### Essential Steps for Checking Victims: Assess Life-Threatening Conditions ###

1. Chapter 5 Checking The Victim

2. Checking for Life Threatening Conditions • Unconsciousness • Not breathing or trouble breathing • Severe bleeding • Actions you will take depend on the conditions you find

3. Checking for Consciousness • 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

4. Checking for Consciousness • 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 • 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

5. Checking for Consciousness • If alone – Care first (2 min. of care) then call 9-1-1 for • A unwitnessed collapse of child/infant • Victim of submersion • Victim of cardiac arrest associated w/trauma • Victim of drug overdose

6. Checking for Consciousness • 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 • 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

7. Checking an Unconscious Person • Always check an unconscious person - • ABC’s • Airway- open the airway • Breathing- check for breathing • Circulation- check for signs of life and severe bleeding

8. Checking an Unconscious Person • Airway- after 9-1-1 has been called • 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

9. Checking an Unconscious Person • 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.)

10. Checking an Unconscious Person • Circulation- • 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

11. Special Considerations • Air in Stomach –Gastric Distention • Vomiting • Mouth-to-Nose Breathing • Mouth-to-Stoma Breathing • Head, Neck and/or Spine Injury • Dentures • Drowning Victim

12. Checking a Conscious Victim • 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

13. Checking a Conscious Victim • 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Checking a Conscious Victim • Giving Care: for what you find • 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

17. Checking a Conscious Victim • Deciding to Transport • Do Not transport a victim • When trip may aggravate injury or illness or cause additional injury • When victim has or may develop a life-threatening condition • If you are unsure of the nature of the injury or illness • Discourage victim from driving his/herself to hospital

18. Checking Infants/Children • Infants – 0 to 1 year of age • Children – 1 to 12 years of age • 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

19. Checking Older Adults (over 65) • 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

20. Shock • 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.