Before Giving Care and Emergency Action Steps

List the 4 steps a lay responder will take in an emergency

1. recognize emergency exists

2. decide to act

3. activate EMS system

4. give care until 1 in 5 reasons to stop

list 5 reasons you would stop giving CPR

1. Scene becomes unsafe

2. EMTs arrive and take over

3. You are too exhausted to continue

4. The patient shows signs of life

5. AED has arrived

4 ways to recognize an emergency

1. unusual noises

2. unusual sights

3. unusual odors

4. unusual behaviors

4 reasons a person would not respond to someone needing help

1. scene is dangerous

2. they don’t know how

3. people assume someone else will help

4. fear of being sued

after you recognize an emergency, decide to act, and activate EMS but BEFORE you give care you must obtain:

CONSENT

if a victim refuses help, you should:

Call 911, remain present, and implied consent if they go unconsious

What are the 3 Emergency Action Steps?

Check, call, care

What is the most important step you can take to help a person who is unconscious or has some other life-threatening condition?

call 911

When you are alone, what are the three situations in which you would CALL FIRST?

child or infant collapses, unconscious adult, collapse of a child with a heart condition

when you are alone, what are the two situations in which you would CARE FIRST?

drowning victim, unwitnessed collapse of a child

6 situations where you call 911

trouble/no breathing, chest pains, poisoning, stroke, bone injury, severe burns

what are 3 situations where you move a victim?

to give appropriate care, scene is unsafe, multiple people injured

defien adult to Red Cross

12+

define child to Red Cross

1-11

infant to Red Cross

0-1

what is one of the most dangerous threats to a seriously ill or injured person?

moving the person when you don’t have to

What is shock

body fails to deliver enough oxygenated blood and nervous system goes haywire, person is unresponsive

5 signals a person is going into shock

going pale, cold temperature, altered level of consciousness, nausea/vomiting, excessive thirst

3 steps to treat/prevent shock

call 911, no food or water, provide warm or cool towels

how long can a person be without oxygen before possible brain damage occurs?

4-6 minutes

define respiratory DISTRESS

difficulty breathing

define respiratory ARREST

no breathing

5 signals somone’s in respiratory DISTRESS

wheezing/gurgling, unusual breathing speed, person is dizzy/lightheaded, pale/ashen complextion, hands to neck

2 skills used to clear obstructed airway in conscious choking for adult/child

5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts

2 skills used to clear an obstructed airway in conscious choking for infants

5 back blows and 5 2-finger pushes on center of chest (support head, neck, and spine)

3 situations where you stop giving care to conscious choking victim

EMT arrives, scene becomes unsafe, coughing/object comes out

best way to check for responsiveness in adult/child

tap-shout-tap (shoulder)

best way to check for responsiveness in infant

tap-shout-tap (feet)

What does ABC stand for

Airway, breathing, circulation

B means you look, listen, and feel for:

chest rising and falling, breathing/signs of life, airflow

an emergency involving an unconscious child is usually a

respiratory emergency

an emergency involving an unconscious adult is usually a

cardiac emergency

what is the purpose of the recovery position

they won’t choke if they vomit

4 controllable risk factors that increase the risk of heart disease

smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure

5 signals of a heart attack

chest pain, trouble breathing, sweating profusely, unexplained fatigue, pain in back, neck, arms

what common pain reliever can be given to a conscious person suffering a heart attack to reduce the effects of the attack while waiting for EMS to arrive? Why?

aspiring bc it prevents blood clotting

What is the name of the four step process that increases a victim’s chance of survival if followed?

Chain of survival

What are the 4 steps of Chain of Survival?

early recognition, early CPR/aid, early difibrilation, early advances in medical help

3 causes of cardiac arrest in children

blunt force trauma to the head, electrocution, breathing emergency

CPR stands for

Cardio Pulmonary Resusitation

2 reasons why correct hand positioning is important when performing CPR

properly help the heart beat, minimizes organ injury chances

hand position for infant CPR

thumb technique, side by side center below nipple line OR 2-finger technique while holding forhead in place

if drowning is suspected, do what

2 initial breaths first

What does AED stand for

Automated External Defibrilator

by how much is the chance of survival decreased when defibrillation is delayed?

7-10% per minute

First step in AED use?

Turn it on

placement of AED pads

upper right, lower left, victim’s view. if pads touch, place one on center of chest and other on center of back