First Aid and Emergency Response
Domain 7: First Aid and Emergency Response. Expect questions on the primary survey, adult CPR, choking, bleeding, burns, fractures, snake bite, heat illness and the emergency numbers 112 and 108.
Primary survey: DRABC
Danger (protect yourself first), Response (call the name, tap the shoulders), Airway (head tilt, chin lift, remove visible obstruction), Breathing (look, listen, feel for 10 seconds), Circulation/compressions. Call for help early.
Adult CPR
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start compressions: centre of the chest, depth 5–6 cm, rate 100–120 per minute, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths, continuing until the person responds, help arrives or an AED is ready. AED pads go on the right upper chest and left lower side.
Common emergencies
- Choking adult: 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts; repeat.
- Bleeding: direct pressure with a clean pad, elevate; do not remove soaked pads.
- Burn: cool with running water for about 20 minutes and cover loosely; no ice, toothpaste or butter.
- Fracture: immobilise in the found position, supporting joints above and below.
- Snake bite: keep the limb still and below heart level, remove rings; no cut, suction or tight tourniquet.
- Seizure: protect the head, clear the area, put nothing in the mouth, use the recovery position afterwards.
- Hypoglycaemia in a conscious patient: give sugar orally; never give fluids to an unconscious person.
Worked example
An adult collapses, is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Reasoning: shout for help and call 108, open the airway, give 30 compressions then 2 breaths, continue the cycles and use the AED when it arrives. Checking the pulse for several minutes wastes the first critical minutes.
Traps
- Removing an impaled object or a helmet.
- Putting water in the mouth of an unconscious patient.
- Stopping CPR because the person looks better before normal breathing returns.