Selfcare Precautions for Victim Assistance

Selfcare precautions mean exactly that. The rescuer must take self protective actions to keep from becoming another victim and thereby part of the problem rather than part of the solution. 

When the p ertincnt factors have been considered and a decision has been reached to proceed with a rescue, all reasonable protective measures should be taken by rescuers. Response personnel should use positive pressure. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and aveiilable protective clothing while working as quickly as possible to minimize their exposure to the toxic materials. 

During the rescue, care must be taken to prevent further injury to the victim. While time cannot be spent accomplishing extensive spinal immobilization, etc., steps should be taken to prevent worsening severe injuries. Failure to do so could result in catastrophic complications to the victim. 

Rescuers should ensure complete and effective decontamination of themselves by trained Haz Mat personnel as soon as possible after exposure. They should not delay seeking vital medical care if immediate decontamination is not possible. 

Response personnel should be awcire of the possibility of exposure to communicable diseases while handling a victim during a rescue. Transmission routes include blood, bodily fluids and droplet contamination via breathing. Use of bauriers such as impermeable gloves, masks and body coverings and frequent hand washing and removal of any bodily fluids on the skin wll minimize expx sure. 

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