Unit 2-Lesson 1 Scene Size-Up PDF

Unit 2 Respond to a Medical Emergency Lesson 1 Scene Size-Up Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will know the components of scene size-up, and how to com- municate scene information with other responders. The scene size-up has four components: scene safety, mechanism of injury or na...

Unit 2 Respond to a Medical Emergency Lesson 1 Scene Size-Up Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will know the components of scene size-up, and how to com- municate scene information with other responders. The scene size-up has four components: scene safety, mechanism of injury or nature of illness, the number of victims, and the need for more rescuers and special equipment. Scene Safety ✅ HL221.1. Describe how to determine if the scene is safe to enter before providing emergency first aid Scene size-up begins as soon as you receive notice from dispatch or you come upon it. Although it takes only moments to perform, scene size-up is crucial to all involved. Before you enter the scene, take an overall view of what is happening. Always maintain situational awareness. Remember, if you get injured, you may not be able to help anyone else. If the scene is unsafe and you have no means to make it safe, do not enter. Pay attention to what you see, hear, smell, and feel. Quickly put all your observations together to help determine what you and others need to do to make the scene safe. Only after determining the scene is safe to enter can you help patients. Possible dangers vary greatly, depending on the scene type. Officers respond to a variety of inci- dents, including natural disasters, domestic violence calls, nuisance animal calls, and active threat/ shooter incidents. Keep in mind that although some scenes may be similar, none is the same. Each presents its own dangers and will require a different level of awareness. There may be times when a patient can render their own first aid based on your verbal direction from outside the scene. This lesson provides information on general approaches for scene safety assessment. You will learn more about providing care while under a direct threat in a separate lesson. Mechanism of Injury or Nature of Illness While assessing scene safety, try to determine the mechanism of injury to the patient or the nature of the illness. Simply put, try to determine what happened. What is the patient’s chief complaint? Understanding what happened helps you judge the extent of injury or illness. 60 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2 ✅ HL221.2. Describe how to recognize the difference between a trauma patient and a medical patient before providing emergency first aid Are you dealing with a trauma patient or a medical patient? A trauma patient is an injured person while a medical patient is a person who is ill. Knowing the patient type that you have helps you determine the type of first aid or equipment needed. A patient who belongs to both categories requires treatment for each; for example, a patient that suffered a heart attack or lost conscious- ness due to low blood sugar that lead to a vehicle crash would need treatment for the trauma injury as well as medical illness. Number and Location of Patients ✅ HL221.3. Describe how to identify all the victims on the scene The next size-up component is determining the number of patients. If there is more than one, find out how many and where they are. In certain situations, such as rollover car crashes, patients ejected from a vehicle may be difficult to find. You may need to question other patients, witnesses, or bystanders. When there are multiple patients, you will need to prioritize care and triage patients depending on several factors. You will learn more about how to triage in the lesson on mass casu- alty incidents and triage. Need for More Responders or Special Equipment ✅ HL221.4. Describe how to determine the need for more or specialized help when providing emergency first aid Assess the need for and relay a request for more resources based on your local protocol and depart- ment policy. In a clear and concise manner, verbally transmit all information gathered during your size-up so that the communications center or responding units are aware of the circumstances. Relay your information about overall scene safety, type and extent of injuries, number of patients, and the need for special units to assist. The quicker you relay information; the faster additional resources can respond. Relaying scene size-up information accurately and quickly better prepares responding units for what they might encounter when they arrive on scene. Chapter 2 First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers / 61