Post 53: Units 1-3: Introduction and Steps to Take Before Helping

What is First Aid? (the definition)

There is an immediate need to care for victims of an injury or sudden illness.

Role of the First Aid Provider(5)

RDBGD
Recognize the emergency
Decide to help
Before helping, take the appropriate actions
Determine the issue
Give first aid

Some First Aid Supplies

Gauze, tweezers, bandages, instant cold pack, elastic bandages, emergency blanket, adhesive tape, thermometer, antiseptic wipes, gloves, First Aid manual, safety pins, triangular bandages, scissors, emergency contact info/medical info for family members.

Good Samaritan Law

This law protects people who try to help other people in emergencies as long as there is good intent.

Consent

You must ask for consent before performing first aid on the victim. If they say no or their legal parental guardian says no, you cannot help them. 2 types.

Abandoment

Once you start caring for them, you can't stop or leave (if you're a doctor and let a nurse take over, you'll get in trouble because they have less knowledge)

Negligence

Failure to take proper care of the victim and possibly causing them further damage

Prevention Practices (things to prevent emergencies)

EEE
Education (swim lessons), Enforcement (seat belt laws), and Engineering (air bags)

Bystanders help connect…

the victim to EMS and professional help. Can call 911 or can help with CPR.

When you are deciding to act…

Size up the scene first

When communicating with the patient, you should…(4)

Use their first name while talking to them
Avoid being negative
Don't ask questions unless it's helpful to the First Aid
Be realistic, but positive

Dial 911 when in…

Serious situations

911 Dispatcher will ask for…(5)

Your name and number
Victims location
What happened
Number of victims
Victims condition

While on a call with a 911 dispatcher…

Do not hang up unless told to (Note: if you don't know what to do in the situation, describe it to the dispatcher and they'll tell you what to do)

Safety against diseases

You should be aware of the risk and you should use gloves and masks according to the disease

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment, used for BSI to prevent disease transmission.

After helping the victim…

Wash your hands (it's the most effective way to stay safe)

BSI

Body substance isolation

How to take off your gloves:

Pinch the middle of one glove and pull it off, then use two fingers to pull off the other one from the inside

Cleaning a blood spill(5)

Wear PPE
Wipe up the blood with a paper towel
Spray the are with 1 part of liquid bleach and 9 parts of water. Let the area air dry and dispose of all the objects in the biohazard bag
Wash your hands.

Things to check when sizing up the scene(6)

Check the scene safety, number of victims, is it a injury or illness, potential dangers, and bystanders (Will professional care be needed?)

How to position the victim if they're responsive

Put them in a comfortable position or on their back

How to position the victim if they're unresponsive/vomiting

Put them in the recovery position. Position them on their back with the arm facing you at 90 degrees. Then position the opposite leg also at 90 degrees. Rotate them to the side with the leg stopping the person from rolling onto their stomach. Rest their cheek on their other hand that is not at 90 degrees. This is used because it keeps the airway open and prevents any choking on vomit.

When to lay the victim on their side

If they are throwing up or there is anything coming out of their mouth

Things to do in your Secondary Check(3)

Do a physical check by looking and feeling for any abnormalities:
Use DOTS
Gather their info:
Use SAMPLE
Look for medical information tags:
Neck and Wrist

What is DOTS and when do I when do I use it?

Deformity (eg. broken bone sticking out)
Open wounds (eg. a big cut)
Tenderness (pressing a bruise is an example of this)
Swelling (eg. a swollen finger)

We use it to perform a physical check during our secondary check of the patient. We look from head to toe looking for such physical aspects, and can ask bystanders or the victim for any insight.

What is SAMPLE and when do we use it?

Signs/symptoms (eg. dizziness/fever)
Allergies (eg. nuts)
Medications (eg. Ozempic)
Past medical history (eg. Knee surgery a few years ago)
Last oral intake (eg. A bacon egg and cheese with a coffee)
Events leading to the injury/illness (eg. mountain biking)

We use it to gather information during our secondary check. Ask the patient or any bystanders about the information on the acronym.

When doing a secondary check, make sure to look out for…

any medical bracelets or necklaces that shows medical illnesses

While waiting for the EMT, you should…

Recheck the victims condition
Record any changes in the victims condition
Report any and every finding to EMS and to the 911 dispatcher if possible

When the patient is unresponsive, you should check their condition every…

Five minutes

When the patient is talking and more responsive, you should check their condition every…

10 to 15 minutes

ABC's

Airway
Breathing
Circulation

Used in your primary check.

