Work in progress – outline mostly
In an emergency you may not be able to rely on anyone else for your personal health and safety. A few hours of training before an emergency event could save your life or the lives of others. Even if you just learn the proper way to perform CPR, and how to handle a few basic types of medical emergencies, you can save a life.
First and foremost, call 911 or have someone else call them. This reduces the time until help arrives, and they can walk you through what you need to do to help the person while you wait for professionals to arrive.
Have a good First Aid kit ready to go so you don’t waste time finding what you need to help someone or yourself.
CPR
- It is important to restore blood flow to deliver oxygen to dying cells
- It could save a life, but at a minimum it will buy the person more time so advanced care can arrive
- Ways to learn or get certified (Red Cross, local classes, online/YouTube)
The ABC’s (airway, breathing, circulation)
- How to establish an Airway (clear mouth and throat, Heimlich, etc.)
- How to check Breathing
- How to check for Circulation
How to spot a Stroke and what to do
- Stick out tongue – is it straight? Hold out arms – are they even? Smile – even? Is their speech slurred?
- Aspirin chew 2 to prevent blood clots
Heart attack signs and what to do
- Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching.
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly.
- Cold sweat.
- Fatigue.
- Heartburn or indigestion.
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Shortness of breath
What to do for a Heart Attack
- Call 911
- Take aspirin if needed to prevent blood clots
- Take Nitroglycerin is prescribed
- Start CPR if needed
- Use an AED (automated external defibrillator) if available
Bandages, dressings, compound pressure – How to stop bleeding and protect wounds
Hygiene – Secondary to stopping death. You have more time to deal with an infection than you do to stop heavy bleeding.
Protecting yourself from bodily fluids. Also secondary, but important if time allows
SAM splints (structural aluminum malleable) and their uses
Steri-Strips or butterfly bandages