P.R.I.IN.

PEOPLE READINESS IN (FIRST AID)

INTERVENTION

MODULE 2A - Scene safety. Approach to Casualty. Vital Signs. Primary

Survey
After completion of this module, the participants shall be able to:
1. Understand basic scene safety rules;
2. Understand basic scene assessment;
3. Understand principles of approach to casualty;
4. Understand what are vital signs;
5. Be able to check vital signs;
6. Understand basic assessment of vital signs;
7. Perform primary survey of casualty;
8. Recognise life threatening condition.

Objective
 Imagine that there is a traffic light at the accident scene!!!

STOP BEFORE YOU RUSH INTO ACCIDENT SCENE.

CHECK IF SCENE IS SAFE FOR YOU.

 IF SCENE IF SAFE, PERFORM FIRST AID.

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” (Elvis Presley, 1958)

Scene Safety
 Your safety is your FIRST PRIORITY!

 Look up – look down – look left – look

right – look in front of you – make sure
the place is SAFE FOR YOU!

 DO NOT ENTER hazardous areas until

hazard is eliminated! Samples of potential
hazard on the scene: exposed electrical
wiring, intensive traffic, chemical spills,
collapsing constructions, fire / open
flames, risk of explosion, etc.

Scene Safety
 Beware of blood born
pathogens! – Infection can be
transmitted through blood
and other body fluids.

 Protect yourself from the

casualty’s /sick person’s body
fluids – have PPE on (at least,
have gloves on).

 Protect wounds from

contamination – have gloves
on.

Scene Safety
 Make sure bystanders are safe!
Do not let by-standing lay
people enter hazardous areas.

 Do not panic. Call for help if

place is hazardous.

 Activate your local protocol to

alert the emergency services!

Scene Safety
 People on the scene can help
you in many ways: getting
you stretcher, first aid box,
calling emergency services,
controlling other onlookers
and bystanders.

 Give them clear instructions –

address to particular person
with clear task.

Scene Safety
Coded information for emergency services

UN number of substance Nature of potential hazard

Tel number for more information

Scene Safety
When providing help on the scene of a road / traffic accidents make
sure NOTHING threatens YOU!!!

Scene Safety
 Approach to casualty from the side where he / she can potentially see
you.

 Try to talk to the casualty/sick person. Be calm.

 DO NOT MOVE VICTIM UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

 While approaching – visually examine the scene: look for the hints of
what might have happened here, ask victim about accident.

 Try not to move objects on the scene if not necessary – they may be
used as evidences for investigation.

Approach to Casualty
When on the scene with injured / suddenly ill person:

 DO NOT move casualty unless it is absolutely necessary.

 DO NOT let anybody move casualty unless it is absolutely necessary.

 DO NOT let casualty move.

 DO NOT leave victim unattended.

Approach to Casualty
 Can you list the components For normal BREATHING you
you need for normal need:
BREATHING?

1. 1. Healthy air (no toxic gases).

2. 2. Open airways.
3. 3. Healthy lungs.
4. 4. Chest (cage).
5. 5. Blood.
6. 6. Brain.

Vital Signs-Breathing
Vital sign of major importance.

When checking the

BREATHING:

 Look (whether the chest is

rising);
 Listen (whether you can hear
exhaled air flow);
 Feel (whether you can feel
exhaled air flow on your
cheek).

Vital Signs-Breathing
Pulse – stream of blood
inside the blood vessels
with every beat of heart.

Where to feel:
 Carotid – on the neck.
 Brachial – upper arm.
 Radial – on the hand.

Vital Signs-Pulse
Radial pulse:

Use the tips of your fingers.

Do not use your thumb – you

may feel your own pulse.

Do not press too strong – you

may occlude blood flow – you
may feel no pulse.

Now – find RADIAL pulse on

yourself and your fellow.

Vital Signs-Pulse
CAROTID PULSE: Place two fingers in the front middle of the neck,
gently slide fingers to the side of the neck closer to you until you get
in the hollow between windpipe (trachea) and large neck muscle.

Vital Signs-Pulse
Carotid pulse:

 We check it in emergency.
 You can find it on the neck – over CAROTID artery.

Now – find CAROTID pulse on yourself and your fellow.

Vital Signs-Pulse
When touching patient you can feel whether his / her skin is
WARM or COLD, MOIST or DRY.

Ask the patient/casualty if he feels cold or hot. This may be

very important for the medical personnel when they arrive on
the scene.

Vital Signs-Temperature
WHAT is your PULSE? The NORMAL pulse is:

- Is your pulse IRREGULAR? - Regular,

- You CANNOT feel it - Can be definitely felt,

DEFINITELY? - Normal heart rate = 60-90

beats per minute (adults).
- Is it too SLOW?

- Is it too FAST?

Normal Vital Signs

 Check Response
On discovering a collapsed person,
first establish whether he is
RESPONSIVE or UNRESPONSIVE.

Ask a simple question:

“What happened?”,
“Are you OK?”,
“Can you hear me?”
“Open your eyes!”.

Speak loudly and clearly.

Gently TAP patient’s shoulder.

Primary Survey of Casualty

Check Breathing

 LOOK

 LISTEN

 FEEL

Primary Survey of Casualty

QUESTIONS?

End of Module 2A