Rescue 1122 EMT cheat sheet

Primary survey sequence is catastrophic-haemorrhage control, Airway with cervical-spine protection, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (GCS/pupils/glucose), Exposure with temperature control; reassess after every intervention.

Adult compression standards: rate 100–120/min, depth 5–6 cm, full recoil, minimise pauses to under 10 seconds; compression-to-ventilation ratio 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult BLS.

Paediatric CPR: 15:2 for two rescuers (30:2 for a lone rescuer), rate 100–120/min, depth about one-third of chest anteroposterior diameter; start with 5 rescue breaths in asphyxial arrest.

Defibrillation is indicated for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia only; give one shock then immediately resume compressions for 2 minutes before rhythm recheck.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) in adult cardiac arrest: 1 mg IV/IO of 1:10,000 every 3–5 minutes; amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO after the third shock for refractory VF/pVT.

Anaphylaxis: intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg (0.5 mL of 1:1000) adult into the anterolateral thigh, repeat every 5 minutes as needed; adjuncts are antihistamine and steroid after adrenaline.

Hypoglycaemia: if conscious and able to swallow, give 15–20 g oral glucose and recheck after 15 minutes; if unconscious, give IV glucose or IM glucagon and never give oral fluids.

Stroke screen (FAST: Face, Arm, Speech, Time) plus documented onset time; keep oxygen saturation 94–98% and avoid routine high-flow oxygen in non-hypoxic patients.

Burn estimate by Wallace rule of nines: each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, head 9%, perineum 1%; use the patient's palm as about 1% for scattered burns.

Scene safety precedes rescue: apply the hierarchy self-rescue, then reach/throw, then boat, then swim entry with flotation; an untethered rescuer entering water is a last resort.

Confined-space entry requires permit control, atmospheric testing for oxygen, flammable gas and toxic gas before entry, continuous ventilation, a harnessed entrant, attendant and retrieval line.

Rope rescue systems are rated by safety factor: two-rope (main and belay) systems for human loads; anchor strength target is at least 15 kN per anchor for life-safety systems.

Structural collapse marking uses a marking system on a prominent surface recording team identity, date and time of entry and exit, hazards found, and number of live and dead victims located.

Vehicle extrication order: stabilise the vehicle, disconnect the battery, then create space by door removal, roof flap or dash roll; glass management precedes patient contact with sharp edges.

Trench and excavation rescue: spoil pile must be set back at least the depth of the trench or 1 m minimum, and shoring or trench boxes