CERT Unit 3 notes/study guide

Disaster and medical operations part 1

3 life threatening conditions

Airway obstruction, shock, severe bleeding

Circulation shock

not getting enough blood circulation/volume

how to test for capillary relief

pinch fingertip, it should turn back to pink in 2 sec, if not (shock)

Treating shock

remove wet clothing, place barriers, blankets

Average heart rate

60-100 bpm

how many liters of blood does a person have

5 liters

safe breathing rate

>30

types of bleeding

Arterial, venous, capillary

Arterial bleeding

spurting (think slit throat) and bright red

Venous

flowing (dark red)

Capillary

oozing (think rug burns, first layer of skin is gone)

Stages of blood loss

I, II, III, IV

Stage I blood loss

blood loss less than 15%, heart rate normal, (<100) breathing rate 14-20

Stage II blood loss

blood loss 15%-40%, heart rate increased (>100), breathing rate 20-30

Stage III blood loss

30-40% blood loss, heart rate >120, breathing rate >35

Stage IV blood loss

more than 40% blood loss, heart rate<140, breathing rate >35

Biggest obstruction opening the airway

tongue

ABC’s

Airway, bleeding, circulation