Course overview
This course gives those who may be responding to a chemical
incident a focus on the dos and don’ts of the initial first aid response to a
chemical exposure, ensuring that casualties receive excellent immediate care.
When working with chemicals, there is always the potential for
someone to be exposed to the substance they are working with - whether by
accident or as part of normal routine. Exposure to chemicals can cause serious harm
to human health and result in lost time, legal action, and health and safety management targets being missed.
Generally, first aid at work (FAAW) courses will briefly cover
the four major routes a chemical can enter the body - inhalation, digestion,
absorption and injection. FAAW courses demonstrate the procedures to carry out
in the event of loss of breathing or circulation, bleeding, broken bones,
asthma, stroke, etc. The syllabus might mention chemicals, but usually in the
context of ingestion or burns to the skin. Little is covered about first aid
following other routes of chemical exposures.