Dear Members
I work for an aerosol can manufacturing company with approx. 450 employees
on site. We are at this moment moving towards work based First Aiders to
cover the site. In the past employees have been used to a 24 hour - 7day
week cover by the medical centre staff (Nurses and First Aiders). The move
is new to everyone and there are lots of issues surrounding it which we are
having to deal with. Does anyone have any similar experiences that they can
share with me ?. A particularly difficult situation is how a First Aider
should deal with splinters. I understand that if a splinter is protruding
they are allowed to pull it out. However, if the splinter is buried under
the skin they are not allowed to dig it out and the casualty should seek
medical attention. Most of the splinters we get are either metal or wooden
that tend to get buried under the skin. Medical centre staff use sterile
needles to remove buried splinters. In the situation where a First Aider
has to deal with this I would say that it would be acceptable for the
employee to be given the sterile needle by the First Aider to remove the
splinter themselves if they are happy to do so. The used needle would then
be disposed of correctly in the sharps bin in the first Aid room. What are
your views on this? Maybe I could train the First Aiders myself on the safe
removal of splinters. Any comments and advice would be gratefully accepted.
Jill Rossiter RGN
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