Go Ahead – Lend a Hand  

You are driving down the highway when a ladder falls off a truck up ahead and hits the car in front of you. That car swerves and crashes into the guard rail. You pull over and notice the driver is slumped over the steering wheel. What would you do?
 
You arrive early at your office and discover the night custodian on the floor next to a ladder. He is face down and not moving.  What would you do?
 
There are a variety of reasons why people choose not to help when it is obvious that help is needed.
 
Of great concern is the dreaded law suit. After all, nobody wants to try to help someone, only to lose everything they ever worked for.  We hear about some crazy law suits in the news, and become very leery of helping out someone in need.
 
Rest easy – we have the Good Samaritan Laws on our side. Every state has Good Samaritan laws which give legal protection to people who give emergency care to an ill or injured person without accepting anything in return.  The laws do vary a bit from one state to another. 
 
The basic tenets require that the “Good Samaritan” :

• Act in good faith. (even if you don’t do it perfectly, your goal must be to help.)
• Not be deliberately negligent or reckless. (Someone catches you holding a pillow down over your boss’ face, that would be considered negligent.)
• Act within the scope of his or her training. (In other words, no emergency tracheotomy just because you saw it on an old rerun of MASH.  Even if you saw it on the Discovery Channel, you shouldn’t attempt it.)
• Never abandon a person after starting to give care.
   

For more information on the Illinois Good Samaritan laws, go to www.legis.state.il.us
 
Something else to remember before giving care to any conscious adult is to be sure to get permission before you touch or treat him or her.  A conscious person may prefer not to be helped or touched.  If that is the case, you should still call 911 if you believe it is an emergency.  If the person is unconscious, consent is implied.  If a minor needs help, it is important to get permission from a parent or guardian if there is one present.   If one is not present, consent is implied. Asking for consent is as easy as, “Hi, my name is Kathy.  I am trained in first aid. May I help you?”
 
Most people are concerned about the possibility of disease transmission when considering whether or not to help someone. This is a valid concern, and one not to be taken lightly. The fastest way to transmit disease is to touch blood or body fluids.  The only way to eliminate the possibility of disease transmission is not to touch body fluids.  If that becomes unavoidable, then certainly wearing appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and a breathing barrier will help to minimize the possibility of disease transmission.
 
The four elements of disease transmission are: a pathogen, (germ) must be present, a sufficient quantity of that pathogen, an appropriate entry site, and susceptibility. If any one of those four elements is missing, disease transmission cannot occur. The risk of getting a disease while giving first aid is low. By carrying a small keychain pouch which contains a breathing barrier and pair of gloves, it is easy to be prepared for an emergency. Following standard precautions and washing your hands thoroughly after the incident can reduce that risk even more.
 
The saddest reason not to help is that often people believe someone else has taken care of it. Studies have shown that the more people that are present, the less likely someone will provide care.  The first minutes may prove crucial to survival. Don’t hesitate to act, whether that action is providing first aid or calling 911. Studies have also shown that when a bystander does stop to give assistance, it has rarely been harmful.
 
Annually, there are more than 5,000 deaths in the workplace, and millions of lost time accidents. We can do a lot to reduce that number of deaths by having a group of responders in the workplace trained in CPR and First Aid.
 
There were over 6 million automobile accidents in the United States in 2005, with more than 42,000 deaths.  Studies show that people who have been certified in First Aid and CPR ready and willing to provide assistance.
 
Since EMS usually takes 5-7 minutes to arrive, it is up to the lay responder to be prepared to administer basic first aid to reduce the number of fatalities at the scene of an accident.
 
Because it is quite normal to “freeze up” during an emergency, three simple steps can help you to remember what to do:

• Check: First check the scene for your safety, then check the victim for consciousness by tapping them on the shoulder and shouting, “Are you OK?”
• Call: Call 911 immediately if the person does not respond or has any other life threatening condition.
• Care: Provide care based on what you discover while you continue to check the victim for breathing and signs of life.

Remember, it is usually unwise to move an injured victim.  Moving a victim could cause further injury and complicate their recovery.  Move an injured victim only if:

• His or her life is in danger
• You aren’t able to help them where they are, (such as on the stairs)
• You have to move someone out of the way to help a person who may have a more serious injury

Becoming certified in CPR and First Aid will help give you confidence and eliminate another barrier to helping out in emergency: not knowing what to do. Take part in a community CPR/First Aid class. Encourage management of your company to provide such training so you can have a safer workplace.  And go ahead – lend a hand.
 
Kathy Atwell
President
LifeSavers Health & Safety Training
www.LifeSavers-Training.com

First Published

June, 2007

Health & Fitness Times