Anyone can be in a situation where an emergency happens, including at your place of work. If you are working and your coworker has a medical emergency, would you know what steps to take to help them? With basic first aid skills, you could make a difference in their life, and it may even help you to handle your emergencies should they happen.

Basic Life Support education is nothing to take for granted. If you are not yet certified, now is the ideal time to get these basic first aid skills. You can take an online course for basic first aid training right now and feel better about your ability to help when there is a medical emergency.

The following are 10 basic first aid skills most people should have. These are skills that you can apply to various situations that occur in the office (or any place of work).

#1: First Aid Basics

Before any life-saving care can be provided, you must be able to properly assess the situation to know what type of basic first aid to apply to a person in need. To do this, you’ll need to focus on the ABCs of first aid:

• Airway: If someone is unconscious or unresponsive to you, your first step is to open their airway to give them the ability to breathe.
• Breathing: If they are not breathing after you have adjusted their head to open the airway, the next step is to give them rescue breathing.
• Circulation: Once you begin rescue breathing, you must perform chest compressions if the person does not have a pulse. This helps circulate blood to the rest of the body if the heart stops.

In most emergency situations, start with these three areas. Note that you will also need to contact 911 immediately or have someone else do so. Provide breathing and circulation support until emergency medical care is available.

You can learn the basic first aid skills for these steps here and on our blog. However, taking a course to learn the critical skills of CPR, AED, and First Aid is very important. You can complete this course quickly and have the skills necessary to protect someone’s life.

#2: Basic First Aid for a Stopped Heart

When a person’s heart stops beating, oxygen cannot get to the brain and other organs. While you wait for medical help to arrive, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most important step for you to take. The following are the basic steps of CPR:

• Call 911 or have a person nearby do so.
• Do chest compressions. To do this, use both of your hands, in a ball, to push down hard and fast on a person’s chest. You will place your hands on the center of the chest. Press down with both hands and allow the chest to rise before repeating.
• Continue to do this at a rate of 100 to 120 times per minute.

If you are trained in rescue breathing or CPR, you can provide rescue breathing as well. Because this is challenging to do on your own, have someone nearby help if possible. During rescue breathing, you’ll feel for a pulse and breathing. If there is not one, provide two quick breaths through the person’s nose and mouth. Then, start CPR. Complete 30 compressions and then breathe again.

If you have training and an AED is available, you can use it to help restart the function of the heart. Most AEDs have some basic information on how to use them, but you need training or the ability to follow those directions.

#3: Basic First Aid Skills for Bleeding

Accidents in the office may lead to substantial bleeding, and immediate action is critical to minimize the risks to the individual. In these situations, start with the same process of assessing their condition. Then, consider what is bleeding.

• Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels, and as such, the blood flow is limited, and the bleeding will stop on its own within a few minutes.
• Veins are larger and typically have a dark red color of blood. The bleeding may be significant or moderate, and benefits from some level of treatment from a rescuer.
• The third type is arteries, which are the largest vessels and supply oxygen to the rest of the body. Bright red blood spurting out typically means a critical situation with significant blood loss.

In situations of severe bleeding, contact 911 as a first step. Then, follow these steps for basic life support care:

• Wear gloves when possible. If possible, pour water over the wound or allow it to sit under running water for several seconds to cleanse it.
• Cover the opening with clean gauze or a cloth. You can use clothing if nothing else is available. Wrap it tightly.
• While you wrap it, apply pressure to the area where the blood is coming from. Continue to apply pressure after it is wrapped, which will help a clot to form.
• When possible, position the wound above the level of the heart. This makes it harder for the blood to flow out.
• Keep applying additional layers of cloth to the wound – never remove what is already there. Keep pressure on it until help arrives.

If the wound is significant, a person may pass out. Be sure to consider the ABCs of providing basic first aid to the individual throughout this process. Follow the BLS algorithm to ensure you’re taking active steps in protecting the life of your team.

#4: Basic First Aid for Broken Bones

A person falls and lands on their arm. That could mean there’s a risk of a broken bone. Note that fractures may protrude from the skin, or they may not. Signs of a break include:

• Loss of movement and control over the limb
• Significant pain
• Swelling
• The bone is oddly shaped, or the overall alignment of the bone is no longer normal

If you suspect a person has a broken bone, it is necessary to get them to the emergency room for the proper alignment and placement to encourage healing. However, there are several things you can do in the meantime to minimize further risks:

• Keep the limb immobile. Do not try to move it.
• When possible, use a sling to hold the injured area against the body to prevent worsening.
• If the skin is broken and the bone is protruding, cover it with a clean cloth before transporting it.

#5: First Aid For Burns

Another of the most important basic first aid skills every office employee should have is effective treatment for burns. A burn can worsen without quick action, and the pain can be substantial. Whether a burn occurs from a fire or from a piece of equipment that fails to operate properly, consider the following first aid basics.

