AMERICAN RED CROSSADULT CPR

RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO AN

EMERGENCY

KEY POINTS

By recognizing an emergency and taking immediate action to help, you give a suddenly ill or injured person the best chance for survival

Emergencies can often be recognized because of unusual sights, appearances, behaviors, odors or noises

OVERCOMING BARRIERSTO ACT

KEY POINTS

There are many reasons why bystanders do not get involved in an emergency situation

It is normal to feel hesitant or unsure about what to do

COMMON BARRIERS

The presence of other people may lead one to assume that someone else will get involved

Uncertainty about the person’s condition. Type of injury or illness. Fear of catching a disease. Fear of doing something wrong Fear of being sued Being unsure of when to call 9-1-1

Ways to overcomingbarriers to act

Getting trained in first aid, CPR or AED Training to develop the confidence to act,

which enables you to take charge until more advanced help arrives

Avoiding contact with blood or body fluids by using protective barriers and following standard precautions.

Being familiar with Good Samaritan laws and obtaining consent

GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS

GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS

All states have enacted Good Samaritan Laws to protect people who voluntarily give emergency care, without accepting anything in return.

GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS

These laws may protect you from legal liability as long as you – Act in good faith Are not deliberately negligent or reckless Act within the scope of your training Not abandon the person after starting to

give care

OBTAINING CONSENT

OBTAINING CONSENT

You must obtain permission (consent) to help an ill or injured person.

If a person refuses care, at least call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

OBTAINING CONSENT

A person who is unconscious, confused or seriously ill may not be able to grant consent. In such cases, consent is implied. Implied consent means that a person would agree to the care if he or she could.

OBTAINING CONSENT

If the person is a minor, get consent from a parent or guardian, if present; otherwise, consent is implied. Be sure to notify a parent or guardian as soon as possible.

Implied consent for a child in a life-threatening situation means that the parent or guardian would agree for care to be given.

OBTAINING CONSENT

To obtain consent – State your name Tell the person you are trained in first

aid. Ask the person if you can help. Explain what you think may be wrong. Explain what you plan to do.

EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

KEY POINTS Always follow the emergency action

steps: CHECK – CALL – CARE in any emergency:

CHECK the scene for safety and then CHECK the person for life-threatening conditions.

CALL 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

CARE for the ill or injured person.

KEY POINTS

If you are alone, you must decide to

Call First or

Care First

KEY POINTS Call first situations are likely to be

cardiac emergencies. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency

number before giving care for- An unconscious adult or adolescent age

12 or older A witnessed sudden collapse of a child or

infant. An unconscious infant or child known to

be at high risk for heart problems

KEY POINTS

Care First situations are likely to be related to breathing emergencies.

Care first (give 2 minutes of care, then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number) for An unwitnessed collapse of an

unconscious person younger than age 12.

Any victim of a drowning.

MOVING AN ILLOR INJURED PERSON

Usually, when you give first aid, you will not have to face hazards that require moving the person immediately.

Moving a person can lead to further injury. You should move a person only when you can do so safely and when there is an immediate danger.

CHECKING ACONSCIOUS ADULT

KEY POINTS

For purposes of first aid care, an “adult” is defined as someone who is about 12 years of age or older.

After checking the scene, you should check first for life-threatening conditions. Some conditions may become life-

threatening if not recognized and cared for early.

KEY POINTS

Obtain consent to give care A head-to-toe examination should be

done to check the conscious adult. Care for the person based on the

conditions found. Take steps to minimize shock

RECOGNIZING AND CARING FOR SHOCK

KEY POINTS Shock is a life-threatening condition in

which not enough blood is being delivered to all parts of the body and can result from injury or illness

Shock is likely to develop after any serious injury or illness including severe bleeding, serious internal injury, significant fluid loss or other conditions

KEY POINTS

A person showing signals of shock needs immediate medical attention Restlessness or irritability Altered level of consciousness Nausea or vomiting Pale, ashen, cool, moist skin Rapid breathing Excessive thirst

KEY POINTS Caring for shock includes

Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.

Have the person lie down Elevate the person’s legs about 12 inches unless

you suspect head, neck or back injuries or possible broken bones of the hips or legs.

Control any bleeding Keep the person from getting chilled or

overheated

CHECKING AN UNCONSCIOUS ADULT

KEY POINTS

First, check to make sure the scene is safe

Check the person for life-threatening conditions using the “ABCs.” A – Airway B – Breathing C - Circulation

KEY POINTS

Life-threatening Conditions Unconscious Not breathing or difficulty breathing Choking Persistent chest pain No signs of life Severe bleeding or burns Shock

BREATHING EMERGENCIES

BREATHING EMERGENCIES

A breathing emergency occurs when a person is having trouble breathing (respiratory distress) or is not breathing at all (respiratory arrest).

Breathing emergencies can be caused by injury, illness or disease

KEY POINTS Choking is a breathing emergency

that can lead to death A person’s airway can be partially or

completely obstructed. A person with a partial airway

obstruction can still move air to and from the lungs, so he or she can cough in an attempt to dislodge the object

KEY POINTS

A person with a complete airway obstruction is unable to cough, speak or breath.

A person who is choking will clutch his or her throat in a gesture known as the universal sign of choking

Key Points

New method is 5 back blows (to the middle of the shoulder blades) and 5 abdominal thrusts

CARDIAC EMERGENCIES

CARDIAC CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alone is not enough to help someone survive a cardiac arrest. Advanced medical care is needed as soon as possible. This is why it is so important to call 9-1-1 immediately

CARDIAC CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

The greatest chance of survival from cardiac arrest occurs when:

1. Early recognition and early access. The sooner 9-1-1 is called, the sooner early advanced medical care arrives.

2. Early CPR. CPR helps circulate blood containing oxygen to the vital organs until an AED is ready to use or advanced medical personnel arrive.

CARDIAC CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

3. Early Defibrillation. Most victims of sudden cardiac arrest need an electrical shock (defibrillation). Each minute that defibrillation is delayed reduces the chance of survival by about 10 percent.

CARDIAC CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

4. Early advanced medical care. This is given by trained medical personnel who give further medical care and transport the victim of cardiac arrest to a hospital.

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

KEY POINTS

If a person is in cardiac arrest, he or she is unconscious, not breathing and shows no other signs of life.

CPR can help circulate blood that contains oxygen to vital organs by a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

KEY POINTS Place overlapping hands in center of chest

on the lower half of the sternum. While keeping elbows straight, compress

chest 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Breathe until the chest rises (about 1

second per breath. Perform cycles of 30 compressions (18

seconds or 100/minute) and 2 breaths.

UNCONSCIOUS CHOKING

KEY POINTS If you attempt rescue breaths but are

unable to make the chest clearly rise, you must act quickly to get air into the person.

Care for an unconscious choking adult is very similar to adult CPR with the exception that you look for a foreign object between compressions and breaths.

Chest compressions are used to help force air from the person’s lungs to dislodge the object.