Preliminary PDHPE: Option 1: First Aid 2015Bold 1: What are the main priorities for assessment and management of first aid patients? (Student)

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Introduction:

Introduction – cont’d

Setting priorities for managing a first Aid situation and assessing the casualty

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The priority when assessing and managing first aid patients is minimising the harm to: - yourself - bystanders - the casualty

When managing the first aid situation, it is important that the circumstances and eventual outcomes for the patient are improved as much as possible. Expediency and appropriate care here positively affect the individual’s quality of life.

stop

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Situational Analysis

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Priority Assessment & Management Procedures

The following basic analysis plan can be administered in any situation to assess the area of the incident and what may have caused the emergency situation:

1. Look around for any obvious dangers and check to see if the area is safe.

2. Analyse what the incident or emergency may involve.

3. Work out how many people are involved in the incident.

4. Find out if there is anyone else who is able to assist, firstly, by ringing ‘000’ for emergency services.

In any emergency situation involving sudden illness or injury, it is essential that emergency service organisations be contacted as soon as possible. Call triple zero (000) immediately to activate the emergency services.

When a call is made to the emergency services, a number of questions will be asked. The questions are likely to be:

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

Remain calm while answering these questions and ensure that your responses are clear and concise. You will be provided with first aid instructions. Do not end the call until you are told to do so.

Life-threatening situations must be treated first. Remember each second person in not breathing or has no heartbeat, brings them closer to the risk of brain damage and death. Once life-threatening situations have been managed, non-life threatening injuries can be treated.

Activity:In small groups, analyse the following emergency situations. For each situation discuss the:

Plan and conduct appropriate assessment and management procedures in response to a range of first aid scenarios (RHS Syllabus)

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o Scenario rescue personnel may encountero Potential dangers that exist for patients and rescuerso Priority assessment and management procedures.

Scenario 1 – A petrol tanker overturns, crushing three cars and bringing down power poles.

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Scenario 2 – Ten people are caught in a rip at the beach

Scenario 3 – While playing, three children crash through a pane of glass.

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DRSABCD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, Compressions, Defibrillation)The DRSABCD action plan is a vital aid in addressing whether the casualty has any life threatening conditions, protecting yourself and others and if any immediate first aid is necessary.

D – Check for do To you

o To other p in the immediate area

o To the c

R – Check for ro Is the casualty c ?

o To check for consciousness, ask q e,g, can you hear me

No Response ResponseMake ComfortableMonitor Response

S – Send for ho Call triple zero – (000) for an ambulance or ask someone else to make the call

A – Check a

o Is the airway open and c of objects?

o Clear and m the airway.

B – Check for b o Look, feel and l

Not normal breathing Breathing is normal

Start CPR Place in recovery positionMonitor breathing

C – start CPR – 30 compressions : 2 breaths Continue CPR help arrives or patient recovers

D – Defibrillation – apply defibrillator if available and follow voice prompts

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Changes to DRSABCDChanges to airway Airway management is on the BACK – (except in drowning cases) Reinforce head tilt

Changes to signs of life

o Rescuers should start chest compressions if the victim has no signs of life 9i.e. unconscious, unresponsive, not moving and not breathing normally). Checking the carotid pulse is an inaccurate method of confirming the presence or absence of circulation.

Changes to breathingo Checking for ‘normal breathing’o No more EARo No initial 5 breaths

Changes to circulationo No need to check for signs of circulation o External Cardiac Compressions is known as Chest Compressionso Start with chest compressions before the 2 breathso One universal Compression –to–ventilation ratio for allo One operator and changing to another operator if available

Points to remember;

o Cycle: 30 compressions (at approx. 100/min) and 2 breaths equates to approx. 5 cycles in 2 minutes. This is the same for all victims for infants to adults, excluding newborns.

o Chest compressions need to be ‘hard and fast’. Compress the chest to a third of its depth. Allow the chest to recoil after each compression.

o Hand position is approx. is the lower half of the sternum – same for all age groups.o 1 or 2 hands can be used for a child. For an infant 2 fingers used in the compressions and should be slightly

below the nipple line and the amount of air is enough to fill the cheeks.o CPR is administered by 1 operator until tiring – frequent rotation should occur (every 2 minutes)o Ensure that the ambulance is called.o Continue with CPR unit help arrives or signs of life or an authorised person pronounces the person dead.

STOP

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Where a person is conscious, the injury can still be severe. The STOP method is used in the management of other injuries, most in the case of sporting injuries.

Activity:

1. Define and research the acronym STOP

S

T

O

P

2. In pairs, practice the STOP technique.Whole Body Assessment

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After applying DRSABCD or STOP, the patient should be checked for further injury by using a whole body assessment.

Why is it necessary to conduct a head-to-toe examination?

What do you think would be the next priority in emergency care once breathing is managed or not a problem? Explain.

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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Revise CPR – Frist Aid Video

Activity: Practice DRSABCD & CPR procedure on a manikin in pairs. Procedure is to be evaluated by partner, who provides feedback on how the procedure is conducted. Pairs reverse roles. Use the checklist following to help asses each other’s procedures.

DRSABCD Checklist Yes No

1. Danger – have you: Checked for potential dangers? Give examples

2. Response – have you: Gone through COWS?

3. Send for help – have you called triple zero – 000 told someone else to call 000?

4. Airway – have you: Cleared the patient’s airway? Tilted the patient’s head to open the airway?

5. Breathing – have you: Looked, felt and listened to see if the patient is breathing?

6. If the patient is breathing have you: Continued to check and monitor the patient’s breathing while he or she is in the recovery

position?7. If the patient is not breathing have you:

Rolled the patient on their back? Maintained the head tilt? Placed your hand in the correct position on the sternum and used the correct action? Given 30 compressions and 2 breaths ( 3 cycles in one minute)? Counted out aloud? Did you maintain maximum head tilt? Did you make an effective seal? Did you stop air escaping from the nose? Compressed the chest the appropriate depth? Changed your compressions for an infant? Delivered smaller breaths to an infant?

8. Defibrillation – did you: Mention using this device if available? Indicate how the device can be used? Know the procedure for using the device?

9. Recovery – have you: Placed the patient in the recovery position after restoring his or her breathing? Continued to monitor the breathing of the patient while in the recovery position?

Crisis Management

Demonstrate CPR procedures using a manikin (RHS Syllabus)

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Activity: Comnplete the table below for other injuries/conditions that pose to be a crisis and need management asap.

Crisis Management Situations

Bleeding Caused by: Body’s response to bleeding is:

The steps for the management of bleeding are:

Shock Caused by: Body’s response to shock is:

The symptoms and management procedures of shock are:

Neck & Spinal Injury

Caused by: These injuries may result in paraplegia and quadriplegia.

The symptoms and management procedures for neck and spinal injuries are:

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Moving the Casualty

Unless it is absolutely necessary, the patient should not be moved. If the situation arises where the patient does need to be moved ensure:

DRSABCD is followed Injuries have been treated where possible The patient is reassured Head and neck movement is kept to a minimum.

The following methods can be used to move the patient: (Describe or draw a picture for each)

Drag method –

Human crutch method

Four-handed seat method

Chair lift

Fireman’s carry

Medical Referral While administering first aid, by-standers should be sent to contact emergency personnel. The patient needs medical assistance in the following situations:

CPR is administered The patient loses consciousness A spinal injury is suspected Medical conditions such as heart attack are suspected.

Care of the Unconscious CasualtyIf a patient loses consciousness, medical assistance should be sought. While waiting for medical assistance the first aider should:

Place them in the recovery position Check breathing regularly Support head & neck Attend to any other injuries the patient may have Keep warm.

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