Req 1 — Handling a First Aid Emergency
1.
Handling a First Aid Emergency. Do the following:
This requirement is your emergency-response foundation. Keep it simple: make the scene safe, get help, protect yourself, check airway and breathing, examine the victim, watch for shock, and think about triage if more than one person is hurt.
Assess and Handle the Emergency
1a.
Explain the steps necessary to assess and handle a first aid emergency, including a safety evaluation of the scene.
- Check the scene first. Look for fire, traffic, electricity, chemicals, unstable ground, or anything else that could hurt you.
- Check the victim next. Are they awake? Breathing? Bleeding badly?
- Call for help early. If it is serious, send someone to call 911 while you start care.
- Treat life threats first. Airway, breathing, severe bleeding, then shock.
🎬 Video: Check for Scene Safety — https://youtu.be/nrNAhMg-uS4?si=ylunwA5D8hAqAOcu
Get Emergency Help
1b.
Tell how you would obtain emergency medical assistance from your home and from a remote location on a wilderness camping trip.
- At home or in town: call 911, give your exact location, explain what happened, how many people are hurt, and what condition they are in.
- In the backcountry: use a phone, satellite messenger, PLB, or send two people for help if needed.
- Before the trip: leave a route plan and emergency contact information with a responsible adult.
Prevent Infection
1c.
Demonstrate the precautions you must take to reduce the risk of transmitting an infection between you and the victim while administering first aid, including the safe disposal of used first aid supplies.
- Use barriers. Gloves, CPR mask, or other protective equipment.
- Avoid direct contact with blood and body fluids.
- Wash hands or sanitize as soon as possible after care.
- Dispose safely of used gloves, dressings, and contaminated items.
🎬 Video: Using Personal Protective Equipment in First Aid — https://youtu.be/tpovFysp4IE
Airway and Breathing
1d.
Demonstrate evaluation of and management of a patient’s airway and breathing.
- Open the airway. Use head-tilt chin-lift unless you suspect a spine injury.
- Check breathing. Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing.
- If not breathing, begin rescue breathing or CPR based on pulse and responsiveness.
- Keep the airway clear and monitor the person closely.
Examine the Victim
1e.
Demonstrate a thorough examination of an accident victim.
- Start with life threats.
- Then do a head-to-toe exam.
- Check for pain, bleeding, swelling, deformity, burns, and changes in alertness.
- Ask what happened, where it hurts, and about medical conditions if the person is conscious.
🎬 Video: Head to Toe Exam — https://youtu.be/7xANZ0IjgEs?si=qAupHu1rGfl0bqas
Shock and Triage
1f.
Discuss why shock is an emergency.
- Shock means the body is not getting enough blood flow. Organs can begin to fail quickly.
- Warning signs include pale skin, cool clammy skin, fast pulse, weakness, confusion, and anxiety.
- Treat by keeping the person lying down, controlling bleeding, keeping them warm, and getting help.
1g.
Define the term triage and describe examples of triage situations that you may encounter.
- Triage means deciding who needs help first when there are multiple victims.
- Triage situations include car crashes, storms, camp emergencies, and any event with more injured people than helpers.
- People who cannot breathe, have severe bleeding, or are unresponsive are treated first.
🎬 Video: Triage — https://youtu.be/zeC2hFcziZI?si=YRyMCxm9qKxLbiZv