We have made a couple of minor changes in the latest edition of the Good First Aid Guide relating to the treatment of the bleeding section. This will cause slight changes to several courses for you to be aware of.
There has been a change in the guidance of the treatment of bleeding wounds in the latest copy of the first aid manual published by the voluntary aid services – particularly relating to the number of dressings to place on a bleeding wound. This has led to some confusion and queries. Adding complication, NHS guidance was published later than the voluntary aid services guidance and gave different advice.
In the latest version of the Good First Aid Guide – we aim to offer a clear indication of how to help. We have also taken the opportunity to make some other minor wording improvements.
You can continue to teach as usual until you have stock of updated resources. Where necessary, presentation updates and directive updates will become available in the Downloads area of The Hub when next ordering resources.
Please see a summary of the changes below. If you have any questions or comments, please comment at the bottom of this post.
New page 26 – key changes:
- More straightforward guidance on washing a wound as per NHS advice.
- Wording improved on splinters.
- More explicit guidance is given on the use of plasters and blue plasters.
- Further guidance is given on when to seek medical help.
- NHS advice about the use of painkillers has been included.
New page 27 – key changes:
- ‘BLEEDS’ has been more closely aligned to helping someone with a wound that is bleeding heavily.
- As this section focuses on heavy bleeding, ‘Lay or Sit’ has been simplified to ‘Lay’ only, with the flexibility of ‘most appropriate position’.
New page 28 – key changes:
- Guidance of when to apply a dressing has been aligned with NHS guidance:
Notes: NHS Guidance was last reviewed: 06 June 2022 (next review due: 06 June 2025) and states that “When the bleeding has stopped, firmly wrap a new bandage over the first cloth or bandage” and “If the wound keeps bleeding, leave the first bandage in place and add another one. Keep pressing firmly on the wound for another 10 minutes.” This is after the last VAS update.
- Further emphasis is given to seeking advice from ambulance control if a bleeding wound continues to bleed through a dressing.
- ‘Catastrophic Bleeding’ has been further defined as ‘Controlling Exceptionally Heavy, Catastrophic Bleeding’
New page 29 – key changes:
- Further explanation and guidance has been given about preventing cross-infection in line with later NHS advice.
- The wording has been simplified for specific types of wounds.
3 Comments
Michael Pattinson · November 23, 2023 at 7:58 am
Hi,
Your guidance says if the wound is painful the casualty can take paracetamol or ibuprofen, if they are to hand do we offer the medication or are we just offering advice.
Regards Michael.
Richard - Founder & Course Originator · January 3, 2024 at 11:51 am
Hi Michael – thanks for your great question. As first aiders we don’t usually offer medication (apart form a few exceptions such as Asprin for Heart Attack). However, it’s fine to let a casualty know that the NHS guidance says that can take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, and then that can make that decision themselves. Thanks, Richard
Richard - Founder & Course Originator · January 3, 2024 at 11:54 am
Hi, everyone – just to let you know, we are aware of a typo on page 26: “Gently pat the WOULD dry” instead of wound. This has been corrected on our artwork, and although it was printed on the first batch, it will appear as updated on future print runs.