DOLE-Recognized Occupational First Aider key terms

The legal and ethical obligation of a first aider to act reasonably, within trained scope, and without abandoning a casualty once care has begun, except where the scene becomes unsafe.

The set of skills and interventions a first aider is trained and authorized to perform, such as CPR, bleeding control, and splinting, but excluding invasive procedures reserved for medical personnel.

Legal immunity granted to a volunteer rescuer who provides emergency aid in good faith, without expectation of reward, and without gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Permission from a conscious casualty before care is given; for an unconscious or confused casualty, the law presumes consent for life-saving treatment.

Legal assumption that an unresponsive or mentally incapacitated casualty would agree to urgent life-saving care that a reasonable person would want.

The linked steps that improve survival from cardiac arrest: early recognition and call for help, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care, and post-resuscitation care.

A rapid, systematic check of Airway, Breathing, and Circulation with severe bleeding control, done first to find and treat immediately life-threatening problems.

A head-to-toe examination with history-taking performed after the primary survey and initial stabilization, to find injuries and conditions not yet identified.

A memory aid for questioning a casualty: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last meal, and Events leading to the incident.

The first quick appraisal of hazards, number of casualties, mechanism of injury, and needed resources before approaching, to prevent rescuer injury.

Practices that treat all blood and body fluids as infectious, using gloves, eye protection, and barriers to prevent contact transmission of pathogens.

Infection-control measures applied to every casualty regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, and safe handling of sharps and soiled materials.

Barriers such as gloves, masks, eye shields, and gowns worn to shield the first aider's skin and mucous membranes from blood and body fluids.

A portable device that analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers a controlled shock to a casualty in cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm, guided by voice prompts.

Chest compressions with rescue breaths given to a casualty in cardiac arrest to maintain blood flow to the brain and heart until advanced care arrives.

Rhythmic downward pressure on the lower half of the sternum to a depth of about 5 to 6 centimeters at 100 to 120 per minute in an adult.

Full release of pressure between chest compressions so the chest wall springs back, allowing the heart to refill and improving the effectiveness of CPR.

Delivering breaths to a casualty who is not breathing adequately, by mouth-to-mask or bag-valve-mask, watching for visible chest rise with each breath.

A self-inflating bag with a one-way valve and face mask used to ventilate a casualty without mouth-to-mouth contact, ideally operated by two rescuers.

Blockage of the breathing passage by the tongue, vomit, or a foreign object; a complete obstruction prevents air movement and requires immediate clearing maneuvers.

Abdominal thrusts given to a conscious choking casualty to force air from the lungs and expel a foreign body blocking the airway.

A stable side-lying posture that keeps the airway open and allows vomit to drain in an unconscious casualty who is breathing and has no suspected spinal injury.

Significant blood loss from damaged vessels; severe external bleeding must be controlled immediately by direct pressure, packing, or a tourniquet.

Firm pressure applied with a dressing or gloved hand directly over a bleeding wound to slow or stop blood loss while keeping the limb still.

A sterile pad secured firmly over a wound, often with a second layer, to maintain continuous pressure and protect the site during transport.

A constricting band applied above a life-threatening limb hemorrhage when direct pressure fails, tightened until bleeding stops and left visible with the time recorded.

A life-threatening state in which blood flow fails to deliver enough oxygen to tissues, marked by pale clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, and altered consciousness.

Lying face-up; used with legs raised for a casualty in shock or fainting when no spinal or leg injury is suspected, to support blood return to the heart.

A break or crack in a bone, suspected when there is deformity, swelling, pain, or loss of function; it is immobilized before movement or transfer.

A rigid or padded support applied to keep a suspected fracture or dislocation still, reducing pain and preventing further damage to vessels and nerves.

Restricting movement of an injured body part or the spine, using splints, slings, or manual support until the casualty reaches definitive medical care.

Manual stabilization and careful handling of the head and neck, with a collar or backboard when indicated, to limit movement of a possibly injured spine.

A sudden interruption of blood flow to part of the brain, recognized by facial droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty, requiring urgent transfer.

A stroke screening tool checking Facial droop, Arm drift, Speech abnormality, and Time of onset to speed recognition and transfer decisions.

A heat illness with heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, and cool clammy skin, treated by moving the casualty to shade, cooling, and giving fluids if fully alert.

A medical emergency with high body temperature, hot dry or wet skin, and confusion or unconsciousness, requiring aggressive cooling and immediate transfer.

A severe, rapidly progressing allergic reaction with airway swelling, breathing difficulty, and falling blood pressure, requiring epinephrine and urgent transfer.

A puncture injury from a bee, wasp, scorpion, or jellyfish that may cause local pain or a life-threatening allergic reaction; the stinger is removed without squeezing the venom sac.

Exposure to a harmful substance by ingestion, inhalation, injection, or skin contact; care focuses on scene safety, airway support, and identifying the substance.

A document describing a hazardous chemical's identity, hazards, and first-aid measures, used by responders to plan safe handling at a chemical incident.

Sorting casualties by urgency so scarce resources go first to those who are injured but salvageable, using a tagging system during incidents with many casualties.

The planned movement of a casualty to a medical facility, including chosen transport, position, monitoring en route, and handover of findings to receiving staff.

A structured verbal and written summary of the casualty's condition, care given, and response, passed to the receiving facility or next responder.

The written documentation of an emergency response, including time, scene findings, care provided, and outcome, kept confidential and retained per policy.