PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

this causes aches and pains. Relaxing your muscles could involve: a. Tensing muscles before you consciously relax them. You can achieve this with simple activities such as shrugging the shoulders, rolling the neck from side to side, clenching and releasing your hand. b. Massage. For deeper muscle relaxation - massage your own scalp, hands or feet. Or get someone else to give you an all over massage. c. Warmth. Use warm water or hot packs to relax tense muscles. 4. Posture: Your body has to work harder if you are standing or sitting incorrectly. Check your posture regularly, especially if you have to perform the same task for extended periods of time. Change your position as often as possible, stretching your muscles as you move. 5. Release tension emotionally: Physical activity helps to use up the adrenalins cre- ated by stress. When physical activity is not possible, try releasing tension by shar- ing your feelings with someone else. Putting feelings into words helps to release pent-up emotions and assists in problem solving. Laughter has been called “the best medicine”, and not without cause. Stress often makes us focus on the serious and negative aspects of our life. Laughter releases chemicals such as endorphins which help us to feel more relaxed and often enables us to see things from a more balanced perspective. 6. Slow down: Deliberately slow your movements down - walking, driving, and working. The calmer pace will reduce the impact of stress on your body and help to prevent accidents. 7. Take a break: Allow for adequate rest breaks in your work day. Not taking breaks in order to save time increases the risk of accidents. When you take a break try to find a physical environment and an activity that are different from your usual work environment. This may mean something as simple as going for a walk. It could also mean temporarily switching from one job to another. A program of physical care should include activities that occur before exposure to stress, during stressful periods, and afterwards.

HLTAID008 MANAGE FIRST AID SERVICES AND RESOURCES

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PADI RTO