LO4 - Respond to incidents and emergencies Flashcards
(18 cards)
Reporting of accidents and incidents
- It is a legal requirement for certain injuries, accidents and diseases to be recorded and then reported to the HSE under RIDDOR regulations
- It is good practice to record all accidents
- For some incidents, the police will need to be informed or social services need to be notified
- Floods or loss of water supply need to be reported to the water board or if there is a leak plumbing services would be needed
- In any situation where the setting may have to be closed families, parents or other contacts of service users would need to be informed
What is the response to aggressive and dangerous encounters and unauthorised access?
The response should involve:
- Being calm
- Speaking firmly and clearly e.g. asking them to leave
- Alerting other staff
- Keeping service users/residents/children away from the incident
- Calling the police of they persist and refuse to leave
- Keeping yourself safe e.g. do not put yourself at risk
When should evacuation procedures be followed?
Situations where evacuation procedures would be followed:
- Fire
- Gas leak
- Flood
- Bomb threat
–> These require a setting to be evacuated quickly and efficiently to keep people safe
Follow-up review of critical incidents and emergencies
- Counselling and support services may be needed for those who have been involved in critical incidents and emergencies
- Policies and procedures should be reviewed after events
How can the purpose of a first aider be summarised (Three P’s)?
- Preserve life
- Prevent further injury
- Promote recovery
How are the Three P’s carried out?
- Assess for danger
- Keeping yourself and the area safe
- Prevent further harm
- Maintain respect and dignity
- Get help
- Stay with the individual until help arrives and provide reassurance
- A written record of the incident should be made
Accidents
- These can result due to poorly maintained areas, fittings or equipment
- Individuals in care settings may also be more susceptible to accidents due to their reduced mobility or lack of awareness of potential hazards
- Poor working practices can also be the cause of accidents
Exposure to infections
- Individuals in care settings may be more susceptible to bacterial infections
- Poor environmental conditions can create conditions where pathogens that cause infections can thrive
- Poor working practices can also encourage the growth and spread of pathogens
Exposure to chemicals
- This can occur if individuals are exposed to a hazardous substance when carrying out day to day tasks
- Hazardous substances are classified as very toxic, toxic, harmful corrosive and/or irritant
- Exposure to these can also occur unexpectedly if a spillage has occurred or safe practices are not followed
Spillages
- Spillages can lead to outbreaks of infection if they are contaminated
- They also have the potential to have serious consequences for all in care settings
Intruders
- When premises are poorly maintained it could result in intruders entering the building
- They may also enter due to poor working practices that fail to monitor those entering the building
- Intruders not only cause damage and loss but also be the source of emotional upset and harm
Aggressive and dangerous encounters
- Accidents also result from aggressive and dangerous encounters
Fire
- Fires can have devastating consequences for everyone
- Fire safety in care settings includes knowing how to prevent fires starting, spreading and is everyone’s responsibility
- Fires will only start if three components are present fuel, oxygen and heat
Flood
- Floods in premises are usually caused by water escaping from an item inside the premises
- Can be due to failure to undertake routine maintenance
- Has the potential to cause long-term damage to the premises as well as raise the risk of spreading disease
Loss of water supply
- A loss of water could indicate that there is a burst pipe or leak in the mains system
- This can have an impact on key care and support activities
Other critical incidents
- A faulty light switch or electrical appliance can lead to power cuts
- A gas leak could lead to fires or explosions
- A bomb treat should always be taken seriously
Responses to incidents and emergencies
- Reporting of accidents
- Evacuation procedures
- Follow-up review of critical incidents and emergencies
- Report to relevant authorities (e.g. RIDDOR, HSE, calling the police, notifying social services)
Evacuation procedures
- Emergency events (a gas leak, flood, bomb threat) require a setting to be evacuated quickly and efficiently to keep people safe
- Care settings are encouraged to ensure they raise awareness of this advice sensitively particularly with children:
- Run – If you can
- Hide – If you can’t run away
- Tell – The police when it is safe to do so
