Need to preform CPR?
Step 1: If someone is unresponsive, call 911 or have another person contact emergency services immediately.
Step 2: Make sure the scene is Safe for you.
Step 3: Carefully place the individual on their back and open the airway by gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Check the mouth for any visible obstructions, such as food or debris, and remove only loose objects that can be cleared safely.
If the individual is not breathing normally, begin CPR immediately.
Step 4: Start with 30 chest compressions by placing the heel of one hand in the center of the chest and the other hand on top. Keep your elbows straight and push hard and fast at a steady rhythm.
Step 5: After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Tilt the head back, lift the chin, pinch the nose closed, and create a seal over the person’s mouth. Deliver each breath slowly enough to make the chest rise.
Step 6: Continue cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until emergency medical personnel arrive or the person begins breathing normally.
Helpful tips if you or someone else experienced the following:
Heart Attack
Heart attack (coronary artery disease) occurs when a clot (fat and cholesterol on the walls of the artery) blocks a narrowed coronary artery and deprives the heart of oxygen. The victim feels discomfort (chest pain, shortness of breath, pale cool sweaty skin, dizzy, nausea and vomiting) due to the heart muscle dying.
Call 911, Don’t Delay! Loosen clothing, keep person calm, give 1 Adult or 2 Baby aspirin if there is no allergy to aspirin. Have them CHEW NOT SWALLOW!
Stroke
Stroke (injury to the brain caused by restricting blood flow to the brain, when a blood vessel is either blocked or bursts) Recognize the symptoms, and seek immediate help! NoAspirin!
F: Facial Drooping
A: Arm Weakness
S: Speech Slurring
T: Time (seek medical help right away to reduce the chance of disability and survival .
Helpful Emergency Tips
Shock (life-threatening condition that occurs when the organs of the body don’t get enough blood and oxygen. This can cause serious organ damage and lead to death.)
This can be caused by heart attack, bleeding, heat emergencies, infection, allergic reaction, trauma.
Keep the body temperature as normal as possible. Place a blanket over the body and lie flat on the floor. This will help to improve blood flow to the brain and vital organs. Don’t give anything to drink, as it may increase vomiting and aspiration.
Call 911 and stay with the victim until emergency help arrives.
Diabetes (disease that affects the person’s ability to process sugar. Whether the blood sugar is too low or too high treat the same. If too low, they need sugar immediately that will be fast acting or sugar too high, still give sugar because not as life threatening, and can get balanced easier that avoiding the situation.)
Signs would be confusion, irritability, pale, sweaty, rapid breathing, hunger or thirst.
Give fast acting sugar that would be orange juice, candy, coke, etc.
Person could become unresponsive, start CPR, if responsive, Stay with victim until sugar gets regulated or call 911
Seizures: (abnormal electrical activity in the brain causing loss of awareness and change in behavior. Involuntary movements, staring, eye movements, drooling, nausea and vomiting, can have hallucinations, and possibility of unresponsiveness)
These can be cause by epilepsy, head injury, stroke, drug overdose, poisoning, low blood sugar, trauma, or heat stroke.
Don’t restrain! Move away anything that could cause injury. Don’t worry about mouth injuries until after seizure. After seizure, roll responsive victim on side in recovery position, if unresponsive start CPR
Call 911
Spinal injury could be at any part of the vertebrae, which starts at the base of the brain to the coccyx. It consists of a spinal chord running through the center of the vertebrae.
Consider any trauma to the area if it was related to Motor vehicle, motorcycle/scooter, bicycle crash, fall of any kind, any sport that would use force.
Symptoms that could appear, pain in the area, numbness, tingling, loss of sensation, paralysis, bladder and bowel loss, altered mental status. Don’t be fooled if these symptoms don’t appear immediately. They can worsen over time.
It is best to stabilize the victim in the position found. Watch for possible shock (cover gently with a blanket). Watch for breathing. The good Samaritan law will come into play, if they go unresponsive and not breathing. Remember Cardiac Trumps Trauma.
Muscles Bone & Joint Injuries (fracture is a break in a bone by excessive force & strain. Dislocation is when the bones joined at the joint separate. Strain is stretching or tearing of a muscle or tissue connecting muscle to bone or tendon)
Symptoms include pain, swelling, limited ability to move.
When to Splint: When a bone is visibly broken, don’t splint. Splinting helps to immobilize the fracture or strain while seeking further medical attention. Splint the injury in the position found above and below injury.
Cover open wounds with a sterile dressing. Control bleeding with pressure. Apply ice in a moist wrapped cloth for 15-20 minutes. Watch for Shock!
R Rest
I Ice
C Compression
E Elevation
Burns are classified by the depth of the burn. 1st degree burn can be thermal (due to sun exposure) or coming in contact with hot object. Use a cool damp cloth or run in cool water (not cold) for 20 minutes to reduce the pain. Don’t put any topical antibiotics or burn cream on until the heat escapes from the cool water.
2nd degree can be treated the same as the 1st, depending on the size of the burn and possible infection. Otherwise seek medical attention, if the burn seems to be getting worse with time. 3rd degree burn needs medical attention. It can cover a larger part of the body or even be burnt below the first level of skin tissue. Chemical burns can be very hazardous and should be known what chemicals the person is dealing with. A simple brushing or cleaning water may be all necessary, but definitely look at the labels and know your product and how to remove properly.
Breathing Difficulties
Allergic Reactions can be caused by bee stings, nuts, eggs, shellfish, dairy products, chocolate, latex and certain drugs. Signs are hives, sneezing, congestion or rash in a mild case. Sever would be tightness in the chest and throat, swelling in face, throat and tongue, difficulty breathing, vomiting and shock. Epipens are available to treat severe allergies and mild can be handled with over the counter allergy treatment in most cases, but a professional should be seen for further recommendations.
Asthma is a long term problem making it difficult for a person to breathe. The tubes that carry air to the lungs get narrow by inflammation and mucus, making it difficult to breathe. There is no cure, but most people are aware and control their symptoms. Position the person in a comfortable position sitting up. First hand smoke and second hand smoke can play a role in this, as well.
Poisoning can occur through exposure to a substance that produces an undesired effect. This can include eating, drinking, inhaling gas and fumes, chemicals through absorbed through skin, injection by bite, sting, hypodermic needle, and some plants. Prevention of locking up household items, medication, using smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can play a huge role.
1-800-222-1222 (Poison Help)
Lonestar tick has the white dot on back. It can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever and can also create an (alpha-gal meat allergy in your body that can produce an allergic life-threatening response.
The deer tick and black legged can cause Lyme disease. Pull tick out with tweezers making sure to get the head. Place and keep tick in a bag, if needed for further exam. Watch area for any sign of infection.
Spider bites with the black widow and brown recluse posing the most danger threats. Wolf spider can also cause a problem. Watch for severe pain or burning at the site, swelling, itching, painful joints, difficulty breathing and rapid heartbeat. Circle around the bite with a pen, if anything comes out of the circle (redness, whelping, rash) seek immediate medical attention.
Snake bite should be observed whether it was a poisonous snake. A poisonous bite mark has puncture wounds. Keep calm, call 911, stay in location and don’t move to create blood flow through the body, keep bite area lower than the heart, wait for help to take to a facility with anti-venom medication.
Marine animals remove the barb if superficial, not impaled, hot water for 90 minutes, seek medical help to clean the wound. Tentacles can be removed with a stiff card, and pour vinegar or baking soda on the area.
Animal bites, clean with soap and water, if bleeding apply pressure. Seek medical help for further observation and report the animal to proper authorities.