1. Checking an ill or injured person
Chapter 3
Checking an ill or injured person
HMMM- are you ok?

2. Introduction
When you reach an ill or injured person, check for life threatening injuries. In many situations, this may be obvious.
If you are not sure is someone is unconscious, tap him or her on the shoulder and ask if they are ok.

3. Checking Victims Checking a Conscious Victim
Look for signs- any observable evidence if injury and symptoms- things the victim can tell you about his/her condition.
Checking an Unconscious Victim
Check for life threatening conditions
Unconscious
No breathing
No pulse
Severe bleeding/hemorrhage

4. Checking a conscious person
If you determine that an ill or injured person is conscious and has no immediate life threatening conditions, you can begin checking for other conditions.
Interview the person
Check the person from head to toe.

5. Conducting Interviews
Ask the following questions:
What happened?
Do you feel pain of discomfort anywhere?
Do you have allergies?
Do you have any other medical conditions?

6. Tapping
Mr. Pond
Mrs. Pond

7. Checking head to toe Check the persons head- look for blood
AHHHHHHH
Check the persons head- look for blood
Look for cuts, scrapes and bruises or depressions.
Watch for change of consciousness
Look for changes in the persons breathing
Ouch!

8. Checking Head to toe
A. Keep the victim comfortable, don’t move unless you need to
B. Before you check, tell them what you are doing
C. Avoid touching or moving a painful area
D. Look for signs of a serious injury
E. Start at the head
F. Monitor their appearance
G. Ask to move body parts if you don’t suspect a head or neck injury.
H. Move one extremity at a time
I. If any problems develop, stop and give immediate care

9. Checking an Unconscious Person
Always check to see if an unconscious person had the following:
Has an open Airway
Shows signs of life
Is bleeding severely
These 3 steps are known as the ABC’s
Airway, Breathing, Circulation

10. Unconsciousness- Leave the person in the position you
find them. Tap and shout, if they respond, they are breathing,
conscious, and have a pulse.
Breathing/Airway- Check the victim in the position you
find them. If impossible to check for breathing, roll the victim
their side as a unit-avoid twisting the spine.
To open the airway-The airway is open if the victim can cough,
speak, breath.
Head-Tilt and Chin-Lift to open the airway
To check for breathing- Look, listen, and feel.
If the victim is not breathing, give 2 slow breaths- enough to
Make the victim’s chest gently rise.

11. Pulse/Heartbeat – Adult/Child
The pulse is in the carotid artery on the neck or the radial artery in the wrist.
Infant- The pulse is in the brachial artery on the inside of the elbow, midway between the shoulder and elbow.
**** Take the pulse for 5-10 seconds, if there is no pulse, begin CPR.
Normal Range for pulse- Adult bpm
Child bpm

12. Severe Bleeding
Look over the body from head to toe. It usually looks worse than it is.

13. Checking Infants and Children (ages 0-8)
Observe before touching
If parents are there, ask them to keep them calm and ask them about medical conditions
Talk to the parent and explain what you are doing
Providing Care Guidelines
Don’t harm
Monitor breathing and consciousness
Keep them comfortable
Keep them from getting chilled or overheated
Reassure the victim
Provide any specific care needed

14. Airway
To open and airway
use the head-tilt/chin lift

15. Breathing
To check for breathing:
Look
Listen
Feel

16. Circulation
Check for a pulse in the following areas:

17. Circulation
Brachial Artery- For infants

18. Reducing the Risks
Avoid contact with bodily fluids when possible
Place barriers such as gloves between you and the victim
Wash hands with soap and water
Do not eat, drink, or touch mouth when giving aid
Do not touch objects soiled in blood
Always have a first aid kit handy
Deciding To Transport
Do not transport if it will aggravate the injury
Try to have someone go with you to comfort them
Monitor the victim
Discourage victims from driving themselves