First, know the risks of burns. They can happen in various ways, such as due to chemicals used for cleaning or electrical burns from an outlet. Whatever is occurring, stop that first, such as turning off electricity or rinsing away the chemical from the skin.

Then, follow these tips for the treatment of serious burns:

• Clean the area by using running water over the surface. Keep the temperature cool. Avoid the use of ice, but allow cool water to run over the surface for several minutes.
• Apply a gauze bandage loosely over the top of the burn. Do not apply too much pressure as it can worsen the pain.
• Do not apply medications or ointments while providing first aid.
• Avoid breaking any blisters or peeling off the skin.

911 is a critical service to call for third-degree burns. Even if the burns are second-degree, with blistering, you’ll still need to get them to an urgent care center for treatment. The risk of infection is very high.

Follow CRP algorithms to ensure you take steps to immediately help a person who is not breathing. Do not wait to get help in these situations.

#6: Basic First Aid for Sprains

Sprains occur when damage to the tendons, ligaments, or muscles occurs. The goal of first aid here is to support the sprain to allow for healing. If a person cannot walk, it may be necessary to call 911. In other situations, consider the following steps:

• Rest: Get them off their feet and sit down for a bit to allow for the inflammation to reduce.
• Ice: Apply ice to the area where the pain radiates. This also helps control pain and reduce inflammation.
• Compression: Apply compression to the area with a bandage to keep the swelling down.
• Elevate: Bring the body part up over the elevation of the heart.

If the pain does not improve, you can continue to ice the area every hour for about 15 minutes at a time.

#7: Basic First Aid Skills for Nosebleeds

A nosebleed can be more challenging than other bleeding because the area impacted is difficult to reach. If a person has a nosebleed that is not from trauma (such as falling and striking their face), follow these steps:

• Lean the head forward slightly, bringing the chin closer to the chest.
• Apply a clean cloth to the nose and pinch the bridge. Do not pinch the nostrils but the area above this.
• Hold this for several minutes. Then, check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If not, repeat this and continue for another 10 minutes before checking again.

In the case of trauma to the head, it’s necessary to assess what occurred and if the person is breathing. Perform CPR as appropriate. Most of the time, trauma to the nose will cause substantial loss of blood. Follow the steps above to stop the bleeding, but plan to head to the emergency room.

#8: Basic First Aid Skills for Choking

A person who is choking cannot breathe and needs immediate medical care. They may be gasping for air, wheezing, or looking panicked. It is very common for a person to be unable to speak and may become blue within a few minutes.

In this situation, apply the Heimlich maneuver following these steps:

• Stand behind the person and encourage them to lean forward slightly.
• Place your arms around their waist so that your hands meet in front of them.
• Create a ball with your hands and your thumbs inward against the wall of the chest. Position your hands between the belly button and the rib case.
• Grab your fist with your other hand and then apply a significant thrust in an upward movement. Pull backward and upward with your first. Do this five times.
• Repeat until the object is coughed up.

When you consider Basic Life Support testing, you’ll learn more about what to do if a person passes out from choking.

#9: Basic First Aid for Frostbite

If your team is working outdoors and someone has pain radiating from exposed skin, they could have frostbite. After getting into the enclosed area, run the area under warm water—avoid hot water. Do this for 20 to 30 minutes, allowing a warm stream of water to run over the area.

Avoid irritation or rubbing of the skin, as this can cause pain and damage. Do not place the area by a heater or any source of significant heat, as this can lead to serious burns. Fireplaces and heating pads are not advisable. If there is pain after 20 minutes, wrap the area with bandages loosely and give it time to heal without additional cold exposure.

#10: Basic First Aid Skills for Allergic Reactions

One of the more complex aspects of first aid training is knowing how to help someone who has an allergic reaction. Food, chemicals, bees, or other types of allergies are not uncommon. Most of the time, a person with a severe allergy will have an auto-injector available to provide epinephrine to reverse the symptoms.

Suppose they do not have this or know of an allergy, your reaction time matters. If a person is struggling to breathe or has a swelling face, it is critical to call 911 and then help them to rest. Keep the airway open.

If the allergen is caused by exposure, such as touching or breathing it in, move out of the space where there is fresh air and wait for help to arrive. Because allergic reactions can be life-threatening, make sure you practice your CPR skills.

Basic First Aid Skills in the Office Save Lives

Having these skills, along with a full first aid kit, can help you be prepared for anything that happens in the office.

Don’t stop there. Get the education you need to make a difference. The BLS Online Certification is a fast and easy course you can take to learn critical, life-saving skills.

You can also build your skills and knowledge by exploring our Journal Articles. Education is one of the most important (and powerful) tools you have when it comes to basic first-aid training. Reach out to Advanced Medical Certification for the help you need to protect the lives of others.