Chapter 2
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identify the four emergency action steps.
Establish four important questions to be answered
when checking the scene of an emergency.
Explain what to do if the scene is unsafe.
List four conditions considered life threatening in an
emergency.
Name three things you must tell the victim to get
permission to give care.
Make clear when and how to call EMS personnel.
Preparing for Emergencies
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Keep important information.
Keep medical and insurance records.
Find out if your community is served by 9-1-1 or a local
emergency telephone number.
Keep emergency telephone numbers listed.
Keep a first aid kit readily available.
Learn and stay up to date on first aid and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.
Make sure your house or apartment number is easy to
read.
Wear a medical alert tag.
Taking Action
Emergency Action Steps- The four C’s
The emergency action steps are the four basic steps
you should take in any emergency. These steps
include:
1. Stay Calm, you must always keep yourself
under control.
2. Check the scene, then Check the victim.
3. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
4. Care for the victim until professional medical
help arrives.
Check the Scene
Before you can help the victim, you must
make sure the scene is safe for you and
any bystanders.
Take time to check the scene and answer these
four important questions…
Check the Scene
(Continued)
1.
Is the scene safe?
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2.
Look for anything that may threaten your
safety and that of the victim or bystanders. If
any dangers are threatening, do not approach
the victim. Retreat and call 9-1-1 immediately.
What happened?
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Look around the scene for clues about what
caused the emergency and the type and extent
of the victim’s injuries. If the victim is
unconscious, your check of the scene may be
the only way to tell what happened.
Check the Scene
(Continued)
3.
How many Victims are there?
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4.
Look carefully for more than one victim. You
may not spot everyone at first. If you find more
than one victim ask bystanders to help care for
them.
Are Bystanders available for help?

Bystanders may be able to tell you what
happened or help in other ways. A bystander
who knows the victim may know whether he or
she has any medical problems or allergies.
Check the Victim
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Do not move a victim unless an immediate
danger, such as fire, flood, poisonous fumes,
hazardous traffic patterns, or unstable
structure, threatens you and the victim.
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If you find the victim has any immediate lifethreatening conditions, you must call EMS
personnel immediately or send someone else to
call.
Check the Victim
(Continued)
The four conditions considered immediately life
threatening in an emergency situation are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
unconsciousness
no breathing or difficulty breathing
no pulse
severe bleeding
Check the Victim
(Continued)
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Be calm and reassuring
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Before giving first aid to a conscious adult victim,
identify yourself as a person trained in first aid.
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Get permission to provide care. This permission is
referred as consent. To get consent you must tell the
victim:
1.
2.
3.
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Who you are
Your level of training
What it is you would like to do.
If the victim is unconscious or unable to respond
consent is implied.
Call
EMS Personnel
Your top priority as a citizen responder is to get
professional help to the victim as soon as possible.
The system works more effectively if you can
provide information about the victim’s condition
when the call is placed. This information helps to
ensure that the victim receives proper medical care
as quickly as possible.
When to call
As general rule, call EMS personnel for any of
the following conditions:

Unconscious or altered
level of consciousness
 Breathing problems
 Persistent chest or
abdominal pain or
pressure
 No pulse
 Severe bleeding
 Severe burns
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Vomiting blood or passing
blood in feces or urine
Poisoning or suspected
poisoning
Seizures, severe headache,
or slurred speech
Injuries to head neck, or
back
Broken bones or suspected
broken bones
When to call
Special situations

Fire or explosion.
 The presence of poisonous gas.
 Downed electrical wires.
 Motor vehicle collisions.
 Victims who cannot be moved easily.
Making the Call
When you make the call, you should do the following:
1. If someone else is placing the call give them the number.
2. Give necessary information:
• The exact street address or location.
• The telephone number from which the call is being
made.
• Your name
• What happened
• How many people are involved
• The condition of the victim
• The help be given
3. Do not to hang up until the dispatcher hangs up.
4. If someone else is making the call, tell them to report to you
after making the call.
Making the Call
When you are alone
If you are in a situation in which you are the only
person other than the victim, you must make a
decision to Call First or Call Fast.
You should call first before giving care if:
1.
2.
An unconscious adult victim or child age 8 or older.
An unconscious infant or child known to be at high
risk for heart problems.
Call First situations are likely to be cardiac
emergencies, such as sudden cardiac arrest,
where time is critical.
Making the Call
When you are alone
Call Fast, that is, provide 1 minute of care, then call
9-1-1 for:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An unconscious victim younger than 8
Any victim of submersion or near-drowning
Any victim of cardiac arrest associated with trauma
Any victim of drug overdose.
Call Fast situations are likely to be related to breathing
emergencies rather than sudden cardiac arrest. In these
situations provide support for airway, breathing and
circulation through rescue breaths and chest
compressions, as appropriate
Care
Once you have checked the scene and the
victim, you may have to provide care.
Always care for life-threatening conditions
before those that are not.
If the victim is conscious be aware of their
condition, just in case it changes. This may
be a sign of a more serious illness or injury.
Closure
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You, the citizen responder trained in first aid, play a critical role by being
the first link in the chain of survival. Your actions can help save a life.
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The most important things you can do in any emergency are to recognize
that an emergency has occurred and decide to act.
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Check – Call –Care will guide your actions in any emergency and most
importantly stay Calm
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If you are prepared for unforeseen emergencies, you can help ensure that
care begins as soon as possible – for yourself, your family, and your fellow
citizens.
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Your training will help you better mange your fears and overcome
barriers to action and enable you to respond more effectively.