First Aid for Recert

Asthma

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a bystander/lifeguard for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting

Treatment:

• Sit the victim up, leaning forward slightly.

• Help them take their prescribed asthma medication immediately

• Encourage them to use pursed-lip breathing.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Call EMS if there is no improvement or the situation worsens.

Chest Pains

Minor (maybe major)

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if suspicious of major emergency (heart attack/angina)

• Place the victim in a comfortable position (semi-sit).

• Have victim take prescribed medication if available

• Encourage slow, deep, controlled breaths.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Call EMS if there is no improvement or the situation worsens.

Hyperventilation & other respiratory diseases

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting

Treatment:

• Assist or encourage pursed-lip breathing.

• Treat for shock (WARTS)

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Call EMS if there is no improvement or the situation worsens.

Hypoglycemia (food/fluids available)

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting

Treatment:

• Help them self-administer prescribed medication and/or sugar

• Treat for shock (WARTS)

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Call EMS if there is no improvement or the situation worsens.

Nausea/Vomitting

Minor, assuming no pool fouling

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Place sitting upright, leaning forward.

• If consciousness drops: Roll immediately to side (recovery position).

• Offer water to rinse and spit only (do not swallow).

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Call EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Heat Exhaustion (Fluids Available)

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Remove the victim from the hot environment.

• If the victim is alert and nausea is not a problem, give him or her cool water or a sports drink (e.g., Gatorade) if available.

• Advise the victim to eat well to restore the depleted body salt.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

First/Second Degree Burns

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Flush the burned area with cool, clean water (not ice).

• Repeat flushing until the heat in the affected area has subsided.

• For Second-Degree only: Apply a dry sterile dressing to the wound. If hands or feet are affected, separate fingers or toes with dressings.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

• Contact EMS if the burned area is large, the face and neck are affected, or the victim is a small child.

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Third Degree Burns

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Flush the burned area with cool, clean water (not ice).

• Repeat flushing until the heat in the affected area has subsided.

• Apply a dry sterile dressing to the wound. If hands or feet are affected, separate fingers or toes with dressings.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Distressed Non-Swimmer

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check.

Hello/Help: Call out to the victim to reassure them as you enter, bring them to land.

ACBCS: Perform a quick visual check during your approach. Once on deck, verify clear Airway and normal Breathing.

Treatment:

• Approach safely.

• Push the rescue tube directly into their chest/arms so they climb onto it.

• Tow them to the wall and assist them out of the water.

• Treat for shock (WARTS)

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Minor Bleeds

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Apply direct pressure with gauze

• Flush with clean water.

• Apply a sterile dressing

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Heat Cramp

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Remove the victim from the hot environment.

• Give the victim cool water or a sport drink (e.g., Gatorade) if available.

• Stretch the cramp.

• Advise the victim to eat well to restore the depleted body salt.

• Treat for shock.

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Muscle Cramp

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Stretch & massage the muscle

• Apply mild heat (warm shower or warm, wet cloth).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Sprain

Minor (maybe major?)

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if suspicious of fracture, or victim cannot bear weight.

• RICE:

  • Rest the injured part.

  • Immobilize the injured part in a comfortable position

  • Cold. Ice the injured part for 10-15 minutes every hour until the swelling subsides.

  • Elevate the injured part to help control swelling

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Nose Bleed

Minor

Scene/Safety: Scene/safety check, put on gloves.

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, get consent, and send a lifeguard/bystander for a First Aid kit.

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, and Sorting.

Treatment:

• Pinch the nose where the soft nostril meets cartilage.

• Tilt head slightly forward

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain position. Contact EMS if no improvement or situation worsens.

Anaphylaxis

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS - Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Help victim take prescribed medication.

• If symptoms do not improve, take a second dose after 5 minutes

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Seizure

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Do not place anything in the victim’s teeth

• In Water:

  • Get head out of water

  • Once seizure ends, get victim out of water

• On Land

  • Clear surrounding area of objects

• Assess for injuries

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Stroke

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Have victim sit down in semi-sit

• FAST to assess

  • Face drooping

  • Arms weaker

  • Speech slurred

  • Time to call EMS

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Airway Obstruction

Minor (maybe major)

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Mild:

  • Encourage Coughing

• Severe:

  • Call EMS

  • Adults & Children: 5 Abdominal Thrusts, 5 Back Blows

  • Infants: 5 Back blows, 5 chest thrusts

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Aspiration

Minor

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Encourage coughing

• Advise victim to seek medical help if breathing difficulties occur within 72 hours

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Angina & Heart attack

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Place the victim in a comfortable position (semi-sit).

• Have victim take prescribed medication if available (likely if angina)

• Encourage slow, deep, controlled breaths.

• Treat for shock (WARTS).

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Cardiac Arrest

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Initiate CPR

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Severe External Bleeding

Major/Minor

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if there is a lot of blood loss or bleeding cannot be controlled

• Two P’s:

  • Position: Have victim lay down

  • Pressure: Apply direct pressure with bandage

• Treat for shock

• If bleeding is life-threatening and direct pressure won’t stop it, apply tourniquet

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Internal Abdominal Bleeding

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Have victim in comfortable position

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Head Injury

Minor/Major

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Call EMS if unsure of severity

• Immobilize head & neck

• Treat area of trauma (any bleeding, etc)

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Spinal Injury

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Immobilize head & neck

• Maintain an open airway with jaw thrust technique

• Get victim on spinal board

• Once on land, begin CPR if non-breathing

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Embedded Object (not in eye)

Major'

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Stabilize object with bandages

• If superficial, remove with tweezers and treat wound

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Bites

Minor/Major

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if bite is severe/life threatening

• Control bleeding

• Advise victim to seek medical assistance for immunization and infection

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Eye Injury

Minor/Major

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if object is embedded in eye, or if vision is affected

• If chemicals, flush with water for 15-20 minutes

• If embedded object, stabilize and do not remove. Flush with water

• Bandage injured eye with patch bandage and secure it

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Fainting

Minor/Major

Scene/Safety Check: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check Airway, Cervical, Breathing, Circulation, Sorting

Treatment:

• Contact EMS if the victim does not recover after 2 minutes

• Attempt to reassure victim

• Re-assess victim’s primary, begin CPR if needed

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment is working, complete secondary assessment.

Stabilize: Maintain their position. Contact EMS if there is no improvement or situation worsens.

Heat stroke

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Remove victim from hot environment

• Cool victim’s body. If alert, guide them to sit near pool (not in deep water)

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Closed Fracture

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• RICE

  • Rest injured area

  • Immobilize injured area

  • Cold - apply ice to injured area for 10-15 minutes every hour

  • Elevate injured area

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Open Fracture

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Rest injured area

• Stabilize injured area

• Apply ice to injured area (not the wound) for 10-15 minutes every hour

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.

Dislocation

Major

Scene/Safety: Scene/Safety check, put on gloves

Hello/Help: Clear the pool, call EMS, introduce yourself, ask for consent, call a lifeguard/bystander for a first aid kit

ACBCS: Check airway, cervical, breathing, circulation, sorting

Treatment:

• Rest injured area

• Stabilize injured area with a sling (do not force if uncomfortable for victim)

• Apply ice to wound for 10-15 minutes every hour

• Treat for shock

Evaluate: Assess if the treatment if working, complete secondary assessment
Stabilize: Maintain position until EMS arrives.