First Aid Duties, Roles, Ethics, and Legality

Comprehensive question-and-answer flashcards covering key steps, ethics, legal rules, consent, duty to act, and Good Samaritan protection from PED 203 lecture notes.

What is the definition of First Aid?

The immediate care that you give a person with an illness or injury before more advanced training arrives and takes over.

Who can initiate First Aid, and in what situations?

First aid can be initiated by anyone in any situation.

What are three examples of situations where First Aid is provided?

Providing aid for a heart attack, bandaging severe bleeding, or giving epinephrine for a severe allergic reaction.

What are the three primary steps in the order of priority for First Aid?

1. Assess the scene of emergency (PPE); 2. Immediately call for help; 3. Assess the injury.

What five questions should you keep in mind when assessing an emergency scene?

Is there danger for you or the ill or injured person? Are others around to help? Who is ill or injured? Can you tell how many people are hurt and what happened? Where are you?

When is it permissible to move an injured person?

Only if they are in danger or if you need to move them to safely provide first aid or CPR.

What does the acronym PPE stand for in First Aid?

Personal Protective Equipment.

How do you check if an ill or injured person is responsive?

Tap the individual and loudly ask if they are OK to see if they move, speak, blink, or otherwise react.

How is an unresponsive person defined?

Someone who does not move, speak, blink, or otherwise react.

What key items should you check when assessing a person's injury?

Check if it is life-threatening, check responsiveness, check breathing, check for bleeding, and check for medical information jewelry.

What are examples of serious conditions that require calling 911 immediately?

Unresponsiveness, chest discomfort signaling a heart attack, signs of stroke, breathing problems, severe injury/bleeding/burn, seizure, inability to move a body part, electric shock, or poison exposure.

What does EMS stand for and how is it activated?

EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services, which is a network of emergency responders activated by calling 911.

What tasks should you assign to bystanders if other people are present at an emergency scene?

Give them clear directions to immediately call 911, get a first aid kit and AED, and meet the paramedics to lead them to the scene.

What should you do if you are alone when responding to an emergency?

Shout for help, call 911 yourself, put the phone on speaker to listen to instructions from an emergency dispatcher, and stay with the individual until EMS arrives.

What specific internal phone number is provided in the lecture notes for notifying on-site emergency responders at work?

$$(934)\text{-}420\text{-}2111$$

What ethical practice must a first aid provider perform before touching a person?

Introduce yourself as a first aid provider and ask if you may help.

What should you do if a conscious person refuses first aid?

Phone 911 and stay with the person until help arrives.

When is consent implied for a victim?

Consent is implied if the victim is unconscious, or if the person is confused and cannot answer.

What rule governs consent for children receiving First Aid?

Parental consent is required for children EXCEPT when first aid is necessary to maintain life.

What is Duty to Act under normal circumstances, and what are its exceptions?

No one is required to render first aid under normal circumstances. Exceptions include a job requirement or a presumed responsibility for another person's safety.

Under what three conditions can a first aid provider legally stop providing care after starting?

1. The victim no longer requires attention; 2. A higher level first responder takes over; 3. The provider is physically unable to continue care.

What is the purpose of Good Samaritan laws?

To provide legal protection for people who offer first aid and help others.

What two key requirements must a responder meet to be protected by Good Samaritan laws?

They must not cause deliberate harm to the victim, and the level of care provided must match that of a reasonable person with the same training in the same circumstance.