Emergency Medical Services Overview

EMS System Steps

• Four critical steps: Recognize the emergency, Decide to act, Activate EMS, Provide care until help arrives.

Signs of Emergency

• Look for unusual noises, sights, odors, and changes in behavior or appearance.

When to Call EMS

• Dial 911 if the victim is unconscious, has breathing difficulties, experiences severe chest pain or bleeding, vomits blood, has seizures, shows signs of a stroke, or has head, neck, and back injuries.

Barriers to Helping

• Common reasons for inaction include the presence of others, uncertainty about the victim's condition, fear of disease or mistakes, assumptions someone else will help, concerns about being sued, and confusion about when to call 911.

Good Samaritan Laws

• Legal protections available for individuals providing care during emergencies to avoid claims of negligence.

Guidelines for Providing Care

• Use common sense by moving individuals from danger, asking for consent, calling 911, and giving basic care.

Activating EMS

• To activate the EMS, call 911 and ensure to stay on the line for further instructions.

Information for Dispatchers

• Expect to provide phone number, address, exact location of the emergency, and details to help determine the type of aid needed.

Importance of Staying on the Line

• Emergency personnel may continue to assist you and provide guidance until help arrives.

Types of Consent

• Expressed Consent: Given by a conscious and capable victim.
• Implied Consent: Applies when the victim is unable to respond, such as in the case of unconsciousness.

Providing Ongoing Care

• Continue providing care until signs of life appear, another trained responder arrives, exhaustion sets in, or the scene becomes unsafe.

Lay Responder Definition

• A lay responder is anyone who assists in an emergency but has limited training in first aid.

Obtaining Permission

• Inform the victim who you are, your training level, what you believe is wrong, and your intended actions before asking for consent.

Responding to Refusal of Consent

• If a victim refuses or withdraws consent, do not provide care; instead, seek assistance from advanced medical personnel.

Implied Consent Situations

• Implied consent applies to individuals who are unconscious, unable to respond, confused, mentally impaired, or suffering from serious illness or injury.

Consent for Minors

• Always obtain permission from a parent or guardian for care of children, unless conditions are life-threatening, in which case implied consent is applicable.

Triple "C" Approach

• Check the scene and person, Call 911, and Care for the victim.

Call First vs. Care First

• Call First for unresponsive individuals aged 12 and older, children or infants who collapse in front of you, and unresponsive children with known heart issues.
• Care First for severe bleeding, choking, unresponsive infants or children seen to collapse, and severe allergic reactions.

This quiz covers the essential steps in responding to emergencies, including recognizing signs of an emergency and knowing when to call EMS. Additionally, it discusses barriers to helping and the protections offered by Good Samaritan laws. Test your knowledge on providing care until professional help arrives!