First Aid and Emergency Response
Initial Response
Officers are often first on scene. Understand the primary assessment: scene safety, responsiveness, airway, breathing, circulation, and severe bleeding control. Know the chain of survival and the importance of calling for EMS early. Understand CPR basics (compressions, rate, depth) and AED use. Know how to control severe bleeding with direct pressure and tourniquets, and how to recognize and treat shock.
Specific Emergencies
Understand the response to cardiac arrest, choking, overdose (including naloxone), seizures, and diabetic emergencies. Know the signs of head injury, stroke (FAST: face, arms, speech, time), and the recovery position for an unresponsive but breathing subject. Understand the importance of documentation and handoff to EMS.
Traps and Rule of Thumb
Traps include moving a trauma victim unnecessarily, delaying bleeding control to check for other injuries, and failing to ensure scene safety before rendering aid. Another trap is assuming a person who is breathing is fine-assess responsiveness and circulation.
Worked example: A subject is found unresponsive and not breathing after a suspected overdose. Correct sequence: ensure scene safety, call EMS, check responsiveness and breathing, begin CPR if no normal breathing, and administer naloxone per protocol. Rule of thumb: safety first, then airway, breathing, circulation, and bleeding-in that order.