‘SAFE TAC’

A IMS OF THIS PRESENTATION By the end of this presentation you will: – Have a structured method in which to approach an incident - known as ‘SAFE TAC’ – Know how to signal for help – Know how to send a (M)ETHANE report

B ACKGROUND Why you should know this: – Any one of us can come across an emergency situation, anywhere, at any time. – People look towards those with medical training for help. – If you have a general system to work through: You will be calmer You will be more organised It will help afterwards when you reflect on what has happened.

S – S HOUT / S IGNAL / S END FOR HELP S HOUT FOR H ELP 6 B LASTS every minute F IRE AT NIGHT, S MOKE IN THE DAY 999 K EEP LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN ! S URVIVAL B AG / O THER G ROUND TO A IR S IGNALS

A – A SSESS S CENE What has happened? What danger is there? What injuries is the casualty likely to have? Always walk the last 5 m in, gives you time to think.

F – F REE SCENE FROM DANGER, F IND (& F REE ) CASUALTY Free from danger – Stop traffic- Don IPE – Turn off engines - Put out fires Find casualty – Actively search for casualties, especially in mass incidents. Free casualty – If too dangerous to assess / treat (4Fs: fire, flood, fumes, fuel)

E- E VALUATE C ASUALTY QUICK evaluation as you walk towards the casualty – Noisy breathing = airway problem – Chest rising & falling too quickly / not enough = breathing problem – Blood spurting = circulation problem QUICK primary survey (i.e. sufficient for triage) Remember: Catastrophic Haemorrhage is dealt with before anything else.

T - T RIAGE Can the patient walk? P3 - Delayed Is the patient breathing? Dead Two rescue breaths. Any response? P1- Immediate Repiratory Rate <10 or 30< Pulse >120 P2 - Urgent Open airway, if needed Y N N N N N Y Y Y Y “Don’t pause to treat or you will have failed in your task”

A - A SSESS Full Primary Survey: – A irway – ‘ALOA’ – B reathing – RR, Sound, ‘TWELVE FLAPS’ – C irculation – Pulse, CR, ‘Blood on floor + 4 more’ – D isability – AVPU, PEARL – E xposure / Environment / Evacuation – (DEFG = Don’t Ever Forget Glucose)

C - C OMMUNICATION (M)ETHANE: – ( Major Incident or My call sign [military] ) – E xact location – T ype of Incident – H azards – A ccess / Egress – N umber of Casualties – E mergency services / Equipment required

C - C OMMUNICATION E – Exact location: Simonside Hills, Grid Ref NU T – Type of incident: Man fallen out of tree H – Hazards: Possible falling branches A – Access and Egress: Forestry track 50m due West, can be accessed from road running SE from Gt Tosson, right turn approx 1.5 km from village. N – Number of casualties: One casualty – adult male E – Emergency services required – Mountain Rescue

Any questions?

A IMS OF THIS PRESENTATION By the end of this presentation you will: – Have a structured method in which to approach an incident – Know how to signal for help – Know how to send a (M)ETHANE report

S UMMARY Send / Shout / Signal for help Assess the scene Free scene from danger, find (&free) casualty Evaluate casualty Triage Assess ABCs Communication – ETHANE report

References / Acknowledgements MIRA course handbook Wilderness SSC wiki space: – Hill Walking – Long 2004 Casualty Care in Mountain Rescue – Ellerton 2006 BATLS handbook – JRAMC RAC Crewman Class 3 Rose & Alison’s photos