Chapter 1
Before Giving Care
and
Checking an Injured or Ill Person
Chapter 1 - Objectives
 Move an ill or injured person with the proper
technique
 Utilize and remember the steps for initial care of
a victim
 Understand and utilize the Good Samaritan Law
 Know and perform the proper techniques for
overcoming barriers
 Discuss universal precautions for preventing
disease transmission
Your Role in the EMS System
Step 1: Recognize that an
Emergency Exists
Step 2: Decide to Act
Step 3: Activate the EMS System
Step 4: Give Care Until Help
Arrives
Recognize that an Emergency Exists
 Unusual Noises
 Screaming, moaning, yelling, or calls for help
 Unusual silence
 Unusual Sights
 Downed Electrical Wires
 Spilled Medication or empty container
 Unusual Odors
 Odors that are stronger than usual
 Sulfer Smell
 Unusual Appearances or Behaviors
 Unconsciousness
 Sudden collapse, slip, or fall
Decide to Act
 Overcoming Barriers to
 The Type of Injury or
Act
 Panic or Fear of Doing
Something Wrong
 Being Unsure of the
Person’s Condition and
What to do
 Assuming Someone Else
Will Take Action
Illness
 Fear of Catching a Disease
 Fear of Being Sued
 Good Samaritan Law
 Being Unsure When to Call
9-1-1
• Law that protect
people against
claims of
negligence when
they give
emergency care in
good faith with out
accepting anything
in return.
• Usually protect
citizens who act
the same way a
“reasonable and
prudent person”
would in that same
situation.
Good Samaritan Law
Activate the EMS
• Call 9-1-1or other local
emergency number
• Emergency Call Taker will ask for:
• Your address
• Your phone number
• Location of the emergency
• Questions to determine if you need
the police, fire or medical assistance
• Do NOT hang up until the call taker
does FIRST
Give Care Until Help Takes Over
 Give care until
 You see an obvious sign of
life
 Another trained responder
or EMS takes over
 You are too exhausted to
continue
 The scene becomes unsafe
 Getting Permission to Give
Care
 Permission to give care if
the person is conscious
 Tell them: who you are, how
much training you have, what
you think is wrong, what you
plan to do
 Implied Consent
 Given if: unconscious or
unable to respond, confused,
mentally impaired, seriously
injured, or seriously ill
Disease Transmission
Bacteria
 Live outside of the body
and do not depend on
other organisms for life
Viruses
 Depend on other
organisms to live
Prevention of Disease Transmission
 While Giving Care
 Cleaning up Spills
 Avoid Contact with blood
 Clean immediately
and other bodily fluids
 Use protective CPR
breathing barrier
 Use other barriers
 Wipe with absorbent
 Gloves
 Cover your own cuts
material
 Use 1part bleach to 9 parts
water to clean and disinfect
the area
 Dispose of in a biohazard
container
Taking Action:
Emergency Action Steps
Check - Call - Care
CHECK
Check the Scene and the Person
Look over the Scene and Ask:
Is it safe?
Is immediate danger involved?
What happened?
How many people are involved?
Is anyone else available to help?
What is wrong?
Checking the Victim:
 Check to see if the victim
is conscious:
 Adult victim
 12yrs +
 Child Victim
 1 – 12 yrs
 Infant Victim
 Birth to 1yr.
CALL
Call 9-1-1 or
The Local Emergency Number
IF YOU ARE ALONE:
 CALL 9-1-1 FIRST IF:
 2 MIN. OF CARE FIRST:
 Any adult or child who is
 Unconscious child who
unconscious
 A child or infant who you
witnessed suddenly
collapse
 Unconscious child or infant
known to have heart
problems
you did not see collapse
 Any drowning victim
CARE
Once you have checked the person and called 91-1, you may have to give care until EMS
personnel take over.
To do so Follow these Guidelines:
 Do no further harm
 Keep the person
 Monitor the
from getting chilled
or overheated
 Reassure the
person
 Give any specific
care as needed
person’s breathing
and consciousness
 Help the person
rest in the most
comfortable
position
When can you move the victim?
When the scene becomes unsafe
When you need to get to another
victim who is more injured.
When you need to give care to the
victim.
Moving an Ill or Injured Person:
 Techniques on Land:
 Walking Assist
 Two-Person Seat Carry
 Pack-Strap Carry
 Clothes Drag
 Blanket Drag
 Ankle Drag
 Techniques for Water:
 Reaching Assists
 Throwing Assists
 Wading Assists
Checking a Conscious Victim
•Interview the person and bystanders
•Obtain consent from the victim or
parent/guardian
•Check the person from head to toe
• Toe to head for children
Shock
A condition in which the circulatory system
fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to
the body’s tissues and vital organs
Checking an Unconscious Person
A,B,C’s
• Airway
• Breathing
• Circulation
Special Situations:
 Air in the Stomach
 Vomiting
 Mouth-to-Nose Breathing
 Mouth-to-Stoma Breathing
 Head, Neck, and Spinal Injuries
 Drowning Victims
Recovery Position
 H – High
 A – Arm
 IN
 E – Endangered
 S – Spine
 POSITION