Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

11 Accident Prevention

Training Whether for work or play, proper training minimizes the chance of accident and injury and allows you to do something better. Receive training to use any required equipment and safety gear properly. Risk mitigation We can never entirely remove risk, but we can take steps to reduce it to an acceptable level. Take the time to look around you. Think about your actions and the environment you are in, what may potentially go wrong, and how to avoid any dangers. Assessment Some activities that are normally low risk can become more dangerous given a set of circumstances. A poorly lit area, a tired worker, and trip hazards can all combine to make an otherwise low risk situation an accident waiting to happen.

It has been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Truer words have never been spoken when it comes to first aid. One of the most effective skills you can develop is recognizing a potentially hazardous or dangerous situation and taking steps to make it safe or avoiding the danger all together. This is a primary component of scene safety, but it is even more effective if applied before the accident has a chance to occur. Recognizing potential hazards and the risks they pose to injury or illness is about remaining aware and taking responsibility to ensure yourself and others have a safe environment. Do not assume that others will see the dangers that you do and be able to avoid them. Consider special populations. An adult knows what the poison symbol on a container means but a small child may not. Part of prevention is thinking about the big picture.

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