FIRST AID IN THE WORKPLACE

How to provide first aid to an unconscious person?

The video was created as part of the EU-funded project Safety training for practical life, Erasmus+ 2022-2-SK01-KA210-ADU-000095920. Subtitles in English, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Bulgarian were added to the videos. On YouTube, you can turn it on in video settings via the

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Causes of the condition:

  • non-injury-related (alcohol poisoning, hypoglycemia in diabetics, epileptic seizure, stroke);
  • injury-related (concussion, contusion or damage to the skull and brain).

Basic first aid procedure – unconsciousness:

  • SAFETY. Check the surroundings – prioritize your own safety. Beware of possible sources of injury – sharp objects, shards, dangerous persons, vehicles, electricity, etc.
  • ADDRESS Loudly address the person or shake their shoulders.
  • HEAD TILT. Tilt the affected person's head (two fingers under the chin, edge of your hand on the forehead). This opens the airways, the tongue lifts away from the palate.
  • BREATHING CHECK. Check the breathing: Put your right ear to the affected person's mouth and nose, watching the chest. Can you hear inhalation and exhalation? Can you feel the exhaled air? Is their chest rising? Yes → the person is breathing, continue with the next steps.
  • STRAIGHTENING + POCKETS. Straighten the affected person’s limbs. Check the pockets. Remove keys to prevent the person from getting hurt or lying uncomfortably on their side. Look for diabetic pens, glucose etc. – possible indications that the person is diabetic. Check the abdomen – this is where the insulin pump is most often placed.
  • PLACING IN THE RECOVERY POSITION. Place the hand that is closer at a right angle. → Grab the farther hand by the fingers and bring it to the person's face. → Bend the farther leg at the knee joint and hold it. → By pulling on the knee, turn the person towards you onto their side.
  • REGULAR BREATHING CHECKS. Make sure the head is tilted and the person is still breathing. Check breathing at least once a minute (by placing one hand on the stomach → is it rising? Other hand in front of the mouth → can I feel exhaled air?) If the person stops breathing, roll them onto their back immediately and start performing CPR.
  • EMERGENCY CALL. Call 155.

! Be cautious of traumatic unconsciousness. In traffic accidents, falls from heights, and high-impact injuries ("3 Vs" – steering wheel, height, serious injury to the head, spine, or pelvis) do not place the person in the recovery position. Fix the head with both hands on the ground/on a pad!