Providing First Aid in a Remote or Isolated Site
Providing First Aid in a Remote or Isolated Site
Rural residents upskilled their First Aid knowledge with the techniques and tools to deal with challenges posed by living and working at a distance from timely medical aid.
Capacity to Deliver -
‘PLP-New_England-08’
The issue
The Australian agricultural Industry represents 3% of the national workforce and 24% of major illness, injury and fatality statistics. Living and working in more isolated locations means greater distance to medical care*. An additional challenge faced in rural areas may require first aiders to safely transport the patient to medical assistance, including fixed-wing or helicopter rescue services for advanced care
* Brown S, Mannix D and Bourke K (2023) Provide First Aid in Remote and Isolated Places HLTAID013, Healthguard First Aid, Bayswater, VIC.
The solution
By undertaking the appropriate training and having the right equipment, first aiders can play a significant role in the outcome of an injured or sick person.
This two-day training workshop provided the attendees with knowledge and skills beyond the basics to provide first aid response within their capabilities in several scenarios potentially experienced by rural people. Examples included vehicle incidents, falls from horses or other heights or encounters with livestock resulting in possible leg and arm fractures, pelvic injuries, internal bleeding, soft tissue injuries, cardiac arrest, shock, severe lacerations or amputations.
The impact
Workshop attendees were given the knowledge, tools and confidence to calmly deal with major incidents, as well as an understanding of the importance of assessing their situational risk, depending upon their property/enterprise and distance from equipment (including an AED).
This preparedness planning will inform decisions made regarding the supply of First Aid kit contents and put in place protocols and communication systems, including with neighbours and close community members, as well as rescue agencies or emergencies services.
One attendee has since bought both a First Aid Kit more relevant to their circumstance and a Pulse Oximeter (as demonstrated in the workshop) as a very useful tool for Vital Signs monitoring. This is an important component of the Secondary Survey (the Primary Survey is the standard DRSABCD) used to determine what level of treatment may be necessary and captures valuable data for paramedics.
Key facts
- Living and working in more isolated locations means greater distance to medical care and an associated need to have first aid skills beyond the basics.
- Improved knowledge and skills provide confidence and greater emergency preparedness to ensure the best possible outcome.