Red Cross First Aid Final Exam

emergency medical system

network of professionals linked together to provide the best care for people in all types of emergencies

your role in the EMS system

1. recognizing that an emergency exists

2. deciding to take action

3. activating the EMS system

4. giving care until EMS take over

signs of an emergency

unusual sounds, unusual odors, unusual sights, unusual behaviors

good samaritan laws

protect the responder from financial liability, developed to encourage people to to help others in emergency situations

when to activate the EMS system

-emergency situations

-emergency conditions

consent

permission, what you must obtain before giving first aid care

to obtain consent

1. state your name

2. state the type/level of training that you have

3. explain what you think is wrong

4. explain what you plan to do

5. ask if you may help

pathogens

harmful microorganisms that can cause disease

blood borne pathogens

spread when blood from an infected person enters the bloodstream of a person who is not infected

blood borne illnesses

HIV, Hepatitis

airborne illnesses

tuberculosis

2 steps to limiting your exposure to pathogens

1. use PPE

2. wash your hands after giving care

personal protective equipment (PPE)

is equipment used to prevent pathogens from contaminating your skin, mucous membranes, or clothing

examples of PPE

latex-free disposable gloves, CPR breathing barriers (face shield/pocket mask)

the emergency action steps

CHECK, CALL, CARE

check

first check the scene, then check the person

scene size-up

-is the scene safe to enter?

-what happened?

-how many people are involved?

-what is your initial impression about the nature of the person's illness/injury?

-is anyone else available to help?

call first

-any person 12+ who is unresponsive

-a child/infant whom you witnessed suddenly collapse

-an unresponsive child or infant known to have heart problems

care first

-an unresponsive infant or child <12 yrs whom you did not see collapse

-a person who is choking

-allergic reaction and has an epinephrine auto injector

-a person who has severe, life-threatening. bleeding

SAMPLE

S= signs and symptoms

A= allergies

M= medications

P= pertinent medical history

L= last food or drink

E=events leading up to the incident

recovery position

put a person in this when they are responsive but not fully awake, helps lower risk for choking and aspiration

heart attack

occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked

signs/symptoms of heart attack

chest pain, discomfort that spreads to arms, dizziness, nausea, trouble breathing, sweating

male vs. female (heart attack)

males often experience the "classic" symptoms while females often experience milder symptoms

if you think someone is having a heart attack...

immediately call 911

cardiac arrest

occurs when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs

without oxygen, brain damage can begin

4-6 minutes

symptoms of cardiac arrest

agonal breaths

agonal breaths

isolated or infrequent gasping in the absence of normal breathing

sudden cardiac arrest

cardiac arrest without any warning signs, can appear in healthy people

cardiac chain of survival (adults)

1. recognize emergency and call 911

2. early CPR

3. early defibrillation

4. advanced life support

5. integrated post-cardiac arrest care

cardiac chain of survival (kids)

1. prevention

2. early CPR

3. early emergency care

4. pediatric advanced life support

5. integrated post-cardiac arrest care

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation, skill that is used when a person is in cardiac arrest to keep oxygenated blood moving into the brain and other vital organs until advanced medical help arrives

compression-only CPR

if you are unable to give full CPR, you give continuous chest compressions, with no rescue breaths

CPR process

30 chest compressions followed by 2 sets of rescue breaths

AED

can correct the underlying problem for some people who go into cardiac arrest

ventricular fibrillation (v-fib)

heart muscle quivers weakly (can lead to sudden cardiac arrest)

ventricular tachycardia (v-tach)

heart muscle contracts too fast (can lead to sudden cardiac arrest)

head position in CPR for adult

past-neutral

head position in CPR for child

slightly past-neutral

head position in CPR for infant

neutral

not safe to use AED

on flammable or combustible materials, in water

safe to use AED

metal surfaces, inclement weather

caring for an adult that is choking

5 back blows, 5 abdominal thrusts

caring for an infant who is choking

faced down on your knee, supporting head, 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts (with 2 fingers in the middle of the chest about 1 and 1/2 inches down)

if someone is choking and they become unresponsive

carefully lower to the ground and begin CPR , after each set of compressions and breaths, open the persons mouth and look for an object

