers a number of relevant information via their website page Health and safety at work.

 

Understanding People in the Workplace Environment – Why does it Matter?

The main health and safety regulations in Ireland are the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and Safety, Health and welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. The Act 2005 applies to employers, employees and the self-employed. Indeed, this is done in the interest of securing a preventive approach to occupational health and safety. In addition, the GA Regulations 2007 outline the specific workplace safety matters.

Many specific pieces of health and safety legislation contain requirements to provide training for employees engaged in certain tasks. However, it should be noted that there is a general duty placed on employers to ensure that all employees are trained and provided with information, instruction and supervision as necessary to ensure their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.

The support of management demonstrates the presence of the environment into which the trained person can return and exercise new skills and knowledge. The management team also demonstrates support by setting good examples. Workers are most likely to stop obeying safety rules if supervisors and managers are known to ignore them.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

 

First Aid in the Workplace

Under Irish Health and Safety Law (Chapter 2 of Part 7 of the General Application Regulations 2007), employers have a responsibility to make sure that the First Aid arrangements in the workplace are sufficient. First Aid can mean anything from providing a treatment of minor injuries (e.g., minor cuts) to treatment of life threatening injuries (e.g., heart attack). First Aid is immediate treatment given to save life and stop conditions getting worse. The First Aid in a workplace setting is usually referred to as Occupational First Aid.

When the First Aid is in question, the employer must:

• Carry out an assessment to decide where, how many and what type of First Aiders are needed.
• Provide First Aid training and refresher training where required.
• Provide sufficient First Aid Kits and equipment for the workplace.
• Make sure all staff are aware of how and where to get First Aid treatment.

The First Aid Risk Assessment will help to decide what type of First Aid materials and/or equipment is required. In addition, it will also tell us how many if any First Aiders are required. The number of the First Aiders will depend on the size of the organisation and any specific hazards in the workplace. In some cases, fully equipped and stocked First Aid rooms must be provided.

 

Assessing Needs for Provision of  First Aid in the Workplace

All employers must carry out a First Aid needs assessment that should consider:

• The nature of the work and workplace hazards and risks.
• The size of the organisation.
• The nature of the workplace.
• The organisation’s history of accidents and illness.
• The needs of travelling, remote and lone workers.
• Work patterns such as shift work.
• The distribution of the workforce.
• The remoteness of the site from emergency medical services.
• Employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites.
• Annual leave and other absences of First Aiders
• First Aid provision for non-employees (visitors, clients, etc.).

Considering the nature of the work and workplace hazards and risks can be complicated areas of the First Aid needs assessment. For example, the employer should evaluate risks associated with the workplace and possible injuries related to these risks. These should be then evaluated against type of First Aid treatment that may be required:

• Manual Handling – fractures, lacerations, sprains and strains.
• Slips, Trips and Falls – fractures, sprains and strains, lacerations.
• Use of Machinery – crush injuries, amputations, fractures, lacerations and eye injuries.
• Working at Height – head injuries, loss of consciousness, spinal injury, fractures, sprains and strains.
• Chemicals – poisoning, loss of consciousness, burns and eye injuries.
• Electricity – electric shock and burns.
• Workplace Transport – crush injuries, fractures, sprains and strains and spinal injuries.

The completed Assessment will provide a broad indication of the numbers of Occupational First Aiders that should be provided in different circumstances.

 

Recommended Numbers of Occupational First Aiders

After the Risk Assessment has been completed (as a part of the Safety Statement), it will identify the need for the Occupational First Aiders. It is very rare that the Assessments identify that first aiders are not required. The exact numbers of First Aiders in majority of workplace settings can be determined as follows:

• Up to 99 employees present at any one time – 1 First Aider present at all times if Safety Statement and Risk Assessment shows it to be necessary.
• 100 – 399 – 1 First Aider must be present at all times.
• 400 – 699 – 2 First Aiders must be present at all times.
• More than 700 – 1 additional First Aider for every 300 employees or part therof.

These numbers should be doubled, however, if the workplace is more than 1 hour away from the professional medical assistance. In addition, some other workplaces such as factories, construction sites, surface mines and quarries, and underground mines have different First Aiders numbers requirements. These are outlined in Guide to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 – Chapter 2 of Part 7: First-Aid.

It is important to remember that the First Aider must be present on site at all times. For example, if the First aider is on holiday, they must be replaced by another First Aider.

 

Training of First Aiders

The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Response (FAR) training standard is the recognised standard for Occupational First Aid in the workplace. Whilst the numbers of required First Aiders as listed in a previous section are recommended, the employers are always encouraged to train as many as possible employees in the First Aid. The initial First Aid training takes 3 full days classroom delivery and the Certification is valid for 2 years. After 2 years, a 2 day refresher classroom delivery can be completed. Successful completion of a refresher training is valid for 2 years. However, it is always recommended to refresh First Aid training knowledge on a more often regular basis.

There is a wealth of evidence on the severity of first-aid skill-fade. To prevent this, online training is a convenient and user friendly way to keep first-aid skill-memory up to date. eLearn Safety offers fully online First Aid relevant courses, such as Common Medical Emergencies: Asthma, Medical Emergencies: Heart Attack, and Paediatric First Aid just to name a few.

Whilst some workplaces require having fully trained Occupational First Aiders on site, other employees can be trained to a lower level of skill in first-aid (e.g. Basic First Aid, CFR-C, etc.).

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie