DOLE-Recognized Occupational First Aider cheat sheet

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.

Occupational first aider scope: initial assessment, basic life support, bleeding control, splinting, and transfer - not diagnosis or prescribing.

Good Samaritan protection applies when aid is given voluntarily, in good faith, without compensation, and within trained scope; gross negligence or abandonment removes it.

Duty to act arises from an assigned workplace role, a written company policy, or a contractual designation - not from mere presence at a scene.

Consent: obtain expressed consent from a responsive adult; implied consent applies to unresponsive patients or minors without a guardian present.

Confidentiality: patient health information is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to the company physician, safety officer, or responding EMS.

Recordkeeping duty: document assessment findings, interventions, times, and transfer details; the employer retains these records per company and OSH requirements.

First aider must know the worksite emergency action plan: alarm activation, assembly point, internal response team, and external EMS contact numbers.

Refusal of care: document the refusal, the patient's stated reason, mental status, and witness names; continue monitoring if the patient stays on site.

Reportable incidents: fatalities and serious injuries are reported to the employer and, where required, to the regional labor office within the prescribed period.

Sequence before approach: hazard scan (traffic, electrical, chemical, structural, fire, violence) → body substance isolation → patient contact.

Standard precautions apply to every patient: gloves minimum; add eye protection, mask, and gown when splash or spray of blood or body fluids is likely.

Hand hygiene with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled; wash before gloving and after doffing.

Doffing order to avoid self-contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask - mask last, handling only the straps.

Sharps: never recap by hand; place used needles and blades in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use.

Spill management: contain, absorb, disinfect with an appropriate disinfectant at the labeled contact time, then dispose as regulated waste.

Needlestick or splash exposure: wash the site, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis.

Do not enter an unventilated space with suspected toxic gas, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmosphere; wait for trained/respiratory-protected responders.

Traffic scenes: position vehicle to shield the scene, set warning devices, and wear high-visibility garments before exiting.

Primary assessment order: scene safety → check responsiveness → activate help → airway → breathing → circulation → disability → exposure.

AVPU scale: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive; record the best response and the time it was assessed.

Vital signs baseline ranges for adults: pulse 60–100/min, respirations 12–20/min, systolic BP roughly 90–120 mmHg, SpO2 94–100% on room air.

Sample history: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, Events leading to the injury or illness.

OPQRST for pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10), Time.

Check for medical alert tags, bracelets, and wallet cards in every unresponsive or confused patient.

Reassess and record vital signs at least every 5 minutes for unstable patients and every 15 minutes for stable patients.

Mechanism of injury guides suspicion: falls from height, vehicle ejection, and crush injuries raise suspicion for internal and spinal injury.

Handover uses a structured format (patient identity, chief complaint, findings, interventions, response, times) to the receiving EMS or facility.

Adult high-quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, full chest recoil, minimize interruptions to under 10 seconds.

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult CPR; for children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2.

Adult compression landmark: heel of hand on the lower half of the sternum, second hand on top, arms straight, shoulders over the hands.

Infant compressions: two fingers (or two-thumb encircling technique with two rescuers) on the lower half of the sternum, depth about 4 cm.

Child compressions: one or two hands on the lower sternum, depth about 5 cm, rate 100–120/min.

AED use: turn on, attach pads to bare dry chest, clear everyone during analysis and delivery, resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Defibrillation sequence: shock → 2 minutes CPR → reanalyze; do not delay compressions to dry a wet chest beyond a quick towel wipe.

CPR quality feedback: rotate compressors about every 2 minutes to limit fatigue; use the AED's rate and depth prompts when available.

Stop CPR when: spontaneous breathing and pulse return, an authorized responder or physician takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, or the rescuer is exhausted.

Head-tilt/chin-lift opens the airway in a patient without suspected spinal injury; jaw-thrust is used when spinal injury is suspected.

Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds before deciding to ventilate.

Rescue breath volume: just enough to make the chest rise visibly, about 1 second per breath; avoid over-inflation, which causes gastric distension.

Adult rescue breathing rate without a pulse: 1 breath every 6 seconds (about 10/min); with a pulse present, 1 breath every 6 seconds and reassess pulse every 2 minutes.

Choking adult or child with severe obstruction: alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts; infants receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Relieve choking in an obese or pregnant patient with chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Universal choking sign: hands clutched at the throat plus inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Recovery position: lateral, head dependent, lower arm forward, upper knee bent - for an unresponsive patient who is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury.

Suction and manual clearance are used only for visible solids in the mouth; blind finger sweeps are not performed.

Severe external bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, add layers without removing soaked dressings, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Tourniquet use: for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by pressure; place 5–7 cm above the wound, not over a joint, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time.

Hemostatic gauze is packed deep into the wound cavity with firm pressure for the manufacturer's stated time before reassessment.

Signs of shock: pale or cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid shallow breathing, thirst, restlessness or anxiety, and falling level of consciousness.

Shock management: lay the patient flat, keep warm, control bleeding, do not give anything by mouth, and transport promptly.

Do not remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings and pad around it.

Do not remove a dressing that has soaked through; add another layer on top and maintain pressure.

Abrasion and laceration care: irrigate with clean water or saline, remove loose debris, cover with a sterile dressing, and check tetanus status.

Amputation: control bleeding, wrap the severed part in sterile gauze, seal in a plastic bag, and place the bag in ice water - never directly on ice.

Assess the six Ps before and after splinting: Pain, Pallor, Pulse, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Pressure.

Splint rule: immobilize the joint above and the joint below the injury site.

Splint before moving the patient when a fracture is suspected, unless immediate danger requires evacuation first.

Check distal circulation, sensation, and movement before and after every splint or bandage application.

Spinal motion restriction is indicated for mechanism of injury plus midline tenderness, neurological deficit, altered mental status, or distracting injury.

Fracture signs: deformity, crepitus, localized tenderness, swelling, and loss of function; do not attempt to reduce or realign a deformity.

Sling and swivel for shoulder or arm injury: support the forearm, keep the elbow at about 90 degrees, and check radial pulse after tying.

Cold application for sprains and strains: apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, with a cloth barrier between the cold pack and skin.

Suspected femur fracture: immobilize with a traction splint only when trained; otherwise secure the limb to a rigid board with the adjacent leg as support.

Chest pain: keep the patient at rest, loosen clothing, obtain a history, and assist with the patient's own prescribed nitroglycerin per protocol; never give aspirin to a patient with an allergy or active bleeding.

Stroke screen: facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality, and time of symptom onset; record the onset time because it determines treatment eligibility.

FAST mnemonic: Face, Arms, Speech, Time - note the last known well time.

Diabetic emergency: if conscious and able to swallow, give sugar; if unresponsive, do not give anything by mouth and monitor the airway.

Seizure: protect the head, clear objects away, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, and time the seizure; call for help if it lasts over 5 minutes.

Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke: heat stroke shows core temperature above 40°C with altered mental status and requires rapid cooling and urgent transfer.

Hypothermia: move to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, insulate, and warm the trunk first; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Anaphylaxis signs: hives, facial or throat swelling, wheeze, and hypotension; assist with the patient's epinephrine auto-injector per protocol and transfer urgently.

Asthma attack: position upright, assist with the patient's own reliever inhaler per protocol, and monitor for exhaustion or silent chest.

Poisoning response: remove the patient from the source, ensure scene safety for the rescuer, identify the substance and amount, and contact the poison control center or physician.

Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of a caustic, corrosive, or petroleum-based substance; give nothing by mouth unless directed by poison control.

Inhaled poison: move the patient to fresh air, monitor breathing, and do not enter a contaminated space without respiratory protection.

Snakebite: keep the patient still and the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Bee or wasp sting: remove the stinger by scraping, wash the site, apply cold, and watch for anaphylaxis in the following minutes.

Animal bite: wash thoroughly with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover, and refer for rabies and tetanus evaluation.

Jellyfish sting: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles, and immerse in hot water as tolerated; do not use fresh water or bare-hand removal.

Alcohol or drug intoxication: never leave the patient unattended, protect the airway, and watch for respiratory depression and aspiration.

Opiate overdose: support breathing, give rescue breaths, and use naloxone only if trained and authorized by protocol.

Triage priority order: immediate life threats first, then serious but stable injuries, then minor injuries, then the deceased or expectant group.

START triage categories: Green (minor, walking), Yellow (delayed), Red (immediate), Black (deceased or expectant).

Triage is dynamic: reassess and re-tag patients when their condition changes or when resources change.

Transfer decision: any patient with airway compromise, uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, stroke signs, altered consciousness, or severe pain is transferred to a medical facility.

Transfer communication includes patient identity, mechanism or complaint, vital signs, interventions given, response, and estimated time of arrival.

Do not transfer a patient in a private vehicle when the condition requires ambulance monitoring; call EMS for unstable patients.

Incident report content: date, time, location, witnesses, findings, interventions, patient response, and disposition.

Documentation rules: record facts objectively, use the patient's own words in quotes, note times, and never alter a record after the fact without a dated addendum.

Record retention and privacy: store first aid records confidentially and release them only to authorized persons per company policy and regulation.