📚 Guide by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety — How To Apply First Aid For Small Injuries — a Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety guide for Canadian oil & gas, construction, and industrial workers. Written and reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC, Calgary lead safety instructor.
🔗 Related Safety Mom courses & guides: Standard First Aid Calgary · Certificate validity by province · Oil Sands Safety Certs · Instructor: Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC
Small injuries happen all the time. Burns, choking, ankle or knee spraining—these are all injuries that can happen at home, at school, or at work. Even though these conditions may not be life-threatening, they need to be addressed adequately and as quickly as possible. In what follows, we would like to present a few tips about what to do in these cases.
Sprains
A sprain is an injury to the muscles or ligaments around joints. Twists, hits, or falls can cause the ligaments to move out of place, causing severe pain often accompanied by instant swelling and bruising.
The first thing to do in case of a sprain is to apply a cold compress or ice on the injured joint to reduce the swelling. The compress must be applied for the first two days after the injury. If the condition of the victim is not improving after the first few days, refer to a doctor.
Burns
First- and second-degree burns are among the most common home and workplace injuries. First-degree burns cause skin irritation and redness, while second-degree burns can also cause blisters.
The first and most important thing to do in case of such burns is to cool down the affected area with cool (not cold) water. After submerging the injured body part in cold water, apply some kind of loose bandage to the wound—antiseptic, non-sticky bandages are best. Do not apply any grease or cream to the burn—these substances seal the surface of the wound and may contribute to the appearance of infections. Pain relievers can be given as appropriate to ease the discomfort.
If the burns are caused by an injury involving electricity or chemicals, call for medical help immediately. These burns can be more serious and more complicated to treat than simple burns caused by hot coffee or a hot stove.
Choking
This type of injury occurs when a foreign object blocks the path of air into the lungs. The symptoms can be scary: breathing difficulties or noisy breathing, the face and the nails turning blue, and even loss of consciousness.
In these cases, the first thing to do is to try to remove the object obstructing the airways. You can try applying blows to the back of the patient, alternating these blows with abdominal thrusts. Another very efficient technique is to use the Heimlich manoeuvre: stand behind the injured person, put your arms around their navel, grasp your hands in the front, and press the abdomen hard, pulling upwards.
In more severe cases, the injured person may pass out. If this happens, you need to act immediately. Open the victim’s mouth, reach into the throat, and try to remove the obstruction.
If the object cannot be removed, apply CPR immediately. The movements involved in cardiopulmonary resuscitation may dislodge the blocked object. You need to have first aid training to do CPR.
These are only three of the most common, everyday injuries. If you become involved in any such accidents, keep calm, try to evaluate the situation and apply these first aid measures – your intervention can save lives. First Aid training will keep you prepared for such situations.
Additional Safety Knowledge
Alberta Workplace First Aid Requirements
Alberta OHS First Aid Regulation categorises workplaces by hazard type (low, medium, high) and distance from an emergency medical facility. Requirements scale from a Type 1 first aid kit for low-hazard offices to a full first aid room with a trained attendant and rescue equipment for remote high-hazard sites. Every employer must post the names of designated first aiders and maintain a first aid record book.
The Primary Survey — ABCDE
Every first aid response follows a standard primary survey to identify life-threatening conditions in priority order:
- A — Airway: is it clear? Foreign object, tongue, swelling? Perform head-tilt/chin-lift if no spinal injury suspected.
- B — Breathing: is the casualty breathing normally? Look, listen, feel for 10 seconds.
- C — Circulation: check for signs of life, severe bleeding, shock.
- D — Disability: level of consciousness (AVPU: Alert, Voice-responsive, Pain-responsive, Unresponsive), neurological signs.
- E — Environment/Exposure: protect from environment, expose injuries for assessment, prevent hypothermia.
CPR — Current Guidelines
Adult CPR: compressions at 100–120 per minute, depth of 5–6 cm (2–2.4 inches), full recoil between compressions, minimise interruptions. Compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2 for single rescuers. Child (1 year to puberty): use one or two hands depending on size, compress about 1/3 the depth of the chest. Infant (under 1 year): use two fingers, compress 4 cm (1.5 inches). AED should be applied as soon as available — every minute of delay reduces survival by 7–10%.
How To Apply First Aid For Small Injuries — Certification Levels
Alberta workplace first aid levels: Emergency First Aid (basic, 8 hours, 3-year validity), Standard First Aid (comprehensive, 16 hours, 3-year validity), and Advanced First Aid or Wilderness First Aid for remote workplaces. CPR levels A (adult), C (adult/child/infant), and BLS/HCP (healthcare provider level with two-rescuer CPR). Recertification must be completed before expiry — expired tickets require full retraining.
Content reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC — lead safety instructor at Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety Calgary, an Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider.
