Community Community First Aid & First Aid &

SafetySafety

You arrive at the mall with your friend You arrive at the mall with your friend when suddenly you hear commotion.when suddenly you hear commotion.

Oh, no! Someone’s collapsed!Oh, no! Someone’s collapsed!

Even though a crowd has Even though a crowd has gathered, no one is helping.gathered, no one is helping.

Someone needs to help Someone needs to help right right nownow!!

Are you equipped to help?Are you equipped to help?

If not If not

you…you…

who?who?

Consider this:Consider this:

•Over Over 37 million37 million injury-related injury-related visits were made to U.S. visits were made to U.S.

hospitals in 2000.hospitals in 2000.

•These injuries resulted in These injuries resulted in almost 90,000 deaths.almost 90,000 deaths.

•Previously, Previously, infectious diseasesinfectious diseases caused the greatest risk to the caused the greatest risk to the

well-being of children . . . well-being of children . . .

But now, unintentional injuries But now, unintentional injuries cause most childhood deaths.cause most childhood deaths.

•More than More than 60 million60 million people in people in the U.S. have the U.S. have heart diseaseheart disease..

•Cardiovascular disease causes Cardiovascular disease causes about 1 million deaths in the U.S. about 1 million deaths in the U.S.

each year.each year.

•That accounts for over 40 % That accounts for over 40 % of all U.S. deaths that occur of all U.S. deaths that occur

annually!annually!

•Over 600,000 Americans have Over 600,000 Americans have strokes each year & more than strokes each year & more than 16,000 Americans die annually 16,000 Americans die annually

from stroke.from stroke.

EVERYONEEVERYONE should know should know what to do in an emergency.what to do in an emergency.

Leading causes of

Death

ages 0 to 4425

20

15

10

5 Can

cer

- 2

4,6

75

Heart

D

isease

22,3

27

Suic

ide

16,6

61

Hom

icid

e 1

4,8

19

Acc

iden

ts -

5

3,0

27

The most important step you The most important step you can take in an emergency:can take in an emergency:

Call Call 911!911!The sooner emergency help arrives, the better a person’s

chance of surviving.

1.

Recognize

emergency

2. Call 911

3.

1st responder

Care

(CPR/AED)

4.

EMT

care

5.Hospital

care

6.rehab

Bystander’s Part in the Chain of Survival

Did you know . . . ?Did you know . . . ?

You are more likely to give You are more likely to give care to a family member or a care to a family member or a friend than to someone you friend than to someone you

don’t know.don’t know.

Recognizing EmergenciesRecognizing Emergencies

•Unusual noises:Unusual noises: screams, moans, screams, moans, breaking glass, crashing metal; breaking glass, crashing metal; changes in machinery noises.changes in machinery noises.

•Unusual sights:Unusual sights: stalled vehicle, stalled vehicle, overturned pot, spilled medicine overturned pot, spilled medicine container, broken glass, downed container, broken glass, downed electrical wires, smoke or fire.electrical wires, smoke or fire.

•Unusual odors:Unusual odors: odors that are odors that are stronger than usual, unrecognizable stronger than usual, unrecognizable odors, burning odorsodors, burning odors

•Unusual appearances or behaviors:Unusual appearances or behaviors: trouble breathing, clutching chest or trouble breathing, clutching chest or throat, slurred or confused speech, throat, slurred or confused speech, sweating for not apparent reason, sweating for not apparent reason, confusion, unusual skin color.confusion, unusual skin color.

Reasons People Fail to Act In Reasons People Fail to Act In An EmergencyAn Emergency

1.1. Presence of other people & Presence of other people & uncertainty that an emergency uncertainty that an emergency really exists.really exists.

2.2. Fear of the type of injury of illness.Fear of the type of injury of illness.3.3. Fear of catching a disease.Fear of catching a disease.4.4. Fear of doing something wrong.Fear of doing something wrong.5.5. Fear of being sued.Fear of being sued.

If there are several people If there are several people around . . .around . . .

• It may be difficult to tell what the It may be difficult to tell what the emergency is & if anyone is providing emergency is & if anyone is providing first aid.first aid.

• Don’t be embarrassed about coming Don’t be embarrassed about coming forward in front of others. Ask if you can forward in front of others. Ask if you can help.help.

• Things you can do: call 911, keep area Things you can do: call 911, keep area free of onlookers & traffic, give care.free of onlookers & traffic, give care.

When an injury or illness is When an injury or illness is frightening to be around.frightening to be around.

• Take a deep breath and try and Take a deep breath and try and remain calm.remain calm.

• Remember: you cannot effectively Remember: you cannot effectively help someone if you are panicking.help someone if you are panicking.

Could I catch a disease if I help?Could I catch a disease if I help?

•Always avoid contact with body Always avoid contact with body fluids when possible.fluids when possible.

•Try to use protective breathing Try to use protective breathing barriers, gloves, clean dry cloths.barriers, gloves, clean dry cloths.

•Cover cuts & sores.Cover cuts & sores.

•Wash hands after providing care.Wash hands after providing care.

Could I be sued for trying to help?Could I be sued for trying to help?

•Most states have enacted Good Most states have enacted Good Samaritan laws.Samaritan laws.

•Reasonable & prudent care is Reasonable & prudent care is protected under the law.protected under the law.

•Always use common sense & Always use common sense & reasonable level of skill.reasonable level of skill.

Preparing For Emergencies

•Keep medical information about you & Keep medical information about you & your family on refrigerator or other handy your family on refrigerator or other handy place.place.

•Keep a first aid kit in home or car.Keep a first aid kit in home or car.

•Keep emergency telephone numbers by Keep emergency telephone numbers by telephone or in first aid kit.telephone or in first aid kit.

•Learn & practice first aid skills.Learn & practice first aid skills.

Good things to keep in 1st aid kit:Good things to keep in 1st aid kit:

•antiseptic ointmentantiseptic ointment

•gauze/gauze padsgauze/gauze pads

•adhesive tapeadhesive tape

•band-aids (assorted band-aids (assorted sizes)sizes)

•tweezerstweezers

•disposible glovesdisposible gloves

•protective mouth barrierprotective mouth barrier

•OTC Medications: Benedral, OTC Medications: Benedral, tylenol, aspirin, antacidstylenol, aspirin, antacids

Don’t forget . . .Don’t forget . . .

Accidents Shatter Lives

Are you ready to learn Are you ready to learn how to take action?how to take action?