senior health before giving care. if not you…who? what would you do in this particular situation?
TRANSCRIPT
Consider This
40 million injury-related visits were made to the emergency department hospitals each year.
Injuries resulted in more than 160,000 deaths in the U.S.
Unintentional injuries cause most childhood deaths.
Steps in an Emergency
1. Recognize that an emergency exists2. Decide to act3. Activate the EMS system4. Give Care Until Help Arrives and takes
over
Unusual Noises
Screaming, yelling, moaning, or calling for help
Breaking glass, crashing metal or screeching tires
Sudden, loud or unidentifiable soundsUnusual silence
Unusual Sights
Stopped vehicle on the roadside Broken glass Spilled medicine container Downed electrical wires Sparks, smoke, or fire
Unusual Appearances or Behavior
UnconsciousnessConfused or unusual behaviorTrouble breathingClutching chest or throatSlurred, confused, or hesitant speechUnexplainable confusion or drowsinessSweating for no apparent reasonInability to move a body partUncharacteristic skin color
Step 2. Deciding to Act
Emergency situations can cause mixed feelings These feelings may make one hesitate in helping
Recognizing an emergency yet failing to act. Fear of doing something wrong Not knowing the persons condition or what to do Assuming someone else will take action Type of injury or illness Fear of catching a disease Fear of being sued Being unsure of when to call 9-1-1
Step 3. Activate the EMS System
Calling 9-1-1Know your surroundings
Using a cell phone with an emergency number
Step 4 – Give Care Until Help Arrives
In General, you should give care until: You see an obvious sign of life, such as breathing. Another trained responder or EMS personnel take
over You are too exhausted to continue The scene becomes unsafe
The brain stops functioning after 3 minutes of unconsciousness. (death)
Good Samaritan Laws
Laws put in place to protect people against claims of negligence when they give care in good faith without accepting anything in return.
They protect citizens who act the same way that a “reasonable and prudent person” would in the same situation.
A reasonable and prudent person would…
Move a person only if the person’s life were in danger
Ask a conscious person for permission before giving care.
Check the person for life-threatening conditions before giving further care.
Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.Continue to give care until more highly
trained personnel arrive.
Good Samaritan Lawsuits
Non-professionals are rarely sued for helping in emergencies.
If sued, Good Samaritan laws protect the responder from financial responsibility.
However if the caregiver left the injured person after beginning care then good Samaritan laws do not apply.
Remember to Get Permission
Get permission from the person to help them This is known as getting “consent”
If the victim is a child, consent should be obtained from the parent or guardian.
Do not give care to a conscious person who refuses it.
However, Do Call 9-1-1“implied” consent is for an unconscious person.
It is assumed that if the person could respond they would want you to save them.
How Disease Spreads
Infectious diseases- those that can spread from one person to another- develop when germs invade the body and cause illness.
Most common- bacteria/ viruses
Bacteria
Bacteria can live outside the body and do not depend on other organisms for life.
The number of bacteria that infect humans is very small, but some can cause serious infections.
These can be treated with antibiotics.
Ex: Streptococcus Agalactia - Strp throat
Viruses
Viruses depend on other organisms to live.Once in the body they are hard to remove.There are very few medications that fight
viruses.The body’s immune system is the number one
protection against infection.
How do they spread?
Touching- Through blood or body fluids.
Breathing- Air, utensils, door knobs Known as indirect contact
Biting- Animals/ Humans
Preventing Disease Transmission
Avoid Direct Contact With bloodUse protective breathing barriers when doing
CPRUse bandages to cover cuts or open woundsDo not eat, drink or touch your mouth, nose, or
eyes before washing your hands.Avoid handling personal items while performing
first aid.Have a fully stocked first aid kit.Tell EMS that you have been in contact with
blood.
Wash Your Hands!
Use warm / hot waterWet hand before applying soap.Rub hand together for at least 15 seconds.Scrub under your finger nailsDry hand thoroughly with a paper towel.Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet
How would you clean a blood spill?
Clean the spill as fast as possible.Use disposable gloves and any other
protective equipment.Wipe the spill with paper towels.After the fluid is wiped, pour a solution of
10% chlorine bleach, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Dispose of fluids and materials in a biohazard container.
Removing Gloves Step 1
Pinch the glove at the wrist, only touch the outside of the glove.
Pull the glove toward the fingertips without completely removing it.
The glove should be inside out.
Step 2
Remove the second glove.
With your partially gloved hand, pinche the outside surface of the second glove.
Pull the second glove toward the fingertips until it is inside out, and remove it completely.
Step 3
Finish removing both gloves.
Grasp both gloves with your free hand.
Touch only the clean interior surface of the glove.