Medical Emergencies

What to do during a medical Emergency ?

• First, in preparation everyone should take a CPR course.

• Currently , CPR courses are taught Hands Only.

• Mouth to mouth breathing is not taught.

Medical Emergencies

• The Automated External Defibrillator, AED for short, is the most important piece of equipment during CPR.

• Everyone should know how to use it and where to find one.

• Remember to yell all clear before pressing the shock button, so no one else but the victim gets a shock.

Medical Emergencies

• Listed in the accompanying black bag are its contents.

• Everything else that is needed during CPR is found here.

- a towel to dry the chest, so the pad will stick.

- a razor for the occasional hairy chest.

- shears to cut away clothing.

- a CPR mask which most will not use, requires special training.

• 1. RESPOND - to anyone in distress.

• 2. EVALUATE – Medical Emergency? Unconscious &lifeless, start CPR. Recruit help.

• 3. SECURE – Clear the area, move the crowd back.

• 4. CALL – 911

• 5. URGE - to sit or lie on the floor.

• 6. EXPEDITE - EMS to the person.

RESCUEA mnemonic with corresponding sequential

actions for a Medical Emergency.

Respond- to anyone in distress. Like a goodneighbor.

Evaluate- Is the person experiencinga medical emergency ?

If unable to decide, stay with the person to see if improving. In most cases the person needs to be seen in the ER.

If unconscious and lifeless, STARTCPR

How to determine lifelessness

• Shake the person, vigorously, yelling wake up, wake up.

• If no response check for breathing.

• Best position is shown, with cheek and ear at the person's face to feel and listen for breathing.

• Also look at the chest.

• Looking for adequate respirations, at least 12 per minute. Not an occasional gasp.

• If not adequate, start CPR immediately.

Medical Emergencies

• I f you need help, ask for it. Yell, I need help over here.

• Need a team.

• The ideal number is 2 to 4, no more.

• Each helper needs to say if they know CPR or not.

• They also need to quickly assign the duties among themselves.

- call 911

- get the AED

- be a lookout for EMS to direct to the victim

- crowd control

Medical Emergencies

• Secure the area.

• The crowd needs to be moved away, ideally out of sight.

• People crowding the area, talking and moving around, is a major distraction.

• Hinders and impedes care.

Call 911- When in doubt make the call

Urge- the person to lie or sit on the floor. Do not count on catching a

falling person.

Medical Emergencies

• The last of our mnemonic is E for Expedite.

• Someone will need to guide EMS to the person. This is particularly true if they are at a remote location, like the tennis courts or pool.

• May need to go out onto the road and wave then down.

DROWNING/SUBMERSIONThis is different

VENTILATION FIRST• The person has been underwater, not able to

breath and has no air in their body. They need air immediately.

• If not breathing, ventilate first

• Often, simply opening the airway AND giving breaths, the person will start breathing spontaneously.

• Sometimes all you need to do is open their airway and they will start to breathe.

Chin lift/Head tilt

• This is the recommended method for opening the airway.

• In the unconscious person there is no muscle tone, the tongue falls back and blocks the airway. A

• The chin is lifted upward with your fingers and head tilted backwards with the other hand. This moves the tongue forward, clearing the airway. B

• Give 2 Breaths, mouth to mouth. If trained on the CPR mask, use it.

Drowning/SubmersionThe complete sequence for a drowning person

• Check for breathing.• If not breathing, will need to perform the Chin lift/

Head tilt Maneuver• If still not breathing, give 2 mouth to mouth breaths• Anticipate Vomiting. The person had been swallowing

water. Roll onto their side to prevent aspiration.• Ideally they are out of the water. If there is a delay

removing from the water could give mouth to mouth while still in the water.

• If no sign of life, start CPR• Before AED pads are placed, dry off

R-E-S-C-U-E-S

• We now add an S to our mnemonic RESCUE

• The S is for SWIMMING POOL, reminding us Ventilation first.