1. CONFIRM SCENE SAFETY: Ensure the environment is safe before approaching the patient. Identify and mitigate the hazard that caused the injury, such as marking a sharp equipment edge, before rendering aid.

2. ACTIVATE PROTOCOL AND NOTIFY SUPERVISION: If your organization requires it, notify a supervisor or designated first aid responder before or immediately after initiating care. Do not delay treatment for critical notification steps if the patient requires immediate intervention.

3. DEPLOY KIT AND DON PPE: Retrieve the first aid kit and put on a pair of nitrile or vinyl gloves before making any contact with the patient. Gloves are mandatory. Assume all body fluids are potentially infectious.

4. ASSESS THE PATIENT: Approach the patient, introduce yourself, and obtain consent before initiating treatment. Assess responsiveness and the nature of the injury to determine the appropriate response.

5. CONTROL BLEEDING: Place a sterile gauze pad directly over the wound and apply firm, direct pressure. Elevate the injured limb above the level of the heart if the injury and patient condition allow.

6. PREPARE THE WOUND SITE: Once bleeding is controlled, clean the intact skin around the wound using an antiseptic BZK wipe. Do not scrub inside the wound and do not use alcohol wipes on open tissue.

7. APPLY TOPICAL OINTMENT: If workplace protocol permits and the patient confirms no known allergies, apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment to the wound surface. Do not apply if allergy status is unknown or if protocol prohibits it.

8. DRESS AND BANDAGE THE WOUND: Cover the wound with a sterile gauze pad and secure it with medical tape or a conforming gauze roll. After securing the dressing, check circulation distal to the bandage to confirm it is snug but not circulation-restricting.

9. PROVIDE POST-CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Advise the patient to keep the wound clean and dry and to monitor for signs of infection including redness, swelling, heat, pain, and pus. Recommend medical evaluation if the wound is deep, bleeding remains uncontrolled, or infection develops.

10. DOFF GLOVES AND DISPOSE OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS: Remove gloves carefully to avoid contact with contaminated surfaces and dispose of all used materials in a designated biohazard receptacle per workplace policy. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after removal.

11. COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION: Fill out any required incident report forms for your organization before closing out the response. Accurate documentation protects both the patient and the responder.

12. REPORT AND RESUPPLY: Immediately report all consumed items to the designated manager or safety officer so the kit can be restocked to full ANSI/OSHA compliance without delay. A depleted kit is a readiness failure.

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