Minor Injury Self Help

General Principles for Treating a COVID 19 Casualty

Complete a preliminary assessment, if possible, while maintaining social distancing (currently > 2 metres).
The preliminary assessment to involve the screening questions for COVID-19.

Screening questions for COVID 19 infection

• Do you have any new cough or new shortness of breath?
• Do you have a high temperature/ fever?
• Have you had contact with a confirmed COVID 19 patient within the past 14 days?
• If yes to any question regard the patient as suspect COVID 19
• If no to all questions regard the patient as low risk for COVID 19 but always err on the side of caution and treat every person as if they are infected.

Workplace Incidents

 Minor injuries

Many of these patients could provide self help under direction from the first aider, thus maintaining social distancing. The first aider should encourage ‘supervised self help’ (from a safe distance) i.e. instruct the patient to wash a minor wound and then apply a plaster to themselves. The successful application of this model of care will reduce the requirement to don PPE every time a person enquires about a minor injury etc.
No PPE is required, therefore, provided that social distancing is maintained. Follow FAR CPGs when advising care provision.