First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Response

Why First Aid and Emergency Response Matter in Appliance Repair

Appliance technicians work with electricity, refrigerants, sharp sheet metal, and heavy equipment every day. When something goes wrong, emergency medical services may be several minutes away. A technician who knows how to respond correctly in those first minutes can prevent a serious injury from becoming a fatal one. This lesson prepares you to earn a recognized first aid/CPR certification and to respond effectively to the three emergencies you are most likely to face on the job: electrical shock, refrigerant exposure, and lacerations.

Certification Requirement

You must complete a hands-on CPR, AED, and first aid course through an authorized provider — either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Online-only courses do not satisfy this requirement. You must physically perform adult CPR chest compressions and rescue breaths on a manikin until your instructor signs off on your technique. At the end of the course you will receive a completion card. Keep that card with your other trade credentials; many employers require it at hiring.

Emergency #1 — Electrical Shock

Household appliances operate at voltages that can cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, and muscle damage. The highest-risk moments are when lockout/tagout procedures are skipped or when a repair is attempted on a live circuit.

Immediate steps if a co-worker is shocked:

1. Do not touch the victim while they may still be in contact with the energized source. Touching them can shock you too.

2. Shut off power at the breaker or disconnect, or use a non-conducting object (dry wood, plastic) to move the source away from the victim — only if you can do so without contacting it yourself.

3. Call 911 immediately or direct a bystander to call while you act.

4. Once the scene is safe, check for responsiveness. If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR.

5. Use the AED as soon as it is available. Turn it on and follow its voice prompts.

6. Continue CPR until the AED advises a shock has been delivered and instructs you to resume, until the victim begins breathing, or until EMS takes over.

7. Even if the victim appears to recover fully, they must be evaluated by a medical professional. Electrical injury can cause internal burns and delayed cardiac events.

Emergency #2 — Refrigerant Exposure

Refrigerants such as R-134a, R-410A, and R-22 are pressurized gases that can cause frostbite on contact with skin or eyes, and can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces. Always work in a ventilated area and wear safety glasses and gloves when handling refrigerant lines or fittings.

If refrigerant contacts skin or eyes:

1. Move the victim to fresh air immediately if fumes are present.

2. For skin contact, remove contaminated clothing and flush the affected area with large amounts of lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.

3. For eye contact, flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelid open. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to remove without additional trauma.

4. Contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US national number).

5. Follow the specific guidance in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the refrigerant involved. SDS documents are required to be accessible in your workplace.

6. Seek medical evaluation, especially for eye exposure or if symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or skin blistering appear.

Emergency #3 — Laceration from Sheet-Metal Edges

Cabinet panels, ductwork, and internal components have edges sharp enough to cause deep cuts. Wearing cut-resistant gloves when handling sheet metal reduces risk but does not eliminate it.

Steps for a significant laceration:

1. Put on disposable gloves before providing care if available — protect yourself from bloodborne pathogen exposure.

2. Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or sterile gauze pad. Maintain continuous pressure; do not lift the cloth to check the wound frequently.

3. If bleeding does not slow after several minutes of direct pressure, add more gauze on top without removing the first layer.

4. Elevate the injured limb above heart level if the wound is on an arm or hand, as long as doing so does not cause additional pain that suggests a fracture.

5. Call 911 or transport the person to an emergency room if: bleeding is severe or spurting, the wound is deep or gaping, or direct pressure is not controlling the bleeding.

6. Do not remove embedded objects; stabilize them and let medical professionals handle removal.

Your Personal Emergency Reference Card

Before this lesson is complete, you will create a laminated one-page card to keep in your tool bag. It must include:

• Your shop's main phone number and address
• The nearest emergency room name and address
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Step-by-step actions for each of the three scenarios above

This card is not just a class assignment. It is a practical tool. In a real emergency your memory may fail under stress. A clear written reference keeps you on the correct sequence when it matters most.

Scene Safety Comes First — Always

Before you approach any injured person, ask: Is the scene safe for me? An unconscious person lying near an open electrical panel, a hissing refrigerant line, or a chemical spill is surrounded by hazards that could injure you too. A rescuer who becomes a second victim helps no one. Make the scene safe, or wait for trained emergency responders who have the equipment to do so.