CPR chest compression depth

adult- 2-2.4

child-1.5-2

infant-1-1.5

acute illness

an illness that strikes suddenly and usually only lasts for a short period of time

chronic illness

an illness that a person lives with on an ongoing basis that often requires continuous treatment to manage

signs/symptoms of sudden illness

trouble breathing, pain, changes in level of consciousness, fever, light-headedness, seizures

respiratory distress

difficulty breathing, evidenced by signs and symptoms such as shortness of breath, gasping for breath, hyperventilation, or breathing that is uncomfortable/painful

hyperventilation

breathing that is faster and shallower than normal

respiratory arrest

absence of breathing

cause of respiratory distress

acute flare-ups of chronic respiratory conditions or chronic pulmonary disease, pneumonia or bronchitis, severe allergic reactions, etc

asthma

chronic illness in which certain substances or conditions, called triggers, cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways making breathing difficult

2 forms of medication for asthma

1. long-term control medications

2. quick-relief (rescue) medications

asthma inhalers and nebulizers

-metered dose inhalers

-dry powder inhalers

-small-volume nebulizers

signs/symptoms of asthma attack

wheezing or coughing, rapid and shallow breathing, sweating, etc.

anaphylaxis

severe, life-threatening allergic reaction

epinephrine

a drug that slows down or stops the effects of anaphylaxis

epinephrine auto injector

a syringe system, available by prescription only, that contains a single dose of epinephrine

when to administer a second dose of epinephrine

if the person is still having signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis 5-10 minutes after administering first dose

where to inject epinephrine auto injectors

against mid-outer thigh for 5-10 seconds

antihistamines

a medication that counteracts the effects of a histamine, a chemical released by the body during an allergic reaction

diabetes

chronic condition by the body's inability to process glucose in the bloodstream

insulin

hormone that causes glucose to be moved from the bloodstream into the cells, where it is used for energy

what secretes insulin

pancreas

hypoglycemia

excessively low blood glucose levels

hyperglycemia

excessively high blood glucose levels

seizure

a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, leading to temporary and involuntary changes in body movement, function, sensation, awareness or behavior

epilepsy

a chronic seizure disorder that can often be controlled with medication

convulsions

uncontrolled body movements caused by contractions of the muscles

aura

an unusual sensation or feeling

stroke

occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted by a blood clot, resulting in death of brain cells

transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)

"mini-strokes"

signs/symptoms of stroke

trouble with speech and language, drooling or difficulty swallowing, trouble seeing, confusion, etc

"FAST" for stroke

Face

Arm

Speech

Time

shock

progressive, life-threatening condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the body's tissues and organs

signs/symptoms of shock

restlessness/irritability, altered level of consciousness, nausea or vomiting, pale/ashen/cool/moist skin, etc

internal bleeding

bleeding that occurs inside the body, into a body cavity or space

blunt trauma

caused by impact with a flat object or surface, often the cause of internal bleeding

if a person is experiencing internal bleeding...

call 911

wound

an injury that results when the skin or other tissues of the body are damaged

closed wound

surface of skin is intact

bruise (contusion)

common closed wound, usually caused by a blunt trauma

open wound

skin's surface is broken and blood may come through the tear in the skin, resulting in external bleeding

types of open wounds

abrasion, laceration, avulsion, puncture wound

when do you need stitches?

if the wound is deeper than 1/2 inch, caused by animal/human bites, bleeding heavily

dressing

a pad that is placed directly on a wound to absorb blood and other fluids, promote clotting and prevent infection

bandages

a strip of material used to hold the dressing in place and control bleeding

tourniquet

a device placed around an arm or leg to constrict blood vessels and stop blood flow to a wound

hemostatic dressing

dressing treated with a substance that speeds clot formation

burn

traumatic injury to the skin, caused by contact with extreme heat, chemicals, radiation or electricity

critical burn or not evaluation

-the depth of the burn

-% of body's surface area that is burned

-location

-age

-cause

first aid for burns

stop, cool, cover

sprain

occurs when a ligament is stretched, torn or damaged

strain

occurs when a tendon or muscle is stretched, torn or damaged

dislocation

occurs when the bones that meet at a joint move out of their normal position

fracture

complete break, chip, or crack in bone

signs/symptoms of muscle, bone, and joint injuries

broken bone protruding through skin, body part is bent or crooked, moderate or severe swelling and bruising, etc.