Emergency

Action
DR ABC

• It has been designed to keep the

person breathing until an ambulance
arrives.
• Without oxygen, the brain is
damaged within just 3 or 4 minutes
and dead within 10.
D = Danger
• Check the area for danger such as
electricity.
• If you find danger, do not put yourself
at risk or else you could also become a
casualty. Your safety comes first!
Shout or phone for help.
• If there is no danger clear the area
around the casualty. This could be as
simple as stopping the game.
R = Response
• Shake the casualty by the shoulders and
shout ‘Can you hear me?’
• If there is a response they are conscious
and this can tell you how weak they are.
• You can also find out where they are in pain
(bleeding, broken bones) and stop it from
getting worse and phone an ambulance.
• If there is no response the casualty is
unconscious. This is very serious. Move on
to resuscitation (A, B and C).
A = Airway
• When a person in unconscious their tongue
can block the airway and preventing this is
very important.
• Loosen any tight clothing.
• Raise the chin and tilt the head back to open
up the airway fully.
• Remove any obvious obstruction such as a
gum shield.
• Use a tissue round your fingers to scrape
away vomit.
B = Breathing
• Is the casualty breathing?
• Look for the chest rising and falling and
listen for breathing sounds.
• You can also moisten your cheek and put it
near their mouth to feel any breath.
• If they are breathing stop any severe
bleeding and support any broken bones.
• You can also place them in the recovery
position while you get help.
• But if the casualty shows no signs of
breathing, move on to C.
C = Circulation
• Feel for the carotid pulse, below the
ear, at either side of the ‘Adams Apple’.
• A pulse shows the heart is beating and
blood is circulating, so you need to give
mouth to mouth (kiss of life) to restore
breathing.
• If there is no pulse you need to give
both cardiac massage and mouth-to-
mouth ventilation, to restore breathing.