First Aid/Primary Assessment & Basic Life Support

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 First Aid 

Introduction — Issues in Providing Care — Primary Assessment & Basic Life Support — Secondary Assessment — Circulatory Emergencies

Respiratory Emergencies — Soft Tissue Injuries — Bone & Joint Injuries — Environmental Illness & Injury

Medical Conditions & Poisoning — Advanced Topics — Appendices — Meta content

A quick summary of Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (BLS/CPR) is available!

 

Primary Assessment & Basic Life Support 

Emergency First Aid & Initial Action Steps — A for Airway — B for Breathing — C for Compressions — D for Deadly Bleeding

The first thing you should do in any situation requiring first aid is to follow the three C’s: Check, Call, Care

To Check the victim, you must first survey the scene to ensure your safety. You need to notice the victim's position as you approach him or her and any automatic red flags. If you get hurt trying to help, you may only serve to make matters worse. Next, do a primary survey. This can be done while you are walking/running out on the field. This involves checking to determine if the victim is conscious or unconscious, has an open airway and is breathing, and has a pulse. Once you have approached the victim, if they are unconscious you need to look, listen, and feel. Place your ear over the person's mouth and look for the rise and fall of the chest. Feel for the breath on your face, and listen for any moving air and possible blocked airway. If the victim is not breathing you will need to begin CPR. If they are breathing but unconscious, call 911 and continue to monitor vital signs until the arrive. If there is suspicion of a head or neck injury you would need to resume the C-spine position until EMS arrives. CPR is the number one priority if the individual is not breathing. If you determine the patient has a head or neck injury you should assume the C-spine position to keep them from making any unnecessary movements. If there is any suspicion of a head or neck injury and the athlete stays down, there should be an EMS called.

After checking the victim, designate a person to Call EMS. If you are the only one, then you must do it yourself. You should be able to tell EMS your location, the situation at hand, and description of the patient. The 911 director would also need to know your name, and how they will be able to enter the facility. Also you should be able to give the EMS up to date directions to your current location. Remaining calm in this step is crucial. Never be the first one to hang up the phone on a 911 call.

After calling the EMS, provide appropriate Care until EMS arrives and takes over. Continue monitoring the vital signs of the victim until EMS arrives.

It is important to do your best to stay calm and stay focused so that you will be able to provide the best care possible for the injured individual.

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