Taking Action

KIN 223 – Emergency Healthcare

Chapter 2 – Responding to Emergencies
Emergency Action Steps
 CHECK-CALL-CARE
 Check the scene for safety and the person(s) for life-threatening conditions
 CALL 9-1-1 and report pertinent information about the emergency
 Always follow the instructions provided by the EMD
 CARE for the person(s)

 Size-up the scene

 Is the scene safe?
 What happened?
 How many people are involved?
 Initial assessment
 Anyone else available to help?
Check Call Care
Scenario One Group Activity

 A motorcycle with two riders weaves dangerously between parked cars in a crowded shopping
center parking lot. As the motor cyclists dart between cars, they confront a moving car. Both
the car and motorcycle veer to avoid a head-on collision. The motorcycle strikes the side of the
oncoming car, throwing the riders to the ground. The car stops abruptly, throwing the driver
into the windshield. Nearby, Lisa and Paul (two college students) hear the sound of crunching
metal and blaring horns and decide to join the small group of bystanders. As they approach
the scene, they are confronted with the sight of broken glass, strewn metal and a cracked
windshield. A gas cap lies nearby, and they notice what appears to be gasoline, which has
spilled from the motorcycle onto the roadway. One victim screams in pain as she sits holding
her injured arm. The other victim lies motionless. Two people wearing safety belts are inside
the stopped car. The driver appears to be shaken. Several onlookers turn away, apparently
unable to cope with what they see. Other bystanders continue to gather. As Jamie and Paul
look around, no one seems to be helping. They hesitate, wondering whether they should step
forward to help.
Is the scene safe?
 Is immediate danger involved?
 You do not want to become a victim too Look for downed wires, traffic, violent
behavior, fire, smoke, dangerous fumes, deep or swiftly moving water
 If you see any of the above – Do Not Approach the Victim(s) Call 9-1-1
What happened?
 Look for clues about what caused the emergency and extent of
victim’s injuries
 Look for shattered glass, fallen ladder or a spilled bottle of
medicine
 How many victims are there?
 Look every where
 Are bystanders available to help?
Initial Impression
 What is wrong with the?
 Person 4 life threatening conditions
 Unconsciousness
 No breathing or trouble breathing
 No signs of life (no pulse, breathing)
 Severe bleeding

 Do not move a victim unless he/she is in immediate danger

 If victim has any life threatening condition activate the EMS system asap
Lisa and Paul
 “Lisa instructs bystanders to stop traffic. Paul tells the people in the car to turn off

the engine. The leaking gas from the motorcycle is not close to the motorcycle driver
and passenger.”

 “Lisa checks the motorcycle driver and determines he is unconscious and instructs

someone to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number for an ambulance. She then
continues her check of the victim to determine he is breathing. The two people in
the car are conscious and talking to Paul. The other motorcyclist, still screaming, is
attended by another rescuer who helps to control the bleeding from the victim’s
arm.”
Size-Up the Scene
Size-Up the Scene
Size-Up the Scene
Call First or Care First?
 If you are alone and there is no one to send to call for help, you
may need to decide whether to Call first or Care first
 Call first situations are likely to be cardiac arrest
 Care first situations include breathing emergencies and life-
threatening bleeding
Call First
 If you are alone, Call First; that is, call 9-1-1 or the local
emergency number before giving care for:
 An unconscious adult victim or adolescent age 12 years or
older.
 An unconscious infant or child whose sudden collapse was
witnessed.
 An unconscious infant or child known to be at a high risk for
heart
Care First
 If you are alone, Care First provide 2 minutes of care, then call 9-1-1 for:
 An unconscious victim younger than age 12 whose collapse was not
witnessed
 Any victim of drowning
 A person who is choking
 A person who is experiencing a sever allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and
has an epinephrine auto-injector
 A person who has life-threatening bleeding
Making the Call
 If you send someone to call; ask them to return after calling

 The caller should be ready to give the following information to the dispatcher
 Caller’s name and # the call is being made from
 # of people involved condition of victim(s); unconscious, chest pain, trouble
breathing
 What happened (car crash, fire)
 Exact address or location; cross streets, landmarks, name of building, floor,
room #
 Care being given and by whom
 Let EMS hang up first
Care
 Do not act outside of your training and certification
 Care for life threatening emergencies before non-life threatening
 Do no further harm
 Give care until EMS arrive
 Breathing emergency takes priority over an injured leg
 Watch for changes in level of consciousness and breathing
 Help victim rest comfortably
 Keep victim from getting chilled or overheated
 Reassure victim
 Continue to monitor victim’s condtion
Transporting the Person
 When Not To Transport a Victim
 When it may further aggravates
the injury or illness.
 When the person has or may
develop life threatening
conditions.
 Unsure of the nature of the
illness or injury.
 When moving a person with a non-
life-threatening condition(s) try to
have someone else come with to
keep person calm and allow you to
focus on driving
 Discourage any injured or ill person
from driving themselves to the
hospital
Consent and Obligation
 How to gain consent
 State your name
 State your type/ level of training
 Explain what is wrong
 Explain what you plan to do
 Ask the person if you may help
 Once you have started emergency
care you have a legal obligation to
continue care until a person of
equal or greater training relieves
you, you are physically unable to
continue, or the person asks for
care to stop
 If you stop care before that point
without a valid reason you could
be legally responsible for
abandonment of a person in need
Reaching and Moving a Person
 Do not move the person unless
completely necessary
 When faced with immediate danger
 When another person need your
attention immediately
 When necessary to give proper care
 Before you act think of limitations
to moving a person(s)
 Dangerous conditions
 The size of the person
 The distance necessary to move the
person
 Your physical ability
 Whether others can help
 The person’s condition
Emergency Moves
Walking assist - Blanket drag – 2-person seat carry/Arm drag – Clothes drag
11:55 – 15:13
Conclusion
 CHECK-CALL-CARE
 In emergency situation person safety is the top priority
 Always check the scene for safety as a part of your scene size-up before you
approach a person, obtain consent from an adult who is responsive and
competent
 If you must move a person, do so in a manner that is safe for you and will not
cause the person any further harm