Ask about the group’s experience in emergencies. Did they feel stress Ask about the group’s experience in emergencies. Did they feel stress? Were they able to think clearly? How prepared were they for the emergency when it happened?

Know what to do while waiting for an ambulance to arrive Make or buy first aid kits for your home and car Get trained in first aid, CPR, AED, or pet first aid

Ambulance response time will be different in every community Ambulance response time will be different in every community. In smaller cities it may be five minutes, in many larger metropolitan areas it is 10-15 minutes. In rural areas it could be longer. Consider calling your local ambulance provider and asking what the average response time is for your community. Emphasize that it can vary for every call, and that it can seem like much longer when you are waiting for an ambulance to arrive. There are things you can do while you wait for an ambulance to arrive that can make the patient safer and more comfortable.

If you’re not sure—call! When to call 911 Fire Crime (especially if it is in progress) Car accident (especially if someone is injured) Medical emergency If you’re not sure—call! You should call 911 when something happens that you can’t handle yourself, and you need help from police, fire or emergency medical services. When in doubt, call 911 and let the 911 operator decide

Why call an ambulance instead of transporting a person to the hospital yourself? Care can start as soon as they arrive and continue until they reach the hospital Ambulances can get someone there quickly, safely and legally Ambulance crews know which hospital emergency rooms may be overloaded or which may be able to provide specialized care for the victim’s condition Someone attending an injured person may not be calm and able to make good decisions while driving Have the group brainstorm reasons that it may be better to call 911 instead of transporting someone yourself before revealing the answers

Make sure you’re safe before you call 911 Stay calm and be patient Stay on the line and follow any instructions the 911 operator gives you Have someone watch for the ambulance and show the crew how to get to the patient Having someone watching for the ambulance is especially important in an apartment or commercial/industrial complex, or a building with more than one entrance. Try to give good directions to the 911 operator as well.

Try to keep the patient calm Don’t move a patient who was injured in a car accident or a fall, or who was found unconscious If the patient is cold, cover them with a coat or blanket Don’t give an injured person anything to eat or drink (unless the 911 operator tells you to) Have the group think about ways that they could keep someone who has been injured calm. Some ideas are: Talking to them in a calm, quiet voice Reasoning with them if they want to leave or move around Answer their questions if they are confused, assure them that help is on the way Comply with their wishes as much as possible Physical contact, patting shoulder, stroking hair, as long as it doesn’t agitate them

If there are pets in the area think about securing them May become aggressive or protective May escape when EMS crews go in or out Always keep pets secured when travelling to keep them safe if you’re in an accident Even pets who are normally well behaved around strangers can act out when the people around them are stressed. They may try to run away or become aggressive. They may also misunderstand the situation and become protective of the injured person, keeping first responders from doing their jobs

Gauze pads and adhesive tape Antiseptic ointment Band aids (assorted sizes) Blanket Cold pack Disposable gloves Hand sanitizer Small flashlight Let members of the group know that pre-packaged car emergency kits are available. Like pre-made go bags, if they decide to purchase one they should take the time to open it up and go through it with all the drivers in their household so that they are familiar with what is in it. They should also add items to meet their own needs. If they decide to include over the counter medications they should check them once a year and replace anything that is expired.

Pet first aid guide Phone numbers for vet and poison control center (ASPCA operates one for pets) Copy of medical records Basic first aid supplies Self-cling bandages Hydrogen peroxide Muzzle or cloth strips Pet carrier

25% of all emergency room visits could be avoided with basic first aid Basic topics covered: Breathing problems Bleeding Poison Broken bones Bug bites/animal bites Classes are about 4 hours, costs vary Statistic from the National Safety Council

Causes of heart failure that might require CPR: CPR keeps oxygen circulating through a person’s body until their heart can be restarted Causes of heart failure that might require CPR: Heart attack Drowning Electric shock Suffocation Severe allergic reactions Overdose/poisoning Traumatic injury

CPR is easy to learn and training can be inexpensive Being trained in CPR doesn’t create a “duty to act” just an opportunity to help when needed In most circumstances, people who provide CPR or other help in an emergency are covered by Good Samaritan laws 911 dispatchers routinely guide people to correctly administer CPR CPR saves lives when nothing else can The cost of CPR training varies by the organization hosting it, so if the cost seems high they should shop around Good Samaritan laws protect people who don’t have a “duty to act” who offer help to someone who is injured, including CPR. Duty to act will vary from state to state, it may include licensed medical professionals, or people acting in place of a parent, such as teachers and school administrators.

CPR Training takes about 2 to 4 hours Most certifications through American Heart Association or American Red Cross Can be offered through any organization by a certified trainer Cost is set by the trainer or host organization

Can restart a person’s heart if stopped AEDs check heart rhythms and send an electric shock to correct them if needed Can restart a person’s heart if stopped Many public buildings have AEDs AEDs increase the chance of surviving a heart attack by 80% AED training takes about four hours Cost varies AEDs are relatively new, but they have been shown to be very effective in saving lives. They are designed to be used by anyone with basic training.

Topics covered may include: Administering medicine Assessing vital signs Treating wounds Treating electrical shock Managing breathing and cardiac emergencies Pet CPR Online training is available

Follow bloodborne pathogens safety protocols Wear gloves Wash hands well after performing first aid Rescuer safety Don’t become the second victim Make sure you’re safe before helping someone else Know your limits When administering first aid, you can be exposed to blood and other bodily fluids. Bloodborne pathogens - Diseases like Hepatitis and HIV can be spread through contact with blood and bodily fluids. More information on bloodborne pathogen safety is usually included in first aid training. Rescuer safety – Far too often would-be rescuers are killed or injured trying to help others. When you put yourself in danger to help someone else, it can easily become a situation where there are two victims and no rescuer Know your own limits and make sure that you are putting your own safety first. Don’t become a second victim.

American Heart Association First responder organizations Pet First Aid First Aid, CPR, AED American Red Cross American Heart Association First responder organizations Pet First Aid Veterinarians, kennel clubs, Humane Society, pet stores Costs and course lengths will vary Emergency training gives you knowledge, and a chance to practice new skills, which is very important to retaining that knowledge. Knowing you can do what may need to be done will help you stay calmer in an emergency.

Blooms taxonomy (image) shows our levels of thinking Blooms taxonomy (image) shows our levels of thinking. In an emergency we live in the bottom half of the pyramid. Planning for an emergency is on the top half of the pyramid and its something we have to do ahead of time, when we’re calm and not rushed. Once we have a plan we can remember, understand and apply it when it’s needed.

Go through the program a second time with your family Be a Do 1 Thing Ambassador Promote preparedness to friends and coworkers Going through the program again – see if anything is changed in your family or home, update plans, or try another “thing” for that month. Do 1 Thing Ambassador training will be available by January, 2017. It will prepare volunteers to comfortably and confidently present preparedness information

Presenter’s name Contact Information Do 1 Thing http://www.do1thing.com Email: contact@do1thing.com