Recognizing Emergencies
Screaming, groaning, glass breaking, or a sudden loud crash.
What are unusual sounds?
The very first step you take when approaching any emergency scene to ensure you do not become a victim yourself.
What is CHECK (the scene for safety
The anatomical component represented by the letter "A" in the primary assessment acronym.
What is Airway
The type of legal protection that shields citizens from liability when they provide voluntary, rational first aid in good faith.
What are the Good Samaritan Laws
What is the immediate action to take if an adult patient is found completely unresponsive and is not breathing normally.
Call 911/get an AED
A strong smell of gasoline, chemical fumes, or a sweet, fruity odor on someone's breath.
What are unusual odours
The step in which you contact local emergency services, activate the EMS system, and request an AED
What is CALL
The manual physical technique used to open a patient's airway when they are lying flat on their back
What is the Head-Tilt/Chin-Lift maneuver
The legal concept that assumes an unconscious, unresponsive, or severely altered patient would want life-saving help.
What is implied consent
What is the body position you place an unresponsive but normally breathing patient in to keep their airway open and prevent choking.
What is the recovery position (rolling them onto their side
Uncharacteristic slurred speech, confusion, sudden irritability, or a person clutching their throat
What are unusual behaviours or appearances
The final step where you administer life-saving first aid within your scope of training until paramedics arrive.
What is CARE
Infrequent, heavy, distorted snoring noises or gasps that indicate cardiac arrest rather than normal breathing.
What are agonal gasps
The permission you must explicitly ask for and receive from a conscious adult before touching them to provide care.
What is verbal consent
What is the step to take if a conscious person refuses your offer of help, despite having a visible injury.
What is call emergency services (and stay nearby without touching them)
Sparks flying from an appliance, smoke pouring from a window, or spilled chemical liquids.
What are unusual sights
The information you should prioritize telling the dispatcher when making a "Call" step.
What is the exact location/address, the nature of the emergency, and the condition of the patient
The bodily area you firmly tap on an ADULT to check for responsiveness while shouting "Are you okay?!".
What are the shoulders?
The most critical piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear to protect yourself against blood borne pathogens
What are disposable gloves?
The safety action required if a scene suddenly becomes hazardous (such as fire spreading or structural collapse) while you are treating a patient.
What is evacuate the area immediately and move the patient to safety if possible
The four barriers to action that might cause a bystander to freeze or hesitate to help at an emergency scene
What are fear of doing something wrong, assuming someone else will take over, fear of disease transmission, or fear of being sued?
The length of time you should check for normal breathing during your initial assessment before transitioning to care.
What is at least 5 but no more than 10 seconds
The precise location you tap on an INFANT to check for responsiveness to avoid injury.
What is the bottom of the foot?
The safe physical technique used to remove disposable gloves without touching contaminated fluids on the outside.
What is peeling them off inside-out (glove-to-glove and skin-to-skin technique)?
The final check component of "Circulation" that must be visually swept for from head to toe immediately after opening the airway and checking breathing.
What is severe, life-threatening bleeding