1. RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES

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

3. 4 Elements of Cardiac Chain Survival
Early recognition and early access
Early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Early defibrillation
Early advanced life support (ALS)

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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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