First Aid Assessment

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1. Refer to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and identify any 3 (three) specific
obligations placed on the persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) regarding first aid
provision in the workplace.
A: The three first –aid specific obligations which are placed upon a person conducting business as
per work Health and Safety Regulations, 2011 are:
 To ensure that workers are not exposed to health and safety risks
 To ensure that each worker at the place of work has access to first aid equipments
 To ensure that adequate number of workers are trained in relevant methods of first -aid
2. What is the duty of care of a trained first aider or trained volunteer in a first aid situation? (In 30-
50 words).
The first aid providers in schools and workplaces have a duty of care which entitles them to provide
support services in lesser time. The duty of care entitles the fist aid provider to stay on the scene of
the injury, assist the injured and further report the injury specifications to relevant healthcare
channel1.
3. What is the duty of care recommendation by the Australian and New Zealand Committee on
Resuscitation (ANZCOR) for healthcare professionals who are off-duty in a first aid situation? (In 30-
50 words).
The guidelines stated as per ANZCOR are:
 The committee should ensure the safety of both the person and the rescuer
 Constantly check the person and the rescuer for any abnormal change in health condition
 Ensure the airway in open while attending to an unconscious person
4. Differentiate between expressed and implied consents and provide an example of each for these
2 (two) types of consents in the context of provision of first aid (in 60-80 words).
Expressed consent in permission which is given specifically verbally or in writing, whereas implied
consent is assumption of permission granted from the actions performed by an individual. In the
context of expressed consent permission for particular treatment or procedure is given by way of
signed medical papers. The permission is generally required for complex or risky procedures2.
1 McKenzie, Lachlan, et al. "Twenty-one years of saving lives: The New Zealand Resuscitation Council." The
New Zealand Medical Journal (Online) 131.1477 (2018): 9-11.
2 Grantham, Hugh, and Rowena Christiansen. "Resuscitation update for general practitioners." Australian family
physician45.12 (2016): 879.

The implied consent is normally taken when the patient is unable to express their wish in writing.
Hence, it could be in the middle of a surgery as the doctor may deem fit for undertaking an extra
setp or procedure in order to ensure better recovery of the patient3. It could also be expressed
through gestures such as head nod.
5. Identify 2 (two) legal factors that determine whether first aid could be provided without consent
(reference- ARC Guideline 10.5 - Legal and Ethical Issues Related to Resuscitation).
The two legal factors which govern the provision of first aid without consent are:
 Under emergency or serious threat to the life of the patient
 A doctor may provide necessary treatment, as deemed fit in case the patient lacks the
decision making capacity or is unconscious
6. Identify 5 (five) destressing strategies you could implement following an emergency situation.
The distressing strategies which could be implemented following an emergency situation are:
 Reporting to the senior management of the accident
 Focus on important activities keeping the rest aside
 Implement emergency evacuation procedures
 Provide emotional comfort to the patient
 Practice informed decision making in order to make the family members of the patient
aware regarding the patient condition and the exact circumstances in which the accident
happened
7. Briefly describe the importance of debriefing following an emergency situation (in 20-40 words).
Debriefing can help in coping up with an emergency situation by providing appropriate knowledge
regarding the overall condition of the accident victim and the circumstances in which the accident
had occurred4. As mentioned, provision of an exact idea regarding the instrument which has caused
the injury within the patient helps in understanding the safety protocol which could be implemented
over here 5.
3 Cartledge, Susie, et al. "Incorporating cardiopulmonary resuscitation training into a cardiac rehabilitation
programme: A feasibility study." European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 17.2 (2018): 148-158.
4 McLanders, M. L., et al. "The cognitive aids in medicine assessment tool (CMAT) applied to five neonatal
resuscitation algorithms." Journal of Perinatology 37.4 (2017): 387.

8. Briefly describe the recommended method to assess a collapsed person's response (in 30-50
words).
The response of the collapsed person to verbal and tactile stimuli should be accessed first. The
response of the patient to instructions such as, ‘open your eyes, squeeze my hand and let it go’
should be evaluated first. The shoulders could be grasped and squeezed firmly to elicit a response.
9. Identify parts of the human rib cage indicated in the following diagram.
The part of the human rib cage is as follows such as the sternum or the breast bone, the 12 thoraci
vertebrae and the 12 pair of ribs.
10. Identify 2 (two) anatomical and physiological changes occurring to the upper airway of an
unconscious person lying on their back.
The anatomical and physiological changes which occur in the upper airway of an unconscious person
lying on their back are:
 The diaphragm is forced upwards due to the pressure exerted by the abdominal contents
which results in less air moving in and out of the lungs
 The blood pressure decreases throughout the body due to the lying position which could
take more time for the sense of the person to restore6
11. What happens to the casualty's vital organs during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation? (In 20-40
words).
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation consists of chest compressions and artificial ventilation which
maintains circulatory flow during cardiac arrest. It causes the heart to beat forcibly supplying oxygen
to the brain and the rest of the body.
12. What is the recommended rate of CPR?
The recommended rate of CPR is 100-120 compressions a minute.
5 Leman, Peter, and Peter Morley. "Updated resuscitation guidelines for 2016: A summary of the Australian and
New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation recommendations." Emergency Medicine Australasia 28.4 (2016):
379-382.
6 Pavitt, Matthew J., et al. "Choking on a foreign body: a physiological study of the effectiveness of abdominal
thrust manoeuvres to increase thoracic pressure." Thorax 72.6 (2017): 576-578.

13. Provide 3 (three) situations where you could cease providing CPR to a casualty.
The CPR should be stopped only under these three conditions such as:
 An obvious sign of life such as breathing is noted in the patient
 Another trained responder is available to take over
 An automated external defibrillator (AED) is ready to be used
14. Identify the 4 (four) links within the chain of survival.
The four links to the chain of survival are:
 Early access to emergency response system
 Provision of CPR to promote circulation to the heart and brain until normal activity of the
vital organs are restored
 Early defibrillation to treat cardiac arrest
 Provision of early advanced care by hospital personnel
15. Briefly describe how you could conduct a visual assessment of the casualty as part of the
secondary survey (in 40-60 words).
Some of the steps which could be undertaken for visual assessment of the casualty are :
 Checking of the breathing and pulse
 Checking the eyes that is if the patient is responding
 To check if the chest rises easily and evenly on both sides
16. Briefly describe how you could conduct a verbal assessment of the casualty as part of the
secondary survey (in 40-60 words).
Some of the steps which could be undertaken for visual assessment of the casualty are :
 Checking of the breathing and pulse
 Checking the eyes that is if the patient is responding
 To check if the chest rises easily and evenly on both sides
17. What is the potential need for stress-management techniques following an emergency situation,
especially for the first-aid provider or bystander? (20-40 words)
The potential need for stress management techniques following an emergency situation are:
 Making an active note of the situation and surroundings in which the accident had happened
 Call up the emergency departments
 Arrange for emergency evacuation procedure
 Provide preliminary airway resuscitation in case the patient has stopped breathing or
shows difficulty in inspiration