Chapter 5
Checking
The
Victim
Checking for Life Threatening
Conditions
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Unconsciousness
Not breathing or trouble breathing
Severe bleeding
Actions you will take depend on the
conditions you find
Checking for Consciousness
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First – determine if the victim is
conscious
Gently tap on shoulder (adult) and ask “Are
you okay” – do not jostle or move victim
For an infant – tap shoulder or flick foot
If conscious- introduce yourself, get
consent to give care
Look for signals of injury or illness
Use bystanders for information, to call 9-1-1
Ask questions about what happened
Checking for Consciousness
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If unconscious, situation is different
Life threatening
Call 9-1-1 or local emergency # immediately
Have bystanders call for you
If alone – Call first (9-1-1) before giving care
for
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Unconscious adult victim or adolescent 12 or older
Unconscious infant/child known to be at high risk
for heart problems
Witnessed sudden collapse of a child/infant
Checking for Consciousness
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If alone – Care first (2 min. of care)
then call 9-1-1 for
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A unwitnessed collapse of child/infant
Victim of submersion
Victim of cardiac arrest associated
w/trauma
Victim of drug overdose
Checking for Consciousness
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If you leave the scene to call 9-1-1, place the
unconscious victim in the H.A.I.N.E.S.
position. In case they vomit.
This position is called the Recovery Position
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To roll victim onto side, extend arm above head
and other across chest
Bend top leg and move it forward
Support head/neck as roll onto side
Position head/neck so face is angled toward
ground
Checking an Unconscious
Person
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Always check an unconscious person  ABC’s
 Airway- open the airway
 Breathing- check for breathing
 Circulation- check for signs of life
and severe bleeding
Checking an Unconscious
Person
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Airway- after 9-1-1 has been called
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Check to see if airway is open and person is
breathing
If face down, roll victim over by supporting
head/neck, hand on hip and pull towards you
To open- push down on forehead while pulling up
on bony part of jaw w/2 or 3 fingers of other hand
to lift chin
Known as head-tilt/chin lift technique
This moves tongue away from back of throat
allowing air to enter lungs
Checking an Unconscious
Person
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Breathing- check an unconscious person carefully
for signals of breathing
Look, listen, and feel for no more than 10 seconds
Lean over victim’s head so that you can hear and feel
air as it escapes from the nose and mouth
Look to see if victim’s chest rises at the same time
Not breathing- give 2 rescue breaths each lasting 1
second (pinch nose and release between breaths)for
child/infant only
If air goes in (chest rises), check for signs of life
(normal breathing, movement and a pulse for
children and infants for no more than 10 sec.)
Checking an Unconscious
Person
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Circulation
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Adult – check for signs of life for no more
than 10 sec.
Child/infant – check pulse
Severe Bleeding
Check victim from head to toe for signs of
bleeding
Special Considerations
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Air in Stomach –Gastric Distention
Vomiting
Mouth-to-Nose Breathing
Mouth-to-Stoma Breathing
Head, Neck and/or Spine Injury
Dentures
Drowning Victim
Checking a Conscious Victim
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Checking conscious victim w/no immediate life threatening
conditions
1. Interview victim and bystanders
- first identify yourself and get
consent
-ask victim’s name
-ask questions
a) what happened?
b) do you feel pain/discomfort anywhere?
c) do you have allergies?
d) any medical conditions/taking medications?
e) look for Medical ID Tags
Checking a Conscious Victim
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If in pain- ask where it hurts and to
describe it?
When did it start?
Write down what you learn
Helps EMS to determine type of medical
care needed
Checking a Conscious Victim
2. Check victim from head to toe- for cuts, bumps,
bruises, and depressions
- tell victim what you are doing first
-use your senses: sight, sound, touch, smell
to detect anything abnormal
a) head – look at face, nose, mouth, eyes,
scalp
b) skin appearance and temperature
c) neck – ask to move it side-side
Checking a Conscious Victim
d) shoulders- shrug
e) chest and abdomen- deep breath
f) arms- raise one at a time
g) hands and fingers
h) hips, legs, feet
i) slowly stand if everything is ok
Checking a Conscious Victim
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Giving Care: for what you find
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Do no further harm
Monitor breathing and consciousness
Help victim rest in most comfortable
position
Keep victim from getting cold/overheated
Reassure victim
Give any specific care needed
Checking a Conscious Victim
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Deciding to Transport
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Do Not transport a victim
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When trip may aggravate injury or illness or
cause additional injury
When victim has or may develop a lifethreatening condition
If you are unsure of the nature of the injury or
illness
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Discourage victim from driving his/herself to hospital
Checking Infants/Children
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Infants – 0 to 1 year of age
Children – 1 to 12 years of age
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Observe carefully before touching him/her for
changes in condition may occur rapidly
If parent is present, ask them to calm child and
get permission (consent) to give care
Get at eye level with child and talk clearly (slowly)
and in a friendly manner with parent and child
Start check from the toes first to help calm child
Checking Older Adults
(over 65)
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Learn victims name- use Mr. or Mrs. as a sign
of respect
Get at eye level so they can see and hear you
more clearly
Speak slowly and clearly
Confusion may be result of injury or condition
the victim already has
Find out what medications victim is taking
Shock
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Sudden illness or injury may cause
interruptions in the normal body functions.
With more severe injuries or illness, the body
is unable to meet its demands for oxygen.
Condition in which the body fails to circulate
oxygen-rich blood to all the parts of the body
is know as Shock.
Left untreated, shock can lead to death.