If you see the emergency…

you call 911

Signs are…

on the outside(fever)

Symptoms are…

on the inside(headache)

An injury is…

physical harm or damage to someone's body caused by an accident or an attack

Blood Borne

Diseases that can be transmitted through blood(HIV)

Airborne

Diseases that can be transmitted through air(tuberculosis)

An illness is…

a disease, sickness

Some signs of shock

Bluish tinge to lips or fingernails, rapid pulse, possible shaking, enlarged pupils, rapid breathing

The Injury Pyramid

Lowest-Least severe, most common
Highest-Most severe, least common

Lowest-Highest
First Aid, ER/Ambulance, Hospitalization, Death
Examples
Scraping your knee, breaking your arm, having cancer, a car crash

Before you help you should…

size up the scene
ask for consent to help
call 911 if you need to
use proper protection to prevent diseases (gloves)

You can size up the scene by…(5)

checking the hazards
checking what happened
number of victims
first impression of the problem
taking note of any bystanders

How to decide to help(6)

Understand the importance of helping an injured or suddenly ill person
Feel confident about helping
Be willing to help
Be able to put the risks to be in perspective
Feel comfortable taking charge
Feel comfortable about seeing a person who is bleeding, vomiting, who appears dead.

What is the duty to act?

You have a moral duty to provide treatment, however, less extensive in the US. (Lay rescuers aren't required).

First Aid Competencies(3)

Recognizing, assessing, and prioritizing the need for first aid
Providing care by using appropriate knowledge, skills, and behaviors
Recognizing limitations and seeking additional care when needed

You should give First Aid until…(3)

EMS takes over
You take the person to a medical facility
It is determined that the victim only needs First Aid and care.

Factors that help you recognize the emergency(5)

Severity of the condition
How close you are to the scene/time you were at the scene
Peoples appearances
Previously knowing people
Scene conditions(use your senses)

Excuses people use not to help(2)

It could be harmful to me(I could get hurt)
There are obstacles in the way(I'm not skilled enough)

Appropriate actions to take previous to helping(3)

Size up the scene
Ask for consent
Protect from disease transmission

Primary Check

Check for responsiveness, breathing, and
severe bleeding

How do you check the patients breathing?(3)

Look-Face and Chest, can you see nostrils moving and chest compressing?
Listen-Can you hear them inhale and exhale, any abnormal breathing sounds?
Feel-Can you feel their chest rise?

Check at the same time as responsiveness.

What differentiates First Aid from medical treatment?(5)

Usually administered at the place of injury
Generally consists of short-term or 1-time treatment
Very simple with little need for tech
Can be administered with little training beyond First Aid and can be administered by the victim themself
Usually just to keep the injury/condition from worsening.

True or False: First Aid Replaces the need for medical care

False

Reasons why First Aid is important.(2)

You are likely to be faced with a decision where you would need to help in an emergency someday.
It is better to know it and not need it than need it and not know it.

How to identify a medical information tag.

Look for an asterisk-like shape with a snake or a cane with a snake. It can also be said medical alert. Can be a necklace, bracelet, or even a tattoo.

What is a medical information tag?

They are tags that can be used to identify allergies, medications, or medical conditions. Used to show EMS certain needs.

What classifies as severe bleeding?

Arterial Bleeding- Spurting blood, needs a tourniquet

Big gashes, not spewing but could result in massive blood loss.

If a person is responsive after your primary check, how do you proceed?

Determine their mental statues(orientation)

How do you check a person's responsiveness?

Tap and shout to them.

What to do if the condition is life-threatening.

Call 911 and stop whatever you are doing to stop the life-threatening problem.

True or False, medical exam gloves should only be used as a last resort

False, use whenever possible

Some examples of PPE

gloves, gowns, lab coats, face masks, face shields, eye protection, mouth pieces, resuscitation bags, pocket masks or other ventilation devices.

Ways to protect yourself from disease transmission.(3)

Get the Hepatitis B vaccine
Wear PPE
Wash hands

Number to call in US communities for EMS

911

What should you do first in serious situations.

Call 911 or have a bystander call

True or False: Communication is KEY

True

Standard of Care

The level of care required of a First Aid provider. Eg. a First Aid provider cannot provide the same level of care as an EMT.

DO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOUR TRAINING AND DO IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY

What is implied consent?

Patient is unable to give consent, so the law assumes that the patient would accept care and transport if they could. For example, if the patient is unconscious, they give implied consent so you may apply First Aid to them.

What is informed consent?

Explicitly asking for consent by saying, "I'm trained in First Aid, may I help you?". If they nod or say yes, then they give consent. If the patient is unconscious and legal guardian says no, they speak for the patient.