Emergency Response Plan
Muskingum Valley ESC
Psychological Services
CRISIS RESPONSE DOCUMENT
FIRST AID HELPFUL HINTS
First Aid
Helpful Hints
1. Act promptly, but not hastily. Examine the injured person carefully and
quickly from head to toe. Look for breathing obstructions, bleeding, and
broken bones. Call doctor or ambulance immediately or have someone else
do it if you are busy with the victim.
2 Start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if breathing has stopped. Learn this
method now-before an emergency arises. Take a Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) course from your American Heart Association. Be
prepared!
3. Stop the bleeding. A snug bandage or a pressure dressing will usually
check bleeding. If not, press firmly at the point that cuts off blood flow to
the injured area of the body. Use direct pressure--not a tourniquet.
4. Look for shock--face drained of color, skin cold and moist, rapid, weak
pulse, and fainting. Wrap victim in blankets or clothing, make him lie down,
unless doing so will make other injuries worse, and try to calm him. Call an
ambulance.
5. Give aid at once in poisonings Get medical help, but do not wait to start
first aid! If the poison container is nearby, follow directions on label.
Otherwise, give victim egg white beaten in water, milk, or plain water to
dilute poison. If poison was not a corrosive or a petroleum product like
kerosene, give syrup of ipecac to make victim vomit.
6. Handle with care a person with suspected neck or back injuries should not
be moved until an ambulance, rescue personnel, or experienced person is on
the scene. If moving the victim, use a stretcher or make one with blankets, a
board, or a ladder padded with clothing. Usually, it is best to wait for the
ambulance.
7. Splint broken bones. A splint can be made with almost any firm object--an
umbrella, a broomstick, even a tightly-rolled newspaper. Splints should be
long enough to reach well beyond the joints above and below the suspected
break.
Burns result from heat (thermal) or chemicals. For small thermal burns, if
skin is unbroken, place burned area in cool water. Cover large burns with
plain, clean cloth. For chemical burns, flush with water. All except minor
burns should be seen by a doctor to prevent shock or infection.
9. Bandage wounds to help protect against infection, reduce bleeding, and
lessen pain. The wound should be covered with a sterile dressing before the
bandage is applied.
Mouth-To-Mouth Resuscitation
If victim's breathing has stopped, and you are trained, administer CPR;
other-wise remove any foreign matter lodged in mouth or throat (make sure
tongue is not obstructing throat) and begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
immediately. An ambulance should be called at once.
1. Lift victim's neck and extend the head with other hand to open air
passage. Pull chin upward. Pinch off nostrils to close and prevent air leakage
when inflating lungs.
2. Place your mouth firmly over victim's mouth (for a small child, place
mouth over both nose and mouth); blow hard until chest rises (infants and
small children need only small putts of air).
3. Disengage and let victim exhale through mouth or nose. Continue blowing
once every 5 seconds (for small children, once every 3 seconds) until victim
begins breathing on his own or until the ambulance arrives.