RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES

1. RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES

2. Recognize an emergency • Emergencies can be recognized because of unusual sights, appearances and behaviors, odors, and noises • A victim may deny anything is wrong

3. 4 Elements of Cardiac Chain Survival • Early recognition and early access • Early CPR • Early defibrillation • Early advanced life support

4. Follow the emergency action steps • Check the scene for safety • Call 911 or workplace emergency number • Care for life threatening conditions

5. Basic precautions are necessary for personal protection during emergency: • Use protective equipment (disposable gloves, breathing barriers) • Wash hands immediately after giving care (soap and warm water) • Avoid direct contact with victims blood and body fluids • Assess scene for safety hazards

6. Life threatening conditions • Unconsciousness • Persistent chest pain or discomfort • Not breathing • Absence of pulse • Severe bleeding • Seizures that last longer than 5 minutes

7. Checking an unconscious victim Tap the victim’s shoulder for response. If unresponsive, call 911 and begin the ABC’s of CPR. If the patient is breathing and has a pulse but unconscious, place the victim in the recovery position

8. Persistent chest pain or discomfort • Have the victim stop what he/she is doing and make them comfortable • Loosen tight clothing • If the patient takes medication, such as nitroglycerine, have the patient take the medication • If the pain persists, call 911

9. Not breathing or difficulty breathing • Open the airway with head tilt, chin lift, or jaw thrust method and look, listen, and feel for air movement • If no air movement, give two rescue breaths • Check for signs of circulation. If there are signs of circulation, but no breathing, give 1 breath every 5 seconds for an adult and 1 breath every 3 seconds for infant or child

10. Absence of pulse & Not breathing • Perform the ABC’s of CPR-airway, breathing, and signs of circulation • If signs of circulation are absent, find hand position on the breastbone and for an adult victim perform 15 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths, 4 cycles, and then check for signs of circulation

11. Absence of pulse & Not breathing • If the victim is an infant or child, perform chest compressions (infant 2 fingers at the nipple line on the breast bone and child heel of one hand on breast bone) at a ratio of 5 compressions to 1 breath for 20 cycles and then check for signs of circulation after a minute • Use AED if available.

12. Severe bleeding • Assess the scene and the victim • Follow standard precautions • Cover the wound with a dressing • Evaluate the injured area • Cover dressing with a roller bandage • If bleeding does not stop, use pressure point against the bone • Care for shock

13. Foreign body airway obstruction - conscious Assess the scene and the victim Identify that you can help Give abdominal thrusts to adult/child until object is expelled or victim becomes unconscious For an infant, give 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until object is expelled or infant becomes unconscious

14. Foreign body airway obstruction – unconscious Adult • Assess the scene and call 911 • Perform opening the airway and give 2 rescue breaths. • If air does not go in, reposition and try again. • If air still does not go in, give 15 chest thrusts, do tongue jaw lift for object. Then give 2 rescue breaths and begin CPR.

15. Foreign body airway obstruction – unconscious CHILD • Assess the scene and call 911 • Perform opening the airway and give a breath. • If the air does not go in, try again. • If the air still does not go in, give 5 chest thrusts, do tongue jaw lift for object. Then give 1 rescue breath and repeat cycle until victim breathes again or begin CPR.

16. Foreign body airway obstruction – unconscious INFANT • Assess the scene and call 911 • Infant-perform opening the airway and give 2 rescue breaths. • If air does not go in, reposition and try again. Then give 5 chest compressions, tongue jaw lift for object and give rescue breath. • Repeat cycle until infant breathes or begin CPR.