• LOGIN
  • No products in the basket.

Login

Emergency, First Aid and Safety Procedures

WHAT TO DO BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

Learn how to apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (see EMERGENCY TECHNIQUES): they are life‐saving techniques. It is essential to practise with a trained instructor because only practice will give you the confidence and ability to act instantly and correctly in the vital few minutes that can mean the difference between life and death.

Make sure that you have a well‐equipped first aid kit at home, in the car and boat, and on holidays

EMERGENCY PRIORITIES

A person’s life is in danger if he or she is unconscious. The airway may be blocked, breathing may have stopped and blood circulation may have ceased.

You need to:

  • Act immediately because brain damage or death can quickly result
  • Carry out the procedures outlined in the disabled in the order given
  • Follow the instructions given in the next chapter, emergency techniques, for each of the procedures mentioned in the DRSABCD.

REMEMBER IN AN EMERGENCY

  • Do not approach a casualty unless it is safe to do so. Check whether there is any danger for you, others or the injured person first.
  • Even though you will feel upset, it’s important to act as calmly as possible and to reassure any casualties.
  • Every minute is vital.
  • Do not move a casualty unless it is absolutely essential for safety (see MOVING A CASUALTY).
  • Do not leave a casualty alone. Send someone else for medical aid immediately. However, if you are the only person present in an emergency and help is unlikely to arrive you will have to go for aid yourself as soon as possible. Dial 000 in any capital city or the emergency number listed in the phone book or booth.
  • Messages given to the emergency services should be brief: indicate a place, nature of the emergency, number of people involved and nature and extent of injuries or illness.
  • Do not give anything to eat or drink.

DRSABCD – emergency protocol

  • D Check for Danger. Remove danger or remove patient.
  • R Response. Is the patient conscious or unconscious? side position if unconscious.
  • S Send for help
  • An Airway. Clear and maintain a clear airway.
  • B Breathing. Is the patient breathing? If not, start……..compressions
  • C Compressions. 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
  • D Defibrillation.

EMERGENCY TECHNIQUES

Checking For Unconsciousness

When the normal activity of the brain is interrupted, a person can become unconscious. An unconscious person is:

  • Unable to respond normally to simple questions or touch
  • Unaware of danger and unable to protect himself or herself
  • Unable, by coughing or swallowing, to clear the airway of saliva, blood, vomit or foreign matter, which can obstruct the air tubes. The tongue, which becomes floppy, can fall back and also block the throat.

ACTION

  • Assess whether the person is unconscious by asking simple questions or giving a simple command, such as ‘What is your name?’ or ‘Open your eyes’, and gently wobbling them to see whether they respond. If there is no response the person is unconscious. DO NOT SHAKE PATIENTS, ESPE‐ CIALLY CHILDREN OR BABIES.
  • Place the casualty in the side position and check the airway, breathing and pulse.
  • If the unconscious person is breathing and has a pulse, maintain him or her in the side position, ensuring the airway remains clear and open and frequently checking breathing and pulse until medical aid arrives.

SIDE POSITION

(also known as lateral, recovery or stable side position)

  • Kneel beside the casualty.
  • Place the casualty’s far arm straight out, at right angles to the body, and the near arm, bent at the elbow, across the chest, with the fingers close to the far shoulder tip.
  • Bend the near leg up at right angles to the body.
  • Holding the shoulder and hip that are near you, gently roll the casualty onto his or her side. The top leg rests on the ground with its thigh at right angles and calf parallel to the straight leg.
  • Rest the uppermost, bent arm across the elbow of the straight arm.
  • Unless the casualty is less than 1 year in age, gently tilt the head backwards. The face should be turned slightly downwards to allow any fluid to drain from the mouth and the tongue to fall forward, away from the airway.

CLEARING AND OPENING THE AIRWAY

The airway is the passage from the nose and mouth to the lungs, by which air enters and leaves the lungs. If it is blocked breathing will cease. Therefore it is essential to keep the airway clear and open.

ACTION

  • Place the casualty in the side position.
  • Gently check the mouth for vomit, foreign objects or broken teeth and clear these away with your fingers. Remove dentures only if they are broken or loose.
  • Keep the airway open so that breathing can occur: gently tilt the casualty’s head back with one of your hands on the forehead and the point of the chin supported with the other.

CHECKING FOR BREATHING

Breathing should be regular, quiet and easy.

ACTION

  • Look for the rise and fall of the lower chest and abdomen.
  • Listen and feel for air escaping from the nose and mouth by placing your cheek close to the casualty’s face.
  • If the casualty is not breathing, begin compressions then rescue breaths.

GIVING RESCUE BREATHS

Mouth‐to‐mouth resuscitation is the easiest, most successful method of rescue breaths. Mouth‐to‐nose resuscitation is used when there is a serious jaw injury or if the casualty has to be revived in water. Mouth‐to‐nose resuscitation is used for babies and small children when your mouth can cover both the mouth and the nose. Mouth‐to‐mask resuscitation used by a person trained in this technique avoids mouth‐to‐mouth contact if the casualty is thought to be suffering from a disease such as a hepatitis virus or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that can be transmitted to another person by blood or other body fluids.

ACTION

Mouth-to-mouth Resuscitation

  • Kneel beside the casualty.
  • Place the casualty on his or her back.
  • Tilt the head back gently, supporting the jaw with your fingers. Do not press on the throat. The casualty’s mouth should only be partly open.
  • Pinch the casualty’s nose. Take a deep breath and place your mouth over the casualty’s, sealing off any opening.
  • Keeping the casualty’s head tilted, give 2 breaths – enough to slightly raise the chest.
  • Commence compressions at recommended rate.
  • When the casualty is breathing again, place him or her in the lateral position and check the airway, breathing and pulse frequently.

Mouth-to-nose Resuscitation

  • Kneel beside the casualty.
  • Place the casualty on his or her back, with the head tilted back.
  • Supporting the jaw with your fingers, close the casualty’s mouth and keep it closed, using your thumb on the lower lip.
  • Take a deep breath. Open your mouth wide and place it over the casualty’s nose, without com‐ pressing the soft nostrils.
  • Breathe into the casualty’s nose.
  • Move your mouth away. Open the casualty’s lower lip with your thumb to allow exhalation.

Mouth-to-mask Resuscitation

  • Kneel at the top of the casualty’s head, facing the feet.
  • Place the narrow end of the mask on the bridge of the casu‐ Alty’s nose.
  • Use both of your hands, placed on either side of the jaw, to keep the airway open and to hold the mask firmly in place, creating an airtight seal.
  • Take a deep breath and blow through the mouthpiece of the mask.
  • Remove your mouth to allow exhalation.
  • Continue as for Mouth‐to‐mouth Resuscitation

Mouth-and-nose Resuscitation (Babies and Children Under 8)

  • After clearing the airway, lay the child on his or her back, with the head slightly tilted (or horizontal if he or she is under 1), and the jaw supported by your hand.
  • Place your mouth over the child’s nose and slightly opened mouth. Puff gently, providing just enough air to make the child’s chest rise.
  • Continue as for Mouth‐to‐mouth Resuscitation

Additional Video Material

SEE ALL Add a note
YOU
Add your Comment

Our Students Say..

[grw place_photo=”https://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/place_api/icons/school-71.png” place_name=”iStudy” place_id=”ChIJt6n44socdkgRTH6mzrdZ76w” reviews_lang=”en” pagination=”5″ text_size=”120″ refresh_reviews=true reduce_avatars_size=true lazy_load_img=true open_link=true nofollow_link=true]

Validate your certificate

top
Select your currency
GBP Pound sterling