TOOLBOX TALK 29/60
TOPIC: FIRST AID INFECTIONS
OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE WORKERS REPORT FIRST AID INJURIES

Some things to know before you give your talk:

• Many workers consider minor injuries such as burns, cuts, bruises, and punctures to be of little importance and that they do not bother to report the injury or get first aid. It is dangerous to neglect these seemingly minor injuries since they are very easily infected.
• A knife cut, nail jab or scraped shin, for instance, can bring serious consequences if infection develops.
• What is infection? The unbroken skin acts as a protective shield for the body. However, it is exposed to countless germs which are harmless if they remain on the surface. When the skin is broken because of an injury, the barrier is down, and germs can enter the open wound to cause an infection. Once infection develops, unless properly treated, it can spread rapidly, causing severe pain.
• An injury should never be neglected because it doesn’t seem serious enough to need first aid. The safe, sensible thing to do is to get first aid for all injuries.
• Sometimes we tend to take the attitude, “I nicked myself like this before and never had any trouble.” Infections or other complications do not always follow slight injuries, but the person who thinks they can escape infection time after time is gambling.

The recommended treatment for small cuts, abrasions, scratches, etc.:

• Put on the latex gloves found in the first aid kit before treating someone and wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves