1 Seek reaction
2Assess response
3Monitor victim
12 FIRST AID
Resuscitation techniques
The techniques on the following pages, used in sequence, can help maintain a victim’ s oxygen supply until help arrives. Upon finding an unconscious person, you need to open and, if necessary, clear the victim’ s airway so that air can enter the lungs. If the victim is not breathing, give rescue breaths to maintain the oxygen supply, thereby sustaining the victim’ s vital organs. If the victim also has no circulation, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation( CPR) – rescue breaths with chest compressions – to ensure that air enters the body and is circulated by the blood. An unconscious victim who is breathing should be placed in the recovery position, a secure position that keeps the airway open and the head, neck, and back aligned.
CHECKING FOR CONSCIOUSNESS( all ages)
1 Seek reaction
• Ask a simple question, or give a simple command, such as“ Open your eyes.”
• Shake an adult’ s shoulders gently.
! Important
• Never shake a baby or child. Instead, gently tap the shoulder or flick the
sole of the foot.
Shake an adult victim gently by the shoulders to see if he responds
2Assess response
• If the victim responds to speech, assess whether he is
alert and aware of the situation or confused and sleepy.
• If he responds to touch, assess whether he reacts readily to your
touch or is sluggish in response.
• If there is no reaction at all, open the victim’ s airway( p. 13).
3Monitor victim
• During first-aid treatment, you will need to repeat steps 1 – 2
every 10 minutes to check the victim’ s level of consciousness.
• Note any changes in the victim’ s responses to speech or gentle
shaking( adult victims only), and whether these indicate an improvement or a deterioration in his condition, then pass this information on to the paramedics when the ambulance arrives.
• If a conscious victim becomes unconscious, open the airway
( p. 13), check breathing( p. 14), and dial 911 or call EMS.