RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES

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

4 Elements of Cardiac Chain Survival Early recognition and early access Early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) Early defibrillation Early advanced life support (ALS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 (automated external defibrillator) if available

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

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

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

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

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