1. Before Giving Care and Checking an Injured or Ill Person
Chapter 1
Before Giving Care
and
Checking an Injured or Ill Person

2. Chapter 1 - Objectives
Move an ill or injured person with the proper technique
Utilize and remember the steps for initial care of a victim
Understand and utilize the Good Samaritan Law
Know and perform the proper techniques for overcoming barriers
Discuss universal precautions for preventing disease transmission

3. Your Role in the EMS System
Step 1: Recognize that an Emergency Exists
Step 2: Decide to Act
Step 3: Activate the EMS System
Step 4: Give Care Until Help Arrives

4. Recognize that an Emergency Exists
Unusual Noises
Screaming, moaning, yelling, or calls for help
Unusual silence
Unusual Sights
Downed Electrical Wires
Spilled Medication or empty container
Unusual Odors
Odors that are stronger than usual
Sulfer Smell
Unusual Appearances or Behaviors
Unconsciousness
Sudden collapse, slip, or fall

5. Decide to Act Overcoming Barriers to Act
Panic or Fear of Doing Something Wrong
Being Unsure of the Person’s Condition and What to do
Assuming Someone Else Will Take Action
The Type of Injury or Illness
Fear of Catching a Disease
Fear of Being Sued
Good Samaritan Law
Being Unsure When to Call

6. Good Samaritan Law
Law that protect people against claims of negligence when they give emergency care in good faith with out accepting anything in return.
Usually protect citizens who act the same way a “reasonable and prudent person” would in that same situation.

7. Activate the EMS Call 9-1-1or other local emergency number
Emergency Call Taker will ask for:
Your address
Your phone number
Location of the emergency
Questions to determine if you need the police, fire or medical assistance
Do NOT hang up until the call taker does FIRST

8. Give Care Until Help Takes Over
You see an obvious sign of life
Another trained responder or EMS takes over
You are too exhausted to continue
The scene becomes unsafe
Getting Permission to Give Care
Permission to give care if the person is conscious
Tell them: who you are, how much training you have, what you think is wrong, what you plan to do
Implied Consent
Given if: unconscious or unable to respond, confused, mentally impaired, seriously injured, or seriously ill

9. Disease Transmission
Bacteria
Live outside of the body and do not depend on other organisms for life
Viruses
Depend on other organisms to live

10. Prevention of Disease Transmission
While Giving Care
Avoid Contact with blood and other bodily fluids
Use protective CPR breathing barrier
Use other barriers
Gloves
Cover your own cuts
Cleaning up Spills
Clean immediately
Wipe with absorbent material
Use 1part bleach to 9 parts water to clean and disinfect the area
Dispose of in a biohazard container

11. Taking Action: Emergency Action Steps
Check - Call - Care

12. CHECK
Check the Scene and the Person

13. Look over the Scene and Ask:
Is it safe?
Is immediate danger involved?
What happened?
How many people are involved?
Is anyone else available to help?
What is wrong?

14. Checking the Victim: Check to see if the victim is conscious:
Adult victim
12yrs +
Child Victim
1 – 12 yrs
Infant Victim
Birth to 1yr.

15. CALL
Call or
The Local Emergency Number

16. IF YOU ARE ALONE: CALL 9-1-1 FIRST IF: 2 MIN. OF CARE FIRST:
Any adult or child who is unconscious
A child or infant who you witnessed suddenly collapse
Unconscious child or infant known to have heart problems
2 MIN. OF CARE FIRST:
Unconscious child who you did not see collapse
Any drowning victim

17. CARE
Once you have checked the person and called , you may have to give care until EMS personnel take over.

18. To do so Follow these Guidelines:
Do no further harm
Monitor the person’s breathing and consciousness
Help the person rest in the most comfortable position
Keep the person from getting chilled or overheated
Reassure the person
Give any specific care as needed

19. When can you move the victim?
When the scene becomes unsafe
When you need to get to another victim who is more injured.
When you need to give care to the victim.

20. Moving an Ill or Injured Person:
Techniques on Land:
Walking Assist
Two-Person Seat Carry
Pack-Strap Carry
Clothes Drag
Blanket Drag
Ankle Drag
Techniques for Water:
Reaching Assists
Throwing Assists
Wading Assists

21. Checking a Conscious Victim
Interview the person and bystanders
Obtain consent from the victim or parent/guardian
Check the person from head to toe
Toe to head for children

22. Shock
A condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues and vital organs

23. Checking an Unconscious Person
A,B,C’s
Airway
Breathing
Circulation

24. Special Situations: Air in the Stomach Vomiting
Mouth-to-Nose Breathing
Mouth-to-Stoma Breathing
Head, Neck, and Spinal Injuries
Drowning Victims

25. Recovery Position H – High A – Arm IN E – Endangered S – Spine