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Who can do the most to promote safety in the workplace? YOU! You’re the one employees look to for leadership and guidance. You’re the one management relies on to provide safety training, enforce safety rules, and monitor employee performance.
Each week for the next 12 weeks we will post a new step.
#1 Be a Hazard Detective
Workplace conditions are always changing, so if you let your guard down and take things for granted, a hazard might develop where you least expect it. And you can’t assume everything’s safe just because employees don’t bring hazards to your attention or complain of safety problems. You have to get out there and see for yourself. Take a few minutes every day to conduct a walk-through of the work areas you supervise. Create a checklist to make sure you identify all potential hazards. As you walk around, watch employees working, too. Make sure they’re wearing PPE and following safety procedures. Stop and talk for a minute with key employees to see if anybody’s having any problems.
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It is hard to believe that the 9.0 earthquake that caused the 23 foot Tsuanmi that hit Japan was a year ago on March 11th. It was the most powerful earthquake that ever hit Japan and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world. Please take a moment to remember those that have lost their lives.
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Recent research shows that 2 out of 5 women having heart attacks don’t feel chest pain. Worse, women are more likely to die in the hospital while having a heart attack. The younger they are, the more likely they will die.
It makes sense. First, we’ve been conditioned for years to think of men when we think of heart attacks. Second, we think of age when we think of heart attacks. Third, we think of chest pain when we think of heart attacks.
A young woman not experiencing chest pain might just have cardiac arrest as her first sign of a heart attack. Not because she wasn’t feeling some sort of discomfort, but because healthcare providers were conditioned to look for other causes of her discomfort.
I hope more research is on its way to help us recognize heart attacks. Chest pain is a good standby and I still say if you have chest pain to call 911 instead of your doctor. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other symptoms besides chest pain that could indicate a heart attack, especially in a pattern we haven’t learned to recognize yet.
It has taken us decades to figure out that women have heart attacks. Years after that before we figured out that women’s heart attacks don’t always feel the same as men. Hopefully we can open our minds to new ideas about heart disease and that just might lead to quicker recognition and more lives saved.
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These are the steps to perform adult CPR:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: CPR should start as soon as possible
Here’s How:
- Attempt to wake victim. If the victim is not breathing (or is just gasping for breath), call 911 immediately and go to step 2. If someone else is there to help, one of you call 911 while the other moves on to step 2.If the victim is breathing, see the Tips section at the bottom of this page for what to do.
- Begin chest compressions. If the victim is not breathing, place the heel of your hand in the middle of his chest. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced. Compress the chest at least 2 inches (4-5 cm). Allow the chest to completely recoil before the next compression. Compress the chest at a rate of at least 100 pushes per minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate (should take you about 18 seconds).If you are not trained in CPR, continue to do chest compressions until help arrives or the victim wakes up.It’s normal to feel pops and snaps when you first begin chest compressions – DON’T STOP! You’re not going to make the victim worse.
- Begin rescue breathing. If you have been trained in CPR, after 30 compressions, open the victim’s airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Pinch the victim’s nose and make a seal over the victim’s mouth with yours. Use a CPR mask if available. Give the victim a breath big enough to make the chest rise. Let the chest fall, then repeat the rescue breath once more. If the chest doesn’t rise on the first breath, reposition the head and try again. Whether it works on the second try or not, go to step 4.If you don’t feel comfortable with this step, just continue to do chest compressions at a rate of at least 100/minute.
- Repeat chest compressions. Do 30 more chest compressions just like you did the first time.
- Repeat rescue breaths. Give 2 more breaths just like you did in step 3 (unless you’re skipping the rescue breaths).
- Keep going. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for about two minutes (about 5 cycles of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths).
- If you have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED), continue to do CPR until you can attach it to the victim and turn it on. If you saw the victim collapse, put the AED on right away. If not, attach it after approximately one minute of CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths).
- After 2 minutes of chest compressions and rescue breaths, stop compressions and recheck victim for breathing. If the victim is still not breathing, continue CPR starting with chest compressions.
- Repeat the process, checking for breathing every 2 minutes (5 cycles or so), until help arrives. If the victim wakes up, you can stop CPR.
Tips:
Chest compressions are extremely important. If you are not comfortable giving rescue breaths, still perform chest compressions! It’s called Hands Only CPR
- If the victim is breathing, briskly rub your knuckles against the victim’s sternum. If the victim does not wake, call 911If the victim wakes up, but is confused or not able to speak, call 911.
- This is not a substitute for actual CPR training. Find a CPR class and get proper training.Not every CPR class is the same. There are CPR classes for healthcare professionals as well as CPR classes for the layperson.
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Since February is Heart Month I thought it fitting to blog about Heart Attack
If you suspect a heart attack, do not make an appointment to see the doctor. A private physician will probably not have the tools necessary to treat a heart attack. Instead, call 911 immediately!
If you have chest pain, always go to the ER or call 911.
While waiting for the ambulance:
Sit down and rest. The more exercise or stress you put on the heart, the more damage the heart attack will do. . Sit and rest until the ambulance arrives.
Use emergency oxygen if available. If you are at work or in a public place emergency oxygen may be brought to you. Use it!
Have someone gather your medications. If there is someone with you, have them gather your medications or an updated list. It’s a good idea to have personal medical information available at all times for the ambulance crew.
Take your nitroglycerin. If you have a prescription for nitroglycerin, this is why you have it. Take it as directed by your physician. Usually, you put a tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve. Do not take another person’s nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin can make some people’s blood pressure drop dangerously low.
Remember: When in doubt, call ’em out!
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Whether you believe in end of the world theories or not, it’s a good idea to be prepared for natural or man-made disasters. When planning for your own or your families safety don’t forget about your pets.
Tips:
- Make one person in the family responsible for each pet (if you have multiple pets) to avoid confusion. Make note of this in your family emergency plan.
- Make a list of pet friendly hotels so you know where to take them in an event you need to evacuate
- Keep emergency supplies ready
- Keep an easily portable emergency supply kit bear the evacuation route exit
- Have a pet carrier ready
- Post a rescue alert sticker. Place it in a visible spot and inlcude the type of pet, your vet’s name and number. If you evacuate with your pet please make a note of that on the sticker
- Keep your pet’s ID current
- Update your pet’s vaccinations
- Do your best to evacuate with your pet. If left behind they can become trapped or they may escape and face dangerous situations.
A few hours of preparation NOW can prevent misery later.
