First Aid


How to make an emergency call in case of severe injury or illness


Emergency call at University of Bremen: dial 9-1111, Emergency call outside campus (EU-wide): dial 112
  • Where did it happen? - Location of accident or emergency, as precise as possible
  • What happened? - Short description of emergency/accident
  • How many? - how many ill or injured persons need help?
  • Which character of illness or injury? - e.g. chest pains, burns, intoxication, loss of consciousness, respiratory distress
  • Expect further queries - do not end the call yourself!
  • Additionally notify the Control Central via emergency phone number 07
  • Guide the ambulance team on arrival

First Aid measures indoors and outdoors

  • Look, think, act - ensure your own safety!
  • Electrical accident: break the power first - press emergency stop, pull plug, or switch off fuse.
  • Alert other persons at risk, send for additional assistance, allocate duties!
  • Make EMERGENCY CALL first, then inform FB5/MARUM first aiders.
  • Save helpless persons from the area of hazard and get them into fresh air. Request and/or determine their injuries or symptoms.
  • Lay unconscious persons on their back or side, check breathing and pulse!
    No pulse: start cardiac massage and resuscitation promptly, fetch and apply defibrillator (off GEO 1190)
    Pulse, but no breathing: conduct mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the arrival of the doctor
  • Extinct burning persons by rolling them over ground, better by using emergency shower above lab door, CO2 extinguisher, or fire blanket. Cool body part thoroughly with water and cover lightly with sterile cloth.
  • Bed injured persons in a restful and warm position. Stretcher, bench, blanket and bandaging materials are in FB5 first-aid room (GEO 0481). Dress bleeding wounds, use pressure dressing for strong bleeding. Immobilize fractures, prop up and cool injured limbs. Observe, recognize and treat state of shock (below).
  • In case of shock (loss of blood, allergy, pain), put person in dorsal position, elevate legs, observe.
  • Wash chemical skin burns thoroughly with body shower, eye wash (laboratory) or water tap, carefully remove soaked clothes with glove.
  • Intoxicated persons: determine type of toxin, provide fresh air supply. Drink abundantly and avoid vomiting after ingesting acids. Get directives from intoxication advice center (dial 0551-19240) or doctor.
  • In case of sunstroke and heat exhaustion, rest in shade with elevated head. Cool chest, arms and forehead with moist towel, observe respiration.
  • In case of hypothermia or frostbite, protect from further cooling, cover warmly (e.g. by exchanging clothes, sleeping bag, survival blanket). Offer warm drinks, communicate.
  • Never abandon injured persons before the arrival of a doctor or rescue squad.
A detailed first aid instruction book lies in the first-aid room (GEO 0481). Here it is available as pdf file, which should always be carried along during field work and excursions.

Good online instructions for first-aid actions are provided by German Red Cross and Johanniter.
The University of Bremen also provides online first-aid information and regulations.

Treating and reporting occupational and commuting accidents


Staff and students of our university are covered for occupational and commuting accidents by a comprehensive care and compensation system via contractual physicians of the accident insurers.

In all such cases, not the family doctor, but an authorized medical referee must be consulted (exception for eye, ear and dental injuries), who will provide a written case report .

Every self-treatment of occupational injuries must be documented in the FB5 first-aid log (GEO 0481) for later verification in the case of necessary medical after-care or long-term effects.

Occupational and commuting accidents must be promptly reported to the university via the FB5 administration. Reporting procedures and report forms differ for students, employees and civil servants.