June is National Safety Month here in Austin TX, and at Outhouse And Septic Solutions we're dedicated to making safety a top priority for everyones. Safety begins with each of us at work and home, extending to our communities. Throughout this month, we'll introduce essential safety procedures and knowledge, explaining how they align with our core values and day to day activities working with portable restrooms.
We'll cover the processes and procedures we follow at our facility, as well as global safety measures you can adopt to support those around you. Follow along with our journey and stay tuned for blog posts, videos, and a podcast episode with our Safety & Training Steward, who brings decades of experience in the field!
Our commitment to safety aligns with our core value of Servanthood: "there is no one we are too good to serve." This principle motivates us to ensure our staff is trained in essential life-saving techniques, and we believe everyone can benefit from this knowledge. By learning these skills, you can be prepared to serve and protect those around you, just like our team does every day.
### Heimlich Maneuver
Choking is a common emergency that can happen to anyone, anywhere. Knowing how to perform the Heimlich maneuver can save a life. Here’s how:
Recognize the Signs If someone is unable to cough, speak, or breathe, they may be choking.
Ask for Consent: Approach the person and ask, “Are you choking? Do you need help?” Watch for a positive nod.
Position Yourself: Stand or kneel behind the person. If they are sitting, stand behind them. Ensure they are stable and won’t fall.
Wrap Your Arms: Reach around the person’s waist. For a conscious adult or child, make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side of your fist against the person’s abdomen, slightly above the navel and well below the ribcage. For a conscious infant, support their head and neck with one hand and place the infant face down on your forearm, with their head lower than their trunk.
- Perform Abdominal Thrusts: With your other hand, grasp your fist or the hand supporting the infant and press into the person’s abdomen with a quick, upward thrust. If the victim is an infant, give five quick but firm blows on the infant’s back with the heel of your hand. Repeat these movements until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
- Check for Dislodgement: After each thrust, check the person’s mouth for the object. Be careful not to push the object farther down the airway.
- If the Person Becomes Unconscious: Lower the person to the ground and start CPR. Follow the steps for CPR, beginning with chest compressions. For an infant, place two fingers in the center of the chest and press down forcefully up to five times. Open the airway and look for the object. If you see it, remove it. If you cannot see it, continue with CPR (and alternate with the back blows for an infant) until help arrives.
Hands-Only CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
Hands-only CPR is a critical skill that can keep blood and oxygen flowing in someone whose heart has stopped. Here are the basic steps:
- Check Responsiveness: Tap the person and shout, “Are you okay?” If there’s no response, call 911.
- **Begin Chest Compressions:** Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person’s chest, place your other hand on top, and push hard and fast (about 100-120 compressions per minute). Continue compressions without stopping until emergency responders arrive or the person shows signs of life.
- Call 911: Don’t forget to call 911 or have another bystander do it for you as you perform the procedure.
By learning these skills, you can become a vital link in the chain of survival. Remember, in the spirit of Servanthood, there is no one we are too good to serve. Equip yourself with these lifesaving techniques and be ready to make a difference when it counts.
Together, let’s build a safer, more prepared community.
Stay tuned for more safety tips and content!
Jonathan Phillips Outhouse and Septic Solutions
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