FIRST AID CHAPTER 26

As you take a moment to assess the situation and calm yourself before acting, remember to check the scene for?

- Any dangers before going to help a victim. - Avoid any temptation to act heroically if the scene is dangerous. - Once you have call 9-1-1, personnel with special training and equipment will soon arrive. They can better manage the dangers of the scene. - If it is safe to give first aid, remember to also take steps to protect yourself from the scene.

Perform the initial assessment of a victim for?

- Any immediate threats to life

When should you check the scene?

- Before you go to the victim

How can others help during an emergency while you do First Aid?

- Bystanders often present and will help you if asked. - You may need someone to keep pressure on a wound to control bleeding, such as while you are attending to another injury. Others can call 9-1-1 or bring a first aid kit or AED. - Do not hesitate to ask for help

What do you do if you are unsure how serious an injury or sudden illness is or how to handle the situation?

- Call 9-1-1 anyway, and tell the dispatcher about the situation. - Sometimes, the dispatchers can also advise you what care to give in case you are unaware what first aid is appropriate in this situation.

How do you not harm the victim when doing First Aid or CPR?

- Do only what you have learned to do. Trying some first aid technique you heard about somewhere can be risky, as people often are misinformed about what first aid is safe and effective. - Call 9-1-1, and give basic first aid as you have learned in this course, and nothing you do will harm the victim. - Recognize your limits as a lay first aider, and do not try something you have not learned to do, such as trying to rescue a victim from a hazardous situation

How do you prevent injury and sudden illness?

- Effective prevention depends on understanding that most injuries and sudden illnesses can be prevented and on adopting an attitude that motivates acting on safety principles and adopting a healthy lifestyle - Taking the time to act safely and making the commitment to break unhealthy habits and adopt a healthy lifestyle requires motivation. - At this point, you should know what you need to do to invest in your future health and well being - but it is also up to you to care enough to make the effort

When checking a victim, what should you check?

- First check for responsiveness, normal breathing and severe bleeding, giving care immediately for life-threatening problems. - If there are no immediate threats, perform a physical examination and take the SAMPLE history. This information will help you know what first aid to give and will be valuable to responding to EMS professionals

Although it is important to calm yourself and plan your actions, remember that in life-threatening emergencies?

- It is crucial not to delay before starting care. - Call for an AED, call 9-1-1 and start CPR immediately if the victim is not breathing normally

Why should you need to stay current in your skills and knowledge in First Aid?

- It is only human that over time, we forget things and our skills become rusty - New information often becomes available that changes how first aid is given - CPR techniques have changed over time and may change again in the future - and you may not learn about more effective techniques if you do not refresh your knowledge and skills

The primary goal of First Aid is to?

- Provide care only for the few minutes it takes for help to arrive

What are the key principles of First Aid?

- Stay Calm: Emergencies happen without warning, giving us no time to prepare ourselves emotionally or to carefully plan out our actions. The victim's pain and fears about what is happening, as well as the emotions of others at the scene, can cause panicky feelings that might lead to hasty or careless actions. It is very important to be calm when you respond to an emergency. Take a moment, if necessary, to gather your thoughts and emotions. The victims and others at the scene will be reassured by your calm actions and will cope better with the situation. Remember: You have the training and know what to do until help arrives - Call 9-1-1 for all serious emergencies and whenever in doubt: In most areas in the United States, help is only a few minutes away or your local emergency number. Even if you are not near a telephone, you can shout for help and it is likely that someone nearby will have a cell phone to call 9-1-1. Arriving EMS personnel will take over the care of the victim. If you are not sure how serious any injury or sudden illness is, call 9-1-1 anyway, and tell the dispatcher about the situation. Sometimes, the dispatchers can also advise you what care to give in case you are unaware what first aid is appropriate in this situation. - Remember your own safety: As you take a moment to asses the situation and calm yourself before acting, remember to check the scene for any dangers before going to help a victim. Avoid any temptation to act heroically if the scene is dangerous. Once you have call 9-1-1, personnel with special training and equipment will soon arrive. They can better manage the dangers of the scene. If it is safe to give first aid, remember to also take steps to protect yourself from the scene. - Act quickly: Although it is important to calm yourself and plan your actions, remember that in life-threatening emergencies, it is crucial not to delay before starting care. Call for an AED, call 9-1-1 and start CPR immediately if the victim is not breathing normally - Check the victim: Remember to first check for responsiveness, normal breathing and severe bleeding, giving care immediately for life-threatening problems. If there are no immediate threats, perform a physical examination and take the SAMPLE history. This information will help you know what first aid to give and will be valuable to responding to EMS professionals - Do no harm: Do only what you have learned to do. Trying some first aid technique you heard about somewhere can be risky, as people often are misinformed about what first aid is safe and effective. Call 9-1-1, and give basic first aid as you have learned in this course, and nothing you do will harm the victim. Recognize your limits as a lay first aider, and do not try something you have not learned to do, such as trying to rescue a victim from a hazardous situation - Ask others for help: You may be the only one at the scene of an emergency with first aid training, but bystanders often present and will help you if asked. You may need someone to keep pressure on a wound to control bleeding, such as while you are attending to another injury. Others can call 9-1-1 or bring a first aid kit or AED. Do not hesitate to ask for help

How do you stay calm during an emergency?

- Take a moment, if necessary, to gather your thoughts and emotions. - The victims and others at the scene will be reassured by your calm actions and will cope better with the situation. - Remember: You have the training and know what to do until help arrives

What should you know when you don't feel confident in your ability to do first aid?

- You should feel confident in your ability to provide first aid after completing this course - Experience has shown that even first aiders with less training than you very competently provide first aid when they encounter an emergency - If you forget minor details, following the key principles of first aid is usually sufficient to help the victim for a few minutes before emergency medical personnel arrive