First Aid Emergency Response Guide

Steps to reduce infection risk:

• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Use hands-only CPR when appropriate.
• Wash hands thoroughly for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer after providing care.
• Avoid touching your face.

Check for responsiveness, breathing, life-threatening bleeding, and other life-threatening conditions for no more than 10 seconds.

Each breath during CPR should last about 1 second.

• With breaths, give 2 breaths after every 30 chest compressions for all ages.
• Give one breath every 6 seconds.

Three important steps in any emergency: Check, Call, Care.

Pause between breaths to prevent over inflation which can lead to vomiting.

• Allows for proper chest rise and fall, ensuring effective oxygen delivery.

Call 911 for:

• Unconsciousness.
• Not breathing or gasping for air.
• No pulse or vital signs.
• Signs of cardiac arrest.
• Severe bleeding.
• Choking.
• Severe allergic reactions.

First indicators of an emergency:

• Unusual atmosphere where a person collapsed or lying motionless.
• Presence of blood, smoke, fire, or hazardous materials.
• Downed power lines or damaged vehicles.
• Someone appearing to be in pain.

Proper body positioning when administering CPR:

• Place both hands on top of each other in the center of the chest, on the lower half of the sternum or breastbone.
• Keep fingers lifted, pressing only with the heels of the hands.
• Keep arms straight and locked at the elbows.
• Position shoulders directly above hands for maximum force.
• Keep knees close to the person's chest, about shoulder-width apart, maintaining good balance.
• Keep body perpendicular to the person's chest.
• Use upper body weight to push down, not just arms.

Minimize interruptions to chest compressions to less than 10 seconds when giving breaths.

If someone is unresponsive and not breathing:

• Check for responsiveness by tapping their shoulder and shouting, "Are you okay?"

SAM approach:

• S: Survey the scene to ensure it is safe.
• A: Assess the victim's condition, checking for life-threatening conditions.
• M: Make a move by calling for help or providing first aid, such as CPR.

Cycle of chest compressions and breaths in CPR:

• 30 compressions to 2 breaths for all ages.
• Chest compressions for adults should be at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Rescue breaths should be 1 breath every 6 seconds, each lasting about 1 second with visible chest rise.
• For infants,compressions should be with 2 fingers in the center of the chest, about 1.5 inches deep
• Rescue breaths given1 breath every 3 seconds ensuring visible chest rise

Compression depth:

• Adults and children: At least 2 inches deep.
• Infants: About 1.5 inches deep.

Compression rate:

• All ages: 100-120 compressions per minute

AED pad placement:

• Adults and children: One pad on the upper right side of the chest (just below the clavicle) and the other on the lower left side of the chest (just below the rib cage).
• Infants: Use infant/child-specific AED pads if possible. Place one pad on the front center of the chest and the other on the back between the shoulder blades to ensure the shock passes through the heart.

CPR for cardiac arrest due to drowning should start with scene safety, checking for responsiveness, calling 911, and then immediately starting CPR with proper chest compressions and rescue breaths using an AED if available.

If the first breath does not result in a rise and fall of the chest:

• Reposition the airway by checking the head and neck position.
• Tilt the head back and lift the chin.
• Check for obstructions in the mouth and perform a finger sweep if possible.
• Reattempt the breath.

Abdominal thrusts for choking:

• Adults and children (over 1 year): Stand behind the person, place hands above the navel, and perform inward and upward thrusts.
• Infants (under 1 year): Use back blows and chest compressions instead of abdominal thrusts.

Ensure no one is touching the patient while the AED is analyzing the heart rhythm.

Care for an unresponsive choking person:

• Start CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths).
• Check the mouth for visible obstructions between compressions and remove them if safe.

Start CPR immediately if someone is gasping or not breathing, as gasping is considered an abnormal breathing pattern.

Use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to open the airway prior to giving rescue breaths.

Compressions for a child (1 year to puberty):

• Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, compress at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

Compressions for an infant (under 1 year):

• Use 2 fingers to compress the chest in the center, just below the nipple line, compressing about 1.5 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

An adult AED can be used on a child or infant. It’s preferable to use child-specific pads if available. Place adult pads properly so they don't touch each other.

Perform hands-only CPR (chest compressions at 100-120 compressions per minute) if unable or unwilling to give full CPR.

If AED pads risk touching each other, place one pad on the front of the chest and the other on the back.

Early CPR and early defibrillation increase the chances of survival by providing blood circulation and resetting the heart rhythm.

Continue CPR until:

• The person starts breathing.
• Emergency responders arrive.
• You are too exhausted to continue.

Place the person on a firm, flat surface to provide accurate compressions.

Rescuers should switch roles every 2 minutes (or every 5 cycles of CPR) to avoid fatigue.

Procedure for an individual that has suffered a burn:

• Cool the burn with running cold water for at least 10 minutes.
• Cover with a clean, non-stick bandage or cloth.
• Do not apply ointments or ice.
• Seek medical attention for more severe burns.

Concussion symptoms:

• Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, blurred vision, memory loss, sensitivity to light, or ringing in the ears.

For a person having signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

• Have the person chew an aspirin (if not allergic).
• Keep them calm and in a comfortable position, typically sitting up.
• Monitor the person’s condition and be ready to perform CPR if needed.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction treated with administering epinephrine (EpiPen) and seeking emergency medical help immediately.

A tourniquet should be used to control severe, life-threatening bleeding when direct pressure cannot stop the bleeding, typically in cases of limb injuries.

Assisting a patient with life-threatening bleeding:

• Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or dressing.
• If the bleeding does not stop, apply a tourniquet above the wound (for limb injuries).

Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding, spurting blood, or blood soaking through bandages all indicate life-threatening bleeding.

Assisting a patient having an asthma attack:

• Help the person use their inhaler (if available), and encourage slow, deep breaths. If symptoms worsen or do not improve, call 9-1-1.

Assisting a patient experiencing opioid overdose:

• If trained, administer naloxone (Narcan) if available. If the person is unresponsive, start CPR and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Back blows positioning:

• Adults and children: Position them bent forward, with their head lower than their chest, and deliver 5 back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
• Infants: Hold the infant face down on your forearm, supporting the head and neck, and give 5 gentle back blows between the shoulder blades.