Moving And Rescuing Victims

1. Moving And Rescuing Victims • P.120-122 previously covered • Start with Multiple Victims p.122

2. Triage (Multiple Victims) • To sort or prioritize victims • Goal: greatest good for the greatest number of victims • Survey the scene • Call EMS • Decide who is to be cared for and transported first

3. Triage: Classifying Victims • 1st Priority: Critical – cannot wait for help • 2nd Priority: Serious – injuries that need care very soon • 3rd Priority: Stable – minor injuries and can walk • 4th Priority: Dead and those who cannot be saved

4. A brick surface near the top of Twin Towers has fallen and many students have been injured. You have surveyed the scene and called 911. Now, what should you do?

5. What To Do? • You are the “take charge” person • Recruit the help of bystanders • Tell all who can “get up and walk” to move to a designated location • Go to 1st priority victims firstCONTROVERSIAL (move rapidly – no more than 60 seconds per person) • Re-assess victims regularly • Organized chaos

6. Emergency Moves • Pull victim in direction of long axis • Tug on clothing in the neck and shoulder area • Pull victim onto a blanket, then drag blanket • Consider your strength, protect back, remain stable

7. Drowning Prevention • Wear life vests • Make wise decisions around water • Never swim alone • Know your capabilities • Know the body of water

8. Drowning Prevention #2 • Keep pools fenced • Gates locked • Monitor small children

9. Someone is in obvious trouble in a nearby body of water. What would you do? • Reach • Wade • Throw • Row • Go

10. Reach and/or Wade • Reach • Simplest way to rescue • Safest • Secure your footing or have a bystander grab your belt or pants • Reach out to the victim with a gaff, pole, stick, ladder or other object • Wade • Wade out into shallow water to aid in the “reach” process

11. Throw and Row • Throw • Throw anything that floats • (Hopefully you have a rope to tie to the thrown object) • Row • Sailboard, boogie board, rowboat, canoe, ski, or other • Requires skill • Is safer than a swimming rescue • Pull victim in over the back of the boat, never the side

12. Go • Swimming rescue • Difficult and hazardous • Requires skill, training, excellent physical condition • Victim and rescuer often die

13. Now that the victim is rescued, what should you do? • If victim was diving, suspect spinal cord injury • Keep victim “in-line” floating unless CPR is required • Check ABC’s – not breathing? Give CPR • All drowning victims should be seen by a physician

14. Cold Water Immersion may lead to Hypothermia (70 degree water or less) • Heat loss in 25 times faster in water than exposure to cold air • Titanic deaths primarily due to hypothermia • (2 hours before help arrived) • Should you swim or tread water or huddle (p.417)? • First aid? Same as for drowning victims EXCEPT: Continue CPR longer than 30 minutes

15. After The Rescue • Protect yourself and the victim from cold • Dry clothing • Give CPR if necessary • Do not start CPR if submerged > 60 minutes • All rescued victims should be seen by a physician

16. Ice Rescue: High Risk • Extend a pole or floatable object with a rope attached • Form human chain?? • Lie flat, push a ladder, plank, or tire (secured with a rope) out ahead of yourself • Stay off frozen bodies of water

17. At The Beach • Watch for posted warning flags • Rip tide • Undertow

18. Confined Spaces • Tanks • Vats • Silos • Bins • Trenches • Pits

19. Confined Spaces: What To Do • Immediately call for help • Try to rescue without entering the space • If space must be entered, allow trained and equipped rescuers to enter (harnesses) • Give first aid, rescue breathing, CPR