Check, Call, Care
Canadian Red Cross
Chpt 4
Check Environment
• Is it safe for me to enter?
• Check for “fire, wire, gas, glass”
• How did it happen?
• How many ill or injured people are there?
• Is there someone to help me?
• Is anyone unconscious?
Check person
• ABC’s
• Airway
• Breathing
• Circulation
Check person
• Does the person respond?
• Ask “Are you okay?”
• If no response, tap their shoulder
• Does the person want your help?
Checking the ABC’s
• should take no more than 5-10
seconds
• Check Airway
• Check Breathing
• Check Circulation
Call EMS and get
an AED
• EMS – Emergency Medical Service
• AED – Automated External Defibrillator
Care for all lifethreatening
conditions first
Shock
• Shock is a potentially life-threatening
condition in which vital organs do not
receive enough oxygen-rich blood
• Shock can be caused injury, illness,
infection or emotion
• Treat everybody for shock
Secondary Survey
• Only do SS if ABC’s are present
• Ask SAMPLE questions
• Check the quality of the vital signs
• Do a Head-To-Toe check
• Always complete the SS before treating
any non-life threatening injuries
SAMPLE Questions
S – Signs and Symptoms (what you See)
A – Allergies
M – Medications
P – Past Medical History
L – Last Meal
E – Events leading up to the injury or illness
Vital Signs
• Level of consciousness (LOC)
• Skin colour
• Breathing (rate, type)
Hands-off Check
• Person is conscious and able to respond
• If able, and it does not cause pain, ask them to
systematically move various parts of the body
• Note where pain or lack of fuction is occuring
• You may guide them verbally through this
process
Hands-on Check
• Person is unconscious and unable to respond
• Do NOT move parts of body if you suspect
spinal cord or head injury!
• Gently touch each part of the body, noting any
bleeding, swelling, abnormal spots
• Begin at head and move down to the feet
Continual Care
• Continue to monitor for ABC’s
• Continue to treat for shock
• Reassure the person and keep them
comfortable
• Continue to assess vital signs
Check, Call, Care
Canadian Red Cross