Health and Safety, First Aid, Fire Alarms and Meningitis

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Everyone has a duty to themselves and their colleagues to ensure that health and safety guidelines are followed, especially with regard to fire safety.

• Familiarise yourself with the fire evacuation procedures, exits and assembly areas
• Ensure that all your housemates are evacuating but do not wait for them
• Use the stairs and emergency exits
• Never assume that an alarm is a drill, the next one may just be for real
• In the event of fire, it is not recommended that you try to tackle a blaze unless you are confident in knowing what you are doing and know which type of extinguisher to use. Your own safety comes first. If in doubt concentrate on raising the alarm (if necessary) and evacuating. If you do have to use a fire extinguisher remember to ask for it to be refilled
• Never tamper with detectors, move or let off fire extinguishers, block fire exits or prop open fire doors
• Check whether there is a first aid kit available and find out if anyone in the house has done a first aid course - you could contact St Johns Ambulance to arrange to go on a course yourself. Some useful tips include:
  • For Burns - run the affected area under cold water for a prolonged period of time, if severe, follow this by wrapping in cling film or a plastic bag before going to Casualty
  • For unconsciousness - turn the victim half into the recovery position - on to their side, face down, but mouth clear of the floor. This will mean that any vomiting will not be inhaled
  • For choking - go behind the victim and give several hard slaps on the back in an upward direction to dislodge the object.
  • Never give people affected by drink and drugs salt water or induce vomiting

Do not hesitate to contact 999 if you suspect that someone is seriously ill, has suffered a fit or seizure, or is unconscious.

ABC

ABC is a useful reminder when attending to a casualty.

• Airway - is it blocked? Look in the mouth
• Breathing - listen closely - is the chest wall rising and falling?
• Circulation - is the heart working? Look for a pulse in the neck or wrist.

Inform emergency services what you have discovered and they will give advice.

Meningitis

This disease has received heavy publicity relating to Universities in the past.

Statistically young adults are more at risk than many other groups, but less so than children.

There has also been shown to be a slightly higher risk amongst those attending Universities and the military.

Although the risks of any individual contracting the disease are very small, it is important to be vigilant.

Do not hesitate to seek help or dial 999 if you are at all worried.

Educational material will be made available at the University and should be read.

• Look out for your friends, especially if they are semi conscious.
• The disease is often mistaken for Flu or a hangover.
• Familiarise yourself with the symptoms (aversion to light, high fever, vomiting, possible rash anywhere)

No vaccine gives complete protection so do not be complacent. Only C strain can be immunised against. B strain is still a killer and just as common.

Although technically contagious, the disease does not survive well outside the body and so the risks of passing it on are slight.

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