First aid flashcards

What is the role of a lay responder

Recognize an emergency, decide to act, activate EMS (call 911), and give care until professional help arrives.

What is the role of EMTs?

Provide advanced pre-hospital medical care, stabilize, and transport patients to medical facilities.

What are the emergency action steps?

Check (the scene), Call (911), Care (for the person).

What is the purpose of checking the scene?

To ensure safety for yourself, the injured/ill person, and bystanders; to determine the nature of the emergency.

What are the life threatening conditions?-

Unconsciousness, not breathing/difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, signs of shock.

What information should you give to the 911 dispatcher?-

Exact location, type of emergency, number of people involved, condition of victim(s), your name and phone number.

What are the care first and call first situations?-

Unconscious infant/child, choking, allergic reaction, severe bleeding & Unconscious adult/adolescent, sudden collapse, suspected cardiac arrest.

What are the barriers to action?-

Fear of doing something wrong, fear of disease transmission, fear of being sued, panic/disgust, assuming someone else will help.

What is PPE and why would you use it?

Personal Protective Equipment (e.g., gloves, masks) used to protect responders from infection and injury by preventing pathogen transmission.

Explain the proper method of washing hands.

Wet hands, apply soap, lather for ≥20 seconds (front/back/between fingers/under nails), rinse, dry with clean towel.

How would you obtain consent before giving care?

Identify yourself, state your training, explain what you plan to do, and ask if you can help.

Explain the Good Samaritan Laws

Laws that protect people who voluntarily give reasonable aid to others in an emergency, in good faith, without expecting payment, within their scope of training.

What is SAMPLE?

Acronym for patient assessment: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent medical history, Last food/drink, Events leading to the incident.

Under what conditions should you move an injured or ill person?

Only if the scene is unsafe, to reach another person with more serious injuries, or to provide proper care

If you need to move a person, what are the guidelines and limitations to consider?

Consider victim's size/weight, your ability, distance to move, available help. Avoid twisting or bending the victim's body.

anatomical positions and locations?

Standard body reference points (e.g., anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, medial, lateral, proximal, distal) used for descriptive accuracy.

How would you determine if a person is conscious?

Tap an adult's shoulder and shout "Are you okay?"; for an infant, gently tap their foot or shoulder.

After you have determined someone is unconscious, what would you do?

Call 911 immediately, open the airway, check for breathing (5-10 seconds), and begin appropriate care based on findings

After gaining consent, before you check a person, what should you do?

For conscious: Ask "What happened?" and use SAMPLE. For unconscious: Ensure airway, breathing, and look for obvious severe bleeding.

What are the differences in checking a child versus checking an adult?

Prioritize breathing emergencies; explain in simple terms, obtain parental consent if possible, often start head-to-toe if conscious & Obtain direct consent, start head-to-toe.

What are the differences in checking a conscious vs unconscious person

Get consent, ask questions (SAMPLE), perform head-to-toe check & Call 911, ensure open airway, check breathing, look for obvious life-threatening injuries while minimizing movement.

What are the body cavities and the important organs housed in each?

Spaces within the body that contain and protect internal organs. Examples: Cranial (brain), Thoracic (heart, lungs), Abdominal (digestive organs), Pelvic (reproductive, urinary organs).

What are the body systems and the purpose of each?

Groups of organs working together for specific functions. Examples: Circulatory (transports blood), Respiratory (gas exchange), Nervous (control and communication).

Flexion

describes a flexing or bending movement

Extension

describes a straightening movement

Hyper

prefix to describe “movement beyond the normal position”

Anatomical Position

where a person stands upright with feet together, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Supine position

is when a person lies flat on their back with face up.

Prone Position

the body is lying face down.

Right and Left Later Recumbent Position

is when a person lies on their side, with their legs straight or slightly bent, and body supported by the lateral surfaces.

Fowler’s Position

is a seated position where the person is tilted back at a 45 to 60-degree angle, often used to aid breathing.

Cranial Cavity

The space within the skull that houses the brain and protects it

Spinal Cavity

The space within the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord, providing support and protection for the nervous system

Thoracic Cavity

The chamber within the chest that contains the lungs and heart and is involved in respiration and circulation

Abdominal Cavity

contains digestive organs such as the stomach, intestines, and liver, playing a crucial role in digestion and metabolism.

Pelvic Cavity

contains the bladder, reproductive organs, and portions of the intestines, involved in bodily functions such as urination and reproduction.

Brain, heart, and lungs

What are the vital organs that are essential for life?

The lower airway

Consists of the trachea, bronchi, lungs, bronchioles, and alveoli

External respiration

The process of moving air in and out of the lungs

The Circulatory system

Consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels and responsible for delivering oxygen, nutrients, and other essential elements to the body's cells and removing waste products.

Red blood cells

are specialized cells in the blood that transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation.

White blood cells

are immune system cells that help protect the body against infections and foreign invaders.

Platelets

are small cell fragments in the blood that play a crucial role in blood clotting and wound healing by aggregating at injury sites.

Plasma

is the yellowish liquid component of blood that carries cells, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood away from the heart to various parts of the body.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels in the body, where the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues.

Blood pressure

A result of the force of blood flowing through the arteries

Left ventricle

The heart chamber responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body.

Nervous system

The most complex and delicate of all body systems

Brain

Center of the nervous system and regulates all body functions

Primary functions of the brain

Sensory functions, motor functions, and integrated functions of consciousness, memory, emotions, and language

Integumentary system

The organ system that protects the body from external damage, regulates temperature, and includes skin, hair, and nails, sweat glands, and oil glands

Endocrine system

One of the regulatory systems and consists of ductless glands. They secrete hormones that enter the bloodstream and influence activity in different parts of the body.

Digestive system

The organ system responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste. It includes the mouth, stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas.

Genitourinary system

The organ system responsible for producing and transporting urine and reproductive functions. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and reproductive organs.