Asking permission and consent to help

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00:00:04.800 --> 00:00:08.880 When you approach somebody the first time you need to gain that person's permission 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:14.640 or consent before you help them. If you're in the workplace you may well be working with 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:19.920 the person, they may know you. But you still need to ask their permission. Imagine 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.560 yourself. You had an accident or you're feeling unwell and suddenly someone came up to you 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:29.520 and started telling you what to do, bossing you about, and trying to treat you. You may 00:00:29.520 --> 00:00:31.200 well just want to be given a little bit of 00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:34.880 time and a little bit of space. But you also want to be treated with respect. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:41.040 If someone introduces themselves and asks permission, then you'll feel at ease. What 00:00:41.040 --> 00:00:46.000 you need to do when you approach a patient is introduce yourself, and ask them permission. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:50.480 Say something like "Hello, my name's Keith. I'm a first aider. May I help you?" 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:53.920 As soon as the person agrees or consents then 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:57.120 you would have in the eyes of the law permission to actually help them. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:02.880 They do not actually have to speak, they could nod, or give other signs that they want your help, 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:05.120 so long as there's a positive reaction from them. 00:01:06.080 --> 00:01:09.120 An example of when they couldn't talk would be if they were choking, 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.840 when they would nod or show other signs of consent. 00:01:12.880 --> 00:01:18.320 If you ask permission and the person says no then you can't directly help them, but you can still 00:01:18.320 --> 00:01:23.360 call the EMS or others to help deal with the incident. It may well be this person doesn't 00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:28.160 want any fuss made about them, or they may be embarrassed, worried, or it might be they 00:01:28.160 --> 00:01:31.920 have other problems that they do not want to discuss. It may 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:36.000 be even that you've caused the accident and they may well blame you for the condition they're in. 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:40.160 If someone does deny help then you need to try and gain their 00:01:40.160 --> 00:01:42.240 trust. So you can still talk to them, you 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:44.400 can still call the emergency services, you 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:46.640 can still report the incident if it's in a workplace 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:52.400 setting. Do what you can to try and get that person's trust and then help them, but do not 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:57.840 put yourself in any danger or into any arguments. If you're dealing with a child, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.800 it may well be you need to ask the permission of the parent or guardian. 00:02:01.440 --> 00:02:04.240 So you may say something like: "May I help your child?" 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:08.480 Obviously if you're dealing with an infant then this baby is not 00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:13.120 going to be able to talk back to you. So you have to talk to the parent or the guardian, 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:18.880 but if alone you would still help the infant or the child as you would have their implied consent. 00:02:19.760 --> 00:02:23.760 The other problem could be if someone is unconscious therefore they cannot answer you. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:28.720 If someone is unconscious you still ask for permission, with something like: "Hello my 00:02:28.720 --> 00:02:32.960 name's Keith. I'm a first aider. May I help you?" Then even though you're not going 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:36.880 to answer you, in the eyes of the law you would have what's called "assumed consent." 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:42.560 How Assumed Consent or Implied Consent works is that if you picture yourself now, 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.360 if you were out on the street somewhere and you collapsed, 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:47.520 would you want somebody to give you first aid? 00:02:48.320 --> 00:02:52.400 If your heart stopped would you want someone to give you CPR? The 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:57.600 answer's probably yes. So in the eyes of the law if you ask somebody and they don't answer then you 00:02:57.600 --> 00:03:02.800 would have their consent to actually help them. The whole time you're dealing with the incident, 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:08.160 always talk to the person, even if they're unconscious just keep talking the whole time 00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:12.560 because the hearing is often the last thing to go. So it may well be that they're not actually 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:16.960 showing signs of movement or being obviously conscious, but they can still hear you. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:22.480 Talking to them can be quite comforting. For example, if you're putting someone in 00:03:22.480 --> 00:03:26.240 a recovery position, talk to them the whole time and tell them exactly what 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:37.200 you're doing and at every stage keep talking to them and reassuring them, until the EMS arrive.

Obtaining Consent in First Aid Situations

Introduction and Permission

When faced with a first aid scenario, it's crucial to follow proper protocol, beginning with a courteous introduction. Always introduce yourself and request the patient's permission to offer assistance.

Consent Verification

If the patient grants consent, whether through verbal affirmation, a nod, or by extending an injured limb for examination, you are legally authorized to proceed with your assistance.

Respecting Patient's Wishes

If, however, the patient declines your aid, you must respect their decision and refrain from any form of intervention. In such cases:

Emergency Services: If the patient refuses help, promptly contact the emergency services for professional assistance.
Refer to Supervisors or Family: Consider involving the patient's supervisor or family members to address their concerns and provide reassurance.
Open Communication: Engage in a compassionate conversation with the patient, focusing on comforting and calming them despite your inability to assist directly.

Unconscious Patients

Even when dealing with an unconscious casualty, the principles of consent still apply. In such instances, consent may be implied as most individuals in this condition would likely accept aid if conscious:

Verbal Interaction: Communicate with the unconscious patient as speaking to them can offer comfort. Hearing is often one of the last senses to diminish.

Workplace Duty of Care

It's important to recognize that in the workplace, as a designated first aider, you may hold a duty of care towards employees or colleagues. In such circumstances, the injured party may be required to seek your assistance:

Employee Seeking Help: In situations where you have a duty of care, the casualty may be compelled to approach you for assistance.

Learning Outcomes:

FPOS level 3 component one LO2.1
FPOS level 3 component one LO2.2
IPOSi Unit one LO1.5
IPOSi Unit one LO1.7