Emergency Response and First Aid
Core concepts
Emergency response requires scene safety first, then assessment, then action. Candidates must understand the incident command system, triage principles (START and JumpSTART), and the phases of emergency response: dispatch, en route, arrival, scene size-up, and stabilization. Know basic life support: CPR, AED use, hemorrhage control (tourniquets and direct pressure), airway management, and the recovery position. Understand the signs of shock, stroke, and cardiac arrest, and the importance of early AED deployment. Know how to respond to active threats, hazardous materials, and natural disasters common in Alaska - earthquakes, wildfires, and extreme cold. Recognize the role of EMS, fire, and mutual aid, and the importance of documentation and handoff.
Traps
Questions often test whether an officer secures the scene before rendering aid. Another trap: applying a tourniquet too loosely or too distally; it must be tight and proximal to the wound. Watch for questions that imply officers should move a patient with a suspected spinal injury without necessity.
Rule of thumb
Scene safety, then ABCs. You cannot help anyone if you become a second victim.
Worked example
An officer arrives at a single-vehicle crash with an unresponsive driver. First: park to protect the scene and check for hazards. Then: assess responsiveness, call for EMS, check breathing and pulse, and begin CPR and AED use if indicated.