If Not You ……Who??

1. If Not You ……Who?? Part 1: Chapter 1

2. What is an Emergency??? • Emergency – a situation demanding immediate action • First Aid - the immediate care given to a victim of injury or illness until help arrives

3. 6 Links of the Survival Chain • EMT & Paramedics • Citizen Responders • First Responders • Hospital care • EMS Dispatcher • Rehabilitation

4. Who are they Anyway?? Citizen Responder (YOU!) EMS Dispatcher • Most important link of EMS; recognizes emergency & decides to help • Who you call to determine what additional help to send. Also provide instructions for assistance.

5. First Responders • First Person to arrive on the scene to provide higher level of medical care. Provide critical transition between citizen responder & advanced EMS. Example- Firefighter/Police

6. Provide more advanced care & life saving techniques. *Paramedic- Highly specialized EMT’s who can also administer medications & IV’s. EMT & Paramedics

7. Hospital Care Givers & Rehabilitation Hospital Care Givers Rehabilitation • This care begins once the victim enters the hospital. They are usually doctors, nurses & therapists. • Their goal is to return the victim to his/her previous state of health. Usually they are physical or occupational therapists & athletic trainers.

8. Types of Emergencies Sudden Illness: Injury: • A physical condition that requires immediate medical attention • Damage to the body from an external force • Broken leg

9. Emergencies Life-Threatening Non-Life-Threatening • Impairs the victims ability to circulate oxygenated blood to all the parts of his or her body • A situation where that does not have an immediate impact on a victims ability to circulate oxygenated blood around their body

10. Recognizing Emergencies

11. Emergencies Noises Sights • Screams, yells, moans or calls for help • Breaking glass, crashing metal, screeching tires • Sudden, loud or unidentifiable sounds, unusual silence • Stopped vehicle on the roadside • Broken glass • Overturned pot in kitchen • Spilled medicine container • Downed electrical wires • Sparks, smoke or fire

12. Other Emergencies Odors Unusual Appearance & Behavior • Stronger than usual • Gas, smoke • Unrecognizable odors • Maybe poisonous • Inappropriate odors • Unconsciousness • Confused or unusual behavior • Trouble breathing • Clutching chest or throat • Slurred, confused or hesitant speech • Unexplainable confusion or drowsiness • Sweating for no apparent reason • Uncharacteristic skin color • Inability to move a body part

13. Deciding to Act • Some common barriers • The presence of bystanders • “Oh they will do something” • Person is too shy • Uncertainty about the victim • Uncomfortable with who the victim is, and having to touch them • Age, gender, race, disability • Do not take the behavior of the victim personally

14. Other Barriers • Nature of the injury or illness • Uncomfortable with blood, vomit, unpleasant odors or torn or burnt skin • It is ok to turn away for a moment to compose yourself • Fear of disease transmission • This is why you need a first aid kit ready and available • One in your car, easily accessible in the home • Fear of doing something wrong • Good Samaritan Law • A bystander has to help a victim unless his or her life is endanger • Cannot be sued if other injuries show occur

15. Ready……..ACTION! • The 3 C’s • Check the scene • What happened? • How many are injured? • Any other dangers? • Call 9-1-1 • Have a bystander call if possible • Make sure you know the location • Care for the victim until help arrives • Make a clear path for the EMS personnel

16. Be Prepared • Keep information about you and your family in a handy place • IE: refrigerator door • Keep medical and insurance records up-to-date • Find out if your community is serviced by the 9-1-1 operating system • Teach children how to call • Keep emergency phone numbers listed • Keep a first aid kit available

17. What do you do? BE PREPARED!