Emergency Care Guide

What to do until help arrives
The first thing you need to do is REMAIN CALM
Your actions-After a serious injury or illness occurs, may be the only chance of survival that he or she may have.
Your Priorities
Emergency Medical Help
If possible, stay with the victim while someone else calls for help. If alone and victim is an adult who is not breathing, call EMS (911) before beginning rescue breathing.
Breathing
If necessary, begin rescue breathing (see A-B-C of Rescue Breathing below)
Circulation
If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained)
Bleeding
Apply direct pressure and elevation to stop persistent bleeding
Neck or Spinal Injuries
Don't move victim unless absolutely necessary
Other health problems
Check victim for emergency medical ID tags and/or medications
Do not give food or liquids An unconscious or semi-conscious victim cannot swallow and could suffocate
Stay Calm
Reassure the victim and stay calm yourself

A-B-C of Rescue Breathing

In any emergency, your first priority is to restore breathing: There is no time to wait for help. You must act immediately.
Tap the victim and shout " Are you OK?" if no response yell for someone to call for help. If you are alone and the victim is an adult , activate EMS (911), before proceeding to A B C's.

A - A is for Airway, Open the airway
Place the heel of your hand on the victims forehead, with your other hand, lift the victims chin with your fingers. Tilt the victims head back unless you suspect they have a head or spinal injury. Check for breathing for 3-5 seconds. If none, go to Breathing
B - B is for Breathing, Give 2 Full slow breaths
Emergency Breathing
C - C is for Circulation. Check for breathing and a pulse
Feel for a pulse in side of neck, in groove near adams apple, check for pulse for 5-10 seconds. If pulse is present, do rescue breathing at rate of 1 breath every 5 seconds. If no pulse start CPR (only if trained).
Giving CPR
CPR Rate Guide
If you do not know CPR, continue rescue breathing until victim is breathing again or help arrives.

Injury or Illness specific care

Bleeding
For severe wounds, call for emergency help. Then cover wound with cleanest cloth available or bare hands and PRESS firmly. Elevate bleeding arm or leg unless you suspect a fracture. Add cloths on top of first cloth as needed. Maintain direct pressure and elevation until help arrives.

Burns
Burns
Stop the burning. Call for emergency help if burn is severe If not breathing, begin rescue breathing. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). Do not remove clothes. Immerse area in cold water only if there is no blistering or broken skin. Cover burn with cleanest cloth available. Keep victim lying flat and lightly covered.

Car Accident
If in a car, pull off road and turn on flashers. First attend to victims who are not breathing or who are bleeding. Ask someone to call for emergency assistance. Turn off ignition of wrecked car and warn bystanders of danger from fire. Don't move victims unless in danger from traffic or wrecked car.

Chest Pain
Heart Attack
Call for emergency help. If not breathing , begin rescue breathing, If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). If conscious, help victim to comfortable position, head raised. Loosen tight clothing. If under medical care, help victim with prescribed medication.

Choking
Choking
Call for help. Begin Heimlich Maneuver: Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around waist Put your fist (thumb toward stomach) against abdomen (above navel and below rib cage) and grasp fist with other hand. PRESS into abdomen with a quick upward thrust Repeat thrusts until object is dislodged.

Convulsions
Seizure
Catch victim if falling. Clear a space and place a pillow or cushion under head. Don't put anything in mouth or try to stop jerking movement. Loosen tight clothing. Stay with victim. Get someone to call for emergency help if you need to restore breathing, another convulsion occurs or if victim is pregnant.

Drowning
Drowning
Get victim out of the water. Call for emergency help. Place on hard surface with head and neck supported. If not breathing , begin rescue breathing. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). Elevate feet unless you suspect a fracture, cover with blanket to prevent shock and don't give anything to eat or drink.

Drug Overdose
Remove victim from and dangerous situation. Call for emergency help. If not breathing, begin rescue breathing If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). Try to find out what drug was taken. Collect any pill bottles, urine and vomit to submit to hospital.

Electric Shock
Disconnect power source. Call for emergency help If not breathing, begin rescue breathing. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). Cover burns with clean dry dressing.

Eye Injury
Encourage victim to tear, bur not rub eye. If object is loose it may dislodge itself. If embedded, cover both eyes with gauze pad and get immediate assistance. For chemical burn, quickly flush eye with water for at least 15 minutes. Cover both eyes with clean dressing and get immediate help.

Fall
Fall Or Back Injury
Fracture Or Dislocation
Tell victim not to move head or neck. Call for emergency help. If not breathing, begin rescue breathing. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). Stop bleeding. If you suspect a broken bone, make a splint by placing rolled up newspaper or other firm objects on each side of fracture and secure with 2" wide cloth strips. If possible do not move victim.

Poisoning
Chemicals Or Poison
Poison Control Centers
Have the phone number of your Regional Poison Control Center handy (Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Regional Poison Center 1-800-366-8888). If victim is conscious, try to find out what was swallowed. Call Poison Control Center and tell them: What and how much was swallowed, victims status and your nearest hospital Follow their directions. Collect containers, and victim's vomit and urine.

Shock
Lay victim on back with feet higher than head unless you suspect head or back injuries. Check for breathing difficulties. Get someone to call for emergency help Apply direct pressure and elevation to stop persistent bleeding. Loosen tight clothing and cover victim Offer reassurance and stay calm.

Stomach Pain
Have victim lay in comfortable position. Take temperature Give nothing to eat or drink. If vomiting, turn head to side If pain is persistent or severe and/ or accompanied by fever, seek medical attention.

Stopped Breathing
See A-B-C of RESCUE BREATHING above. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained). If person is choking, see CHOKING above.

Unconsciousness
If faint, lay victim down with feet elevated or bend over with head at knee level. If unconscious, call for emergency help. If not breathing , begin rescue breathing. If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained).

Other Injuries:
Bee & Wasp Stings
Cuts Or Lacerations
Electrocution
Frostbite
Snake Bite

Emergency Care Guide

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