1. The EMS System

2. What is EMS? Emergency Medical Services A network of police, fire and medical personnel, and other community resources

3. The EMS System The chain of command: 5 links 1. Citizen responder (YOU) Recognizes emergency and calls 9-1-1 2. EMS dispatcher Answers your call, directs police/EMTs to scene Keeps citizen responder calm. 3. 1 st Responder First official on scene, usually police. Takes control, gives higher level of care 4. EMT (emergency medical technician) Medically trained personnel, give care at the scene Transports injured person to hospital 5. Hospital Doctors, nurses, and emergency staff

4. How do you fit in to the EMS system? Your role as the Citizen Responder includes four steps: Recognize that an emergency exists Decide to act Activate the EMS Give care until help arrives

5. STEP 1: Recognizing Emergencies Often signaled by something unusual that catches your attention Use your senses! (hearing, sight, smell) Look for… Unusual sights Unusual appearances or behaviors Unusual odors Unusual noises

6. Unusual Sights Car run off the road Downed electrical wires Person lying motionless Smoke or fire Spilled medication Broken glass

7. Unusual Appearances or Behaviors Unconsciousness Trouble breathing Unusual skin color Clutching chest or throat Confused behavior or speech Unable to move body part

8. Unusual Odors Stronger than usual smells Gasoline fumes Chemical smell at home If there is an unusual or very strong odor, LEAVE THE AREA because some fumes are POISONUS!

9. Unusual Noises Screaming, yelling, moaning or calling for help Breaking glass Screeching tires Sudden loud or strange sounds (falling ladders, collapsing of building) Unusual silence

10. STEP 2: Decide to act You may feel hesitant or want to back away if… There are other people around Don’t feel comfortable with the injury Fear of catching a disease Fear of doing something wrong Fear of being sued Unsure of when to call 911

11. Good Samaritan Laws Give legal protection to people who willingly provide emergency care to ill or injured people without accepting anything in return Act like a “reasonable and prudent person” Move a person only if their life is in danger Ask a conscious person for permission before giving care Check for life-threatening conditions Call 9-1-1 Give care until more highly trained personnel arrive

12. Spread of Disease Infectious diseases develop when germs invade the body and cause illness. Most common germs - bacteria and viruses Spread through touching, breathing and biting

13. Universal Precautions Steps taken to prevent the spread of disease WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER GIVING FIRST AID! Avoid contact with blood or other body fluids Use protective breathing barriers Use bandage to cover any of YOUR cuts, sores, scrapes or skin conditions Use gloves Don’t eat, drink, or touch your mouth, nose or eyes until you have washed your hands Do not touch personal items until hands are washed Do not touch blood soiled objects

14. Step 3: Activate EMS system Call 9-1-1 Describe the emergency to the operator Include where you are (address or describe location) Stay on phone until told to hang out Operator will alert police, fire, etc…

15. Step 4: Provide care until help arrives Stay with victim until help arrives Loosen tight clothing Use coat or blanket to keep them warm Provide shade if the weather is warm

16. HIV and AIDS AIDS – Acquired immune deficiency syndrome Condition caused by HIV HIV damages the immune systems that fight infection Weakened immune systems allow infections to develop People with HIV might not look or feel sick People with AIDS develop life-threatening infections, which lead to death NO VACCINE FOR HIV, PREVENTION IS BEST

17. Transmission of HIV during First Aid Unprotected direct contact with infected blood. Infected blood/fluids from one person enter another person through entry sight (eyes, mouth) Ex) blood splashes from infected person into the responders eye Unprotected indirect contact with infected blood Touch an object that contained infected blood/fluids and the infected blood/fluids enter body through entry site Ex) responder picks up blood soaked bandage with bare hand and the infected blood enters through a cut in the skin

18. Testing If you think you put yourself at risk for contracting HIV, get tested! Questions? Can call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national AIDS hotline: 1-800-342-2437