First aid is the medical attention provided in the aftermath of an injury. It is usually administered in the area in which the injury occurred. First aid typically encompasses a one-time treatment that is short-term in nature. The administration usually requires minimal technology or training. It provides instant relief that temporarily limits the extent of the patient’s injury. Examples of treatment include the application of bandages and dressings to wounds, cleaning minor scrapes, cuts, and scratches, the treatment of a minor burn, the draining of blisters, and the use of medicine that is not provided through prescription. Even cleaning out debris from a patient’s eyes or providing drinking fluid to a dehydrated patient constitutes first aid treatment.
First aid cases no longer require documentation. Even if a registered nurse applies something like a bandage to an employee’s cut skin, the employer is not required to report the accident. Information including basic scripts, response procedures, standards, and training guides, can be obtained through the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) agency and the Mayo Clinic.
