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When you approach somebody the first time you need to gain that person's permission or consent before you help them. If you're in the workplace you may well be working with the person, they may know you. But you do still need to ask their permission. Imagine yourself. You had an accident or you're feeling unwell and suddenly someone came up to you and started telling you what to do, bossing you about, and trying to treat you. You may well just want to be given a little bit of space. But you also want to be treated with respect. Hi, what have you done? Well I've just tripped over the boxes and really hurt my wrist. Alright. I'm first aid, may I help you? Yes please. So when you first approach somebody introduce yourself. If you don't know the person than just introduce yourself. For example, I may well say, "Hello, my name's Keith. I'm a first aider. May I help you?" As soon as the person agrees or consents then you would have in the eyes of the law permission to actually help them. It may be that they say yes, it may be that they nod, or they say... As long as it's something to give you a positive reaction from them. Now if the person says no then you can't directly help them. It may well be this person just doesn't want to be any fuss made of them. They might be embarrassed, they might be worried. Or it might be they have other problems; they just don't want you to help them. It may be even that you've caused the accident. They may well blame you for it. If someone does deny help then you need to try and gain their trust. So you can still talk to them, you can still call the emergency services, you can still report them if it's in a workplace setting. Do what you can to try and get that person's trust to then help them, but do not put yourself in any danger or get into any arguments. If you're dealing with a child, it may well be you need to ask the parent. So it may well be addressing the parent saying, "May I help your child?" Obviously if you're dealing with an infant then this baby is not going to be able to talk back to you. So you would need to talk to the guardian, the parent, or the child monitor to try and actually get some consent to help the child. The other problem could be if someone is unconscious. If someone's unconscious they're not going to be able to answer you, but you'd still ask them. If you've asked them, "Hello my name's Keith. I'm a first aider. May I help you?" Then though you're not going to get an answer, in the eyes of the law you do have what's called "assumed consent." How this works is that, if you picture yourself now, if you were out on the street somewhere and you collapsed. Would you want somebody to give you first aid? If your heart stopped would you want someone to give you CPR? The answer's probably yes. So in the eyes of the law if you ask somebody and they don't answer then you would have their consent to actually help them. The whole time you're dealing with an incident always talk to the person. So even if they're unconscious just keep talking the whole time because the hearing is the last thing to go. So it may well be that they're not showing any signs of movement or being conscious, but they can still hear you. So this can be quite comforting. Especially if you're doing, say maybe put someone in a recovery position, or you're covering them with a blanket, talk to them the whole time and tell them exactly what you're doing.
Obtaining Consent in First Aid Situations
Introduction and Permission
When faced with a first aid scenario, it's crucial to follow proper protocol, beginning with a courteous introduction. Always introduce yourself and request the patient's permission to offer assistance.
Consent Verification
If the patient grants consent, whether through verbal affirmation, a nod, or by extending an injured limb for examination, you are legally authorized to proceed with your assistance.
Respecting Patient's Wishes
If, however, the patient declines your aid, you must respect their decision and refrain from any form of intervention. In such cases:
- Emergency Services: If the patient refuses help, promptly contact the emergency services for professional assistance.
- Refer to Supervisors or Family: Consider involving the patient's supervisor or family members to address their concerns and provide reassurance.
- Open Communication: Engage in a compassionate conversation with the patient, focusing on comforting and calming them despite your inability to assist directly.
Unconscious Patients
Even when dealing with an unconscious casualty, the principles of consent still apply. In such instances, consent may be implied as most individuals in this condition would likely accept aid if conscious:
- Verbal Interaction: Communicate with the unconscious patient as speaking to them can offer comfort. Hearing is often one of the last senses to diminish.
Workplace Duty of Care
It's important to recognize that in the workplace, as a designated first aider, you may hold a duty of care towards employees or colleagues. In such circumstances, the injured party may be required to seek your assistance:
- Employee Seeking Help: In situations where you have a duty of care, the casualty may be compelled to approach you for assistance.