1. Minor injuries like cuts, bruises, and punctures can easily become infected if not treated properly with first aid. While they may seem insignificant, infections can spread rapidly and cause serious pain, permanent disability, or even death if left untreated. 2. The skin acts as a protective barrier against germs, but when it is broken during an injury, germs can enter the open wound and multiply, causing an infection. 3. All injuries, no matter how minor they seem, should receive first aid treatment. This includes cleaning the wound, applying a bandage, and monitoring for signs of infection like increased pain or swelling. Neglecting any injury risks infection.

1. Construction Safety Talks
First Aid - 1. Many workers consider injuries such as burns, cuts, bruises,
Infection punctures, etc. of so little importance that they do not bother to
get first aid. Actually it is dangerous to neglect these seemingly
No. 30 minor injuries since they are very easily infected. A knife cut,
nail jab, or scraped shin, for instance, can bring serious
consequences if infection develops.
2. What is infection? The unbroken skin acts as a protective
How This Talk shield for the body. However, it is exposed to countless germs
Applies To My
Crew: which are harmless as long as they remain on the surface.
When the skin is broken as the result of an injury, the barrier is
down and germs swarm into the open wound to multiply and
infect it. Once infection develops, unless properly treated, it can
spread rapidly, causing severe pain, sometimes permanent
disability, and even death.
3. An injury should never be neglected because it doesn't seem
serious enough to warrant first aid. The safe, sensible thing to
do is to get first aid for all injuries.
Sometimes we tend to take the attitude, "I nicked myself like this
before and never had any trouble." If so we have just been lucky.
Infections or other complications do not always follow slight
injuries, but the person who thinks they can escape infection time
after time is gambling. Someday their luck is going to run out.
The recommended treatment for small cuts, abrasions, scratches,
etc., is:
1. Put on the latex gloves found in the first aid kit before treating
someone and wash your hands thoroughly after removing the
gloves.
2. Cleanse the wound with soap and water (keep soap in the first
aid kit).
3. Use clean, dry bandages that are in the first aid kit.
4. Refer to the doctor if there is any foreign matter in the wound.
5. Refer to the doctor if any sign of infection (pain, swelling,
redness) develops.
6. Do not apply ointments or antiseptic solutions.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1

2. Questions you can use to get them talking:
• Where do we get first aid for minor injuries?
• Where are our first aid kits located?
Attended By:
The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at
the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the
appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2