As a service provider you are in contact with many people throughout the day and over the course of your career. You have many responsibilities as well but none is more important that looking out for the health and safety of your guests. It is important that you be prepared to assist in serious situations by following some basic first aid techniques that can be utilized both in your career and at home.
Sometimes people are reluctant to get involved when there is a medical emergency in public. They do not want to be held legally liable if someone is injured or dies as a result of their involvement. For this, there is protection. Most states have Good Samaritan Laws that offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or whom they believe to be injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated.
Major Emergencies
In an emergency try your best to follow standard precautions and use appropriate PPE. I say try your best because emergencies generally aren't planned and catch you off guard. Stay calm, do your best to be logical and remember to protect yourself. Standard precautions are guidelines published by the CDC that require you to assume that all human blood and fluids are contaminated and potentially infectious. Bloodborne pathogens are more difficult to kill than germs that live outside the body. Standard precautions include:
- Proper hand washing
- Wearing gloves
- Handling and disposing of items that have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids properly
CPR
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.
- Why Is CPR Important? - Keeping the blood flow active – even partially – extends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive on site.
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How is CPR Performed?
- There are two commonly known versions of CPR:
- For healthcare providers and those trained: conventional CPR using chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing at a ratio of 30:2 compressions-to-breaths. In adult victims of cardiac arrest, it is reasonable for rescuers to perform chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120/min and to a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) for an average adult, while avoiding excessive chest compression depths (greater than 2.4 inches [6 cm]).
- For the general public or bystanders who witness an adult suddenly collapse: compression-only CPR, or Hands-Only CPR. Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an out-of-hospital setting (such as at home, at work, or in a park)
High-Quality CPR
High-quality CPR should be performed by anyone - including bystanders. There are five critical components:
- Minimize interruptions in chest compressions
- Provide compressions of adequate rate and depth
- Avoid leaning on the victim between compressions
- Ensure proper hand placement
- Avoid excessive ventilation
Get CPR Certified
Abdominal thrusts
- Also known as the Heimlich maneuver or Heimlich manoeuvre, it is a first aid procedure used to treat upper airway obstructions by foreign objects. Henry Heimlich is often credited for its creation
- In the 2006 guidelines of the American Red Cross/American Heart Association, the term Heimlich maneuver was replaced with the term “abdominal thrust” and the technique was downgraded .
- If a person is able to speak, cough or breathe, don't attempt the Heimlich maneuver. Encourage the person to keep coughing. Sometimes a strong cough can free the foreign object. Only perform the Heimlich maneuver if a person's life is in danger.
Procedures
- Bend the person over at the waist to face the ground
- Strike five separate times between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand
- If back blows don't remove the stuck object, give five abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver
Minor Injuries
Cuts and Wounds
If you cut yourself during a service STOP the service and tend to your wound. Do not continue because you are too embarrassed to tell your client and have to excuse yourself. Or in too much of a hurry. Your client doesn't want your blood in their hair. Also you do not want their hair in your wound. Wash and disinfect your wound properly, cover it with a bandage and apply a glove to the wounded hand. Be sure to properly dispose of all soiled materials used in the clean up according to your state's blood spill procedure laws.
If you wound your client, STOP the service, wash your hands, put on gloves and tend to your client's wound. Be sure to dispose of all soiled materials properly, according to your state's blood spill procedure laws. Document the occurrence.
Eye Injuries
For chemical eye injuries flush the eyeball with lukewarm water for up to 30 minutes. Be mindful not to allow the runoff flow into the unaffected eye. Person should see an eye specialist immediately. Document the occurrence.
For an eye cut, scratch or embedded objects cover the eye. Do not attempt to remove the object for the another person. They should immediately see an eye specialist. Document the occurrence. This pertains to dangerous objects like glass. If your client has an eyelash in their eye, yes, please help them remove it with some eye wash.
Fainting
People pass out for many reasons heat exhaustion, low blood pressure over stimulation. Lots of reasons. If a person passes out or fainted suddenly be sure there heart is still beating and they aren't having a stroke. They should regain consciousness fairly quickly. Lay them on their back, apply a cold compress to their head. If they vomit, roll them to their side. Call 911. Document the occurrence.
Documentation
It is important to document the details of emergencies in your work space in case there are questions by doctors or lawyers later. This can be as simple as sending an email to the client(s) and staff involved recounting the details of the event.
Disclaimer:
Kinky University does not employ any physicians so if you have questions or are experiencing an emergency contact a physician or call 911. The information provided is for informational purposes only. All states have different regulatory laws concerning blood spills and first aid, we advise that you abide by all state laws and manufacturer directions.