First Aid

ACTION AT AN EMERGENCY

Keep in mind: “The worst thing to do is nothing!”

APROACHING A VICTIM

*Scene Survey

Do a 10-second scene survey.

As you approach an emergency scene,

• Scan the area for immediate dangers to yourself or to the victim

• Determine the cause of injury

• Determine how many people are injured.

GETTING HELP

*Contacting the EMS System

Call the EMS system whenever the situation is more than you can handle.

Call the EMS when the following situation occurs:

• Severe bleeding

• Drowning

• Electrocution

• Possible heart attack

• No breathing, or breathing difficulty

• Choking

• Unconsciousness

• Poisoning

• Attempted suicide

• Some seizure cases-most do not require EMS assistance

• Critical burns

• Paralysis

• Suspected neck injury

• Imminent childbirth

• Cardiac arrest

Keep in mind: When an emergency occurs, FIRST CALL THE EMS SYSTEM, not your relatives, friend, neighbor, etc.

Advantages of calling the EMS System first:

1. Several patients should not be moved except by the trained personnel.

2. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who arrive with the ambulance know what to do & they are in radio contact with the physician.

3. Care provided by the EMTs on the scene and on the way to hospital can increase the patients chances of survival and rate of recovery.

4. Time will saved in getting the patient to the hospital.

Keep in mind: Call your doctor if the situation is not an emergency, however if you are in doubt if the situation is an emergency or not, call the EMS system.

Calling the EMS:

An emergency telephone number should be listed on the inside front cover of all telephone directories. Keep these numbers near your telephones.

Get ready to give the EMS dispatcher the following instructions:

1. The victims location. The most important information to give.

2. Your phone number and name.

3. What happened.

4. Number of persons needing help and any special conditions.

5. Victim’s condition.

DISEASE PRECAUTIONS

* Use protective equipments whenever possible giving first aid:

1. To prevent contact with blood, keep open wounds covered with dressings to prevent contact with blood.

2. In every situations involving blood or other body fluids, use disposable gloves.

3. Use the most waterproof material available or extra gauze dressings to form a barrier if disposable latex gloves are not available.

4. When doing a rescue breathing, use a mouth-to-barrier device for protection whenever possible

*After a person if exposed to blood or other body fluids:

1. Wash with soap and water the exposed area immediately. Scrub vigorously with lots of lather.

2. Report the incident promptly, according to your workplace policy.

3. Get medical help, treatment, and counseling.

4. Ask about HBV globulin (HBIG) if you have not had the HBC vaccine.

APPROACHING TO VICTIMS WHO ARE NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE

Water Rescue

Reach-Throw-Row-Go Techniques

Reach: The first and simplest rescue technique id to reach the victim.

Throw: Throwing has a range of about 50 feet for the average untrained rescuer.

Row: Use when the victim is out of range and there is available boogie board

Go: Use if you the above three techniques are impossible to do and if you are capable swimmer and trained in water lifesaving techniques.

Keep in mind: DO NOT swim to the person and grasp him unless you are trained in lifesaving.

Ice Rescue

What to do if:

Person is near the ice near the shore: Extend a pole or throw a line with something attached that floats.

Person through the ice away from the shore and you cannot reach him/her with an object ahead of you: If you have nothing but a spare wheel, tie a rope to the wheel and the other end to an anchor point, lie flat, and push the wheel ahead of you. Pull the victim ashore or to the edge of the ice.

Keep in mind: DO NOT go near broken ice without support.

Electrical Emergency Rescue

Inside Buildings (Low Voltage)

• Turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker, fuse box, or outside switch box; or unplug the appliance if the plug id undamaged.

Keep in mind:

DO NOT touch an appliance or the victim until the current is off.

DO NOT try to move downed wires.

DO NOT use any object, even if it is dry wood, to separate the victim from the electrical source. Such an object will not protect you.

Power Line (High Voltage)

• Turn off the power first before approaching the victim.

• When approaching the victim and you feel a tingling sensation in your legs and lower body, stop.

• Wait for trained personnel with the proper equipment to cut the wires or disconnect them.

Power Line Fallen over Car

• Instruct the driver and passengers to stay in the car.

• Only if an explosion or fire threatens a car should a victim try to jump out of the car without making contact with the car or wire.

Hazardous Materials Incidents

Hints indicating the presence of hazardous materials include:

• Signs of vehicles

• Spilled liquids or solids

• Strong, unusual odors

• Clouds of vapor

• Stay away and upwind from the area except for those who are trained in handling hazardous materials and with necessary equipment.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Moral Responsibilities:

• Stop your vehicle in a safe palace. Do not stop if you are asked to do so if the police have taken charge.

• Turn on your flashing hazard lights.

• Warn other drivers by directing bystanders and set up earning flares.

• Try to enter through the door, ask someone inside to roll sown a window, or your last resort, break the windows to gain access. Once inside the vehicle, “park” it, turn off the key, and set the parking brake.

Keep in mind: DO NOT rash to get victims out. Contrary to opinion, most vehicle crashes do not involve fire. Most vehicle stay in an upright position.

• Use your hands and forearms to stabilize the head and neck for unconscious victim.

• Treat any life-threatening injuries.

• Whenever possible, wait for the EMS personnel to extricate the victims because of their training and having the proper equipment.

Fires

• Get all the people out fast

• Call the emergency telephone number

• Do only if the fire is small and if your own escape route is clear should you fight the fire yourself with a fire extinguisher.

• Clothing that caches fire should be torn off away from the face.

• Wrap a rug or woolen blanket around the victims’ neck to keep the fire from the face, or throw it on the victim.

• Aim directly at whatever is burning and sweep across it when using a fire extinguisher.

Keep in mind:

DO NOT let the victim run if clothing id on fire.

DO NOT get trapped while fighting a fire. Always keep a door behind you so that you can exit if the fire gets too big.

Farm Animals

• Approach a situation involving animals with caution.

Keep in mind: DO NOT frighten an animal.

• Reassure the animal by speaking quietly.

• Lure the animal away from the victim by using foods if available.

Confined Spaces

• Call for immediate help

• DO NOT rush in to help.

• DO NOT enter confined space unless you are relieved by another attendant and you are part of the rescue team if you are the attendant.

• Try to rescue the victim if the help arrives.

• The trained and properly equipped rescuers must enter the space and remove the victim if rescue from outside cannot be done.

• Activate the local EMS.

• If you are trained, administer first aid, rescue breathing, or CPR if necessary.

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