Introduction to Emergency Care Lesson 1 – Emergency Care

Lesson 1 – Emergencies Sudden illness or injury that requires an immediate medical response Emergencies can happen at any time. Emergencies An emergency situation occurs when a person suddenly becomes ill or is injured and requires an immediate medical response. Emergencies can happen at any time. For example, imagine two friends at an amusement park, talking and laughing while waiting in line to ride a rollercoaster. One friend tells the other that she does not feel well. She looks pale. Suddenly, she falls to the ground. If her friend knows what to do, she may be able to prevent further harm to her friend, or even save her life.

Lesson 1 – First Aid In many cases, emergency care may require some form of first aid. It is important that the general population and all health care workers know how to perform emergency care. Agencies such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association train people to perform these life- saving procedures. First Aid In many cases, emergency care may require some form of first aid. In a best-case scenario, emergency care is performed by an emergency care professional. However, in some cases, emergency care procedures are required before a professional can arrive on the scene. For this reason, it is important that the general population and, more importantly, all health care workers know how to perform emergency care. Agencies such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association train people to perform these life-saving procedures.

Lesson 1 – Effective First Aid Providers Obtain proper first aid training This includes: Anyone in the medical field People in jobs that involve child care Park guides, camp counselors, life guards, etc. Effective First Aid Providers To be an effective first aid provider, an individual should understand some essential first aid factors. Obtain proper first aid training First and foremost, anyone who expects to encounter an emergency situation should be properly trained. This clearly includes emergency care professionals, but it also includes anyone in the health and medical field. Other people who should be trained for emergency situations include people in jobs that involve child care. Additionally, people who are responsible for others in areas where medical care may be some distance away, such as park guides, camp counselors, and scuba diving instructors, should be prepared to administer first aid.

Lesson 1 – Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Be alert for emergency situations Unusual sounds Unusual sights Unusual odors Unusual behaviors Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Be alert for emergency situations. For those who do have first aid training, they must keep alert for signs of an emergency, which include: Unusual sounds, such as breaking glass, screeching tires, or calls for help. Unusual sights, such as an empty medicine bottle or smoke from a fire. Unusual odors, such as natural gas or fumes. Unusual behaviors, such as clutching the chest or throat, or slurred speech.

Lesson 1 – Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Assess the situation before taking action The first aid provider should have a reason for every action that is taken. Treatment depends on multiple factors Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Assess the situation before taking action. Before taking any action at an emergency scene, the first aid provider must assess, or evaluate, the situation. The first aid provider should have a reason for every action that is taken. Treatment depends on several factors, including the type of injury, the environment, witnesses, available first aid supplies and equipment, and how quickly medical help will arrive. If conscious, the patient should be questioned for injuries and a full explanation of the situation. This information should be passed on to emergency care professionals when they arrive on the scene.

Lesson 1 – Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Remain calm in emergency situations and observe safety precautions If possible, get the patient’s consent If possible, wash their hands and put on gloves Make sure supplies are clean. If possible, explain the procedure Be careful when lifting heavy objects. Flush solutions that come into contact with eyes or skin Only perform care for which trained Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Remain calm in emergency situations and observe safety precautions. First aid providers should observe some basic precautions when treating a patient, including: If possible, get the patient’s consent before performing any care. If possible, wash their hands and put on gloves before handling a patient. Make sure supplies, such as water or bandages, are clean. If possible, explain the procedure to the patient. Be careful when lifting heavy objects. If any solutions come in contact with their skin or eyes, they should immediately flush them with water. Only perform care that they have been trained to do.

Lesson 1 – Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Perform a safety check of the scene before taking action Some emergency scenes are unsafe to enter. Call for help immediately. Prioritize tasks and triage Triage is a way to prioritize treatment. It determines which patient or which injury is treated first. Life-threatening injuries should always be attended to first. Effective First Aid Providers (continued) Perform a safety check of the scene before taking action. Some emergency scenes are unsafe to enter, such as a burning building or a collapsed tunnel. A would-be first aid provider should immediately call for professional help and remain clear of any dangerous areas. Prioritize tasks and triage. After calling Emergency Medical Services, EMS, or telling another person to call, the first aid provider may have to perform triage. Triage is a way to prioritize treatment. In cases involving two or more patients, triage determines who is treated first. In cases with only one patient who has several injuries, triage determines which injury is addressed first. Life-threatening injuries, such as excessive bleeding, should always be attended to first.

Lesson 1 – Principles of Care Get professional care as soon as possible. Do not move a patient unless it is required for safety reasons. Keep the patient calm. Do not give unconscious or vomiting patients any food or fluids, unless the first aid procedure requires it. Regulate the patient’s temperature by adding blankets or removing layers of clothing. Administer first aid quickly and efficiently. Do not attempt to diagnose the patient or discuss the patient’s condition. Avoid further injury if possible. Principles of Care In addition to first aid essentials, there are also some guidelines for first aid care that should be applied in every emergency situation. Get professional care as soon as possible. Do not move a patient unless it is required for safety reasons. Keep the patient calm. Do not give unconscious or vomiting patients any food or fluids, unless the first aid procedure requires it. Regulate the patient’s temperature by adding blankets or removing layers of clothing. Administer first aid quickly and efficiently. To avoid compromising the patient’s right to privacy, do not attempt to diagnose the patient or discuss the patient’s condition. Avoid further injury if possible.

Lesson 1 – Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides expert care for serious emergencies. In many areas of the country, immediate help is available by dialing 911. When calling for help, be sure to give complete and accurate information. If you cannot call immediately, ask someone else to call for help. Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides expert care for serious emergencies. In many areas of the country, immediate help is available by dialing 911. Other sources for help include the local fire service and the police. Everyone should know the emergency numbers to call in their area. They are listed in local phone books. It is a good idea to place these numbers on a card that is stored in a wallet or in an emergency care supply kit. Remember to act quickly, using the resources available. If you cannot call immediately, ask someone else to call for help. Be sure to give complete and accurate information. This includes a description of the scene and any actions that have been taken. You must also report the patient’s condition, your exact location, and your telephone number.

Lesson 1 – Emergency Care Legal Issues The haste in which emergency care occurs often leaves the caregivers with little or no time to consider the legal consequences of their actions. Emergency care professionals, other health care workers, and anyone else who has first aid training should be aware of some basic legal issues related to emergency care. Emergency Care Legal Issues The very nature of emergency care implies that it occurs quickly. The haste in which it occurs often leaves the caregivers with little or no time to consider the legal consequences of their actions. And yet in today’s atmosphere of malpractice claims, it does deserve some consideration. Emergency care professionals, other health care workers, and anyone else who has first aid training should be aware of some basic legal issues related to emergency care.

Lesson 1 – The Good Samaritan Acts State that physicians and first responders are not required to acquire patient consent before performing life-saving procedures in the case of an emergency. To be protected by these Acts: Give care in good faith. Act within the scope of their training and knowledge. Use as much care as possible according to the circumstances. Do not bill the patient. The Good Samaritan Acts All 50 states have adopted Good Samaritan Acts. Good Samaritan Acts offer some protection to caregivers who respond to emergency medical situations. With these acts, physicians and first responders are not required to acquire patient consent before performing life-saving procedures in the case of an emergency. Therefore, in the unfortunate event that the patient should have some permanent damage or die, the “good Samaritan” who stopped to help is not legally responsible. However, all caregivers must follow these basic rules in order to be protected by a Good Samaritan Act: Give care in good faith. Act within the scope of their training and knowledge. Use as much care as possible according to the circumstances. Do not bill the patient. Because of Good Samaritan Acts, people do not need to hesitate before helping in an emergency situation.

Lesson 1 – Scope of Practice Even a Good Samaritan Act cannot protect caregivers who perform procedures outside of their scope of practice. Emergency care providers should only perform tasks for which they have been trained. Scope of Practice Even a Good Samaritan Act cannot protect caregivers who perform procedures outside of their scope of practice. Therefore, emergency care providers should only perform tasks for which they have been trained. Simply put, they should only do things that they know how to do. For example, if a caregiver performs CPR without any CPR training, he could cause serious harm to the patient. If damages occur, in this case the patient could sue the caregiver because the caregiver acted outside of his scope of practice.

Lesson 1 – Keeping Records Event report after each emergency This report includes: The patient’s name and address The date and time of emergency The location of emergency A description of the emergency and its cause A description of actions taken The names, addresses, and signatures of any witnesses The name and signature of the person preparing the report Keeping Records Emergency care professionals must fill out an event report after each emergency. This report becomes a part of the patient’s medical record. It includes: The patient’s name The patient’s address The date and time of emergency The location of emergency A description of the emergency and its cause A description of actions taken The names, addresses, and signatures of any witnesses The name and signature of the person preparing the report