Safety and First Aid During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Accidents happen, it’s just a fact of life. Normally, home injuries don’t present particular treatment problems. If something serious happens that you can’t resolve yourself, then help is a 911 call away. Accidents and injuries that occur during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, can be more challenging to address. Not only may you be isolated when an injury occurs but EMS response time has increased in some areas due to COVID-19. Those who suffer injury in their homes may find themselves alone and waiting longer for help.
Basic First Aid Preparation
Common injuries that we face around our homes include cuts and scrapes, burns, splinters, nosebleeds, sprains/strains, and fractures. A well-stocked first aid kit to help treat these kinds of injuries can be store-bought or assembled yourself from parts. In addition to the normal items, you’ll also want to include disposable surgical or N95 mask, disposable examination gloves, and hand sanitizer.
Of course, having the first aid kit is of little use unless you have first aid knowledge. What’s the right way to bandage a cut, treat a burn or stabilize a broken bone? You can start learning answers to these basic questions today with a free online first aid course from the American Red Cross.
Staying Safe in Your Home
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many are taking time to straighten up their homes, rearrange furniture and finally get around to long overdue do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. Depending upon the task, some of these activities may present a greater chance of injury than others.
Simply remembering to use your knees to lift heavy objects, for example, may help avoid a serious back strain. Certain DIY projects, however, may involve hand tools and power equipment that can quickly cause serious injury. For more involved tasks, you may want to take some extra precautionary steps.
- Assess the project risk. How prepared are you to tackle a task? Have you really thought through all the steps, created a list of items that you’ll need and formed a clear plan that you’ll follow? Is this a task that has a high priority or perhaps one that can wait until after the pandemic?
- Check your tools. When was the last time you used your power tools and do you know if they are still in good working order? Will this project require a tool that you don’t have, if so then can you get the tool that you need? Do you have the right protective gear like safety glasses and ear plugs?
- Consider the job site. Will you be performing the work inside or outside of your house? Will you need to move any items so you have clear and sufficient work space? Do you have access to power outlets and the means to store materials and dispose of trash? If outside, then can you rely on good weather?
- Designate a buddy. You may normally ask a skilled friend to help but during the pandemic it may just be you and your immediate family. Can one of your family members help you directly with the work or at least stay nearby in case you get into trouble and need help?
Safe First Aid Outside of Your Home
If first aid is required by members in your home, then your risk of COVID-19 exposure is low. However, if you are called upon to deliver first aid to a neighbor then you’ll want to make sure that you use the disposable mask, gloves and sanitizer that you included in your first aid kit above.
There’s no reason not to use your time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to finish a variety of projects. Just be prepared to handle accidents when they happen.
This article originally posted on HealthcareLearningAlliance.com
