Steps
Content
Step I. Assess the situation: what do you think happened and is there still danger? • If giving first aid that will expose you to danger, do not do it: call or go for help. • If a person is still in danger, remove the danger or the person before giving first aid. Step 2. If you are alone, shout for help. Step 3. Choose the best place for first aid. a) On the spot? • Not if fire is present. • Not if there are potentially dangerous gases in the atmosphere. • Not if there are other risks at the site of the accident. b) In the ship's infirmary (sick-bay) or in a cabin? • Not if the delay in moving the person is dangerous. Step 4. If there are several injured people, prioritize. • send for help; • treat the most serious injury first in the order of: a. not breathing and/or heart stopped; b. Unconsciousness (still breathing) c. serious bleeding; • Check the patients pulse, if cannot be felt in the wrist, it should be felt in the carotid artery If pulse is weak and rapid, or the skin is pale & cold, and possibly moist, with an increased rate of shallow and irregular breathing, this is a sign of SHOCK! If there is no pulse, check breathing, heart and look for serious bleeding; if breathing has stopped = give artificial respiration; if the heart has stopped = give heart compression and artificial respiration; arrest serious bleeding;
Unconscious Casualty A = AIRWAY • Check the mouth for foreign bodies (vomit, broken teeth etc) because these can lodge in the throat and block the airway • followed by doing the “head tilt - chin lift” movement to actually open up the airway • If with spinal injury, never hyperextend the neck HEAD TILT – CHIN LIFT PROCEDURE • Place one palm on the forehead and at the same time with the other hand • place two fingers under the chin or the thumb and index finger at the corner of the jaw. • Apply slight pressure on the palm on the forehead to tilt the casualty's head and lift with the other hand. B = BREATHING • To check breathing, we use the three words: LOOK, LISTEN and FEEL. • LOOK at the chest for movement • LISTEN and FEEL by placing your cheek over the casualty's nose and mouth C = CIRCULATION • The carotid pulse on the neck is used for this which can be found at either side of the Adams apple Gently palpate for the pulse and check for a full ten seconds • A - B - C should only take 30 seconds to check!! • If you have checked the ABC and they are breathing and have a pulse, put the casualty into recovery position. • No breathing = check the circulation then administer two breaths on return and then check the circulation. • No breathing + no circulation = cardiac arrest - CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) procedure to be followed.
Unconscious Casualty A = AIRWAY • Check the mouth for foreign bodies (vomit, broken teeth etc) because these can lodge in the throat and block the airway • followed by doing the “head tilt - chin lift” movement to actually open up the airway • If with spinal injury, never hyperextend the neck HEAD TILT – CHIN LIFT PROCEDURE • Place one palm on the forehead and at the same time with the other hand • place two fingers under the chin or the thumb and index finger at the corner of the jaw. • Apply slight pressure on the palm on the forehead to tilt the casualty's head and lift with the other hand. B = BREATHING • To check breathing, we use the three words: LOOK, LISTEN and FEEL. • LOOK at the chest for movement • LISTEN and FEEL by placing your cheek over the casualty's nose and mouth C = CIRCULATION • The carotid pulse on the neck is used for this which can be found at either side of the Adams apple Gently palpate for the pulse and check for a full ten seconds • A - B - C should only take 30 seconds to check!! • If you have checked the ABC and they are breathing and have a pulse, put the casualty into recovery position. • No breathing = check the circulation then administer two breaths on return and then check the circulation. • No breathing + no circulation = cardiac arrest - CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) procedure to be followed.
