Chapter 3

Checking an ill or injured person

HMMM- are you ok?

Introduction

• When you reach an ill or injured person, check for life threatening injuries. In many situations, this may be obvious.

• If you are not sure is someone is unconscious, tap him or her on the shoulder and ask if they are ok.

Checking Victims

Checking a Conscious Victim

Look for signs- any observable evidence if injury and symptoms- things the victim can tell you about his/her condition.

Checking an Unconscious Victim

Check for life threatening conditions

1. Unconscious

2. No breathing

3. No pulse

4. Severe bleeding/hemorrhage

Checking a conscious person

• If you determine that an ill or injured person is conscious and has no immediate life threatening conditions, you can begin checking for other conditions.

• Interview the person• Check the person from head to toe.

Conducting Interviews

• Ask the following questions:– What happened?– Do you feel pain of

discomfort anywhere? – Do you have allergies?– Do you have any other

medical conditions?

Tapping

Mr. PondMrs. Pond

Checking head to toe

• Check the persons head- look for blood

• Look for cuts, scrapes and bruises or depressions.

• Watch for change of consciousness

• Look for changes in the persons breathing

Ouch!

AHHHHHHH

Checking Head to toe A. Keep the victim comfortable, don’t move

unless you need to B. Before you check, tell them what you are

doing C. Avoid touching or moving a painful area D. Look for signs of a serious injury E. Start at the head F. Monitor their appearance G. Ask to move body parts if you don’t

suspect a head or neck injury. H. Move one extremity at a time I. If any problems develop, stop and give

immediate care

Checking an Unconscious Person

• Always check to see if an unconscious person had the following: – Has an open Airway– Shows signs of life– Is bleeding severely

These 3 steps are known as the ABC’s

Airway, Breathing, Circulation

1. Unconsciousness- Leave the person in the position you find them. Tap and shout, if they respond, they are breathing, conscious, and have a pulse.

2. Breathing/Airway- Check the victim in the position you find them. If impossible to check for breathing, roll the victim their side as a unit-avoid twisting the spine.

To open the airway-The airway is open if the victim can cough,speak, breath.Head-Tilt and Chin-Lift to open the airway

To check for breathing- Look, listen, and feel.

If the victim is not breathing, give 2 slow breaths- enough to Make the victim’s chest gently rise.

Pulse/Heartbeat – Adult/Child The pulse is in the carotid artery on the

neck or the radial artery in the wrist. Infant- The pulse is in the brachial artery on

the inside of the elbow, midway between the shoulder and elbow.

**** Take the pulse for 5-10 seconds, if there is no pulse, begin CPR.

Normal Range for pulse- Adult 60-80 bpm Child 80-100 bpm

Severe Bleeding

Look over the body from head to toe. It usually looks worse than it is.

Checking Infants and Children (ages 0-8)

1. Observe before touching

2. If parents are there, ask them to keep them calm and ask them about medical conditions

3. Talk to the parent and explain what you are doing

Providing Care Guidelines

1. Don’t harm

2. Monitor breathing and consciousness

3. Keep them comfortable

4. Keep them from getting chilled or overheated

5. Reassure the victim

6. Provide any specific care needed

Airway

• To open and airway– use the head-tilt/chin

lift

Breathing

• To check for breathing:– Look– Listen – Feel

Circulation

• Check for a pulse in the following areas:

Circulation

• Brachial Artery- For infants

Reducing the Risks

1. Avoid contact with bodily fluids when possible

2. Place barriers such as gloves between you and the victim

3. Wash hands with soap and water

4. Do not eat, drink, or touch mouth when giving aid

5. Do not touch objects soiled in blood

6. Always have a first aid kit handy

Deciding To Transport

1. Do not transport if it will aggravate the injury

2. Try to have someone go with you to comfort them

3. Monitor the victim

4. Discourage victims from driving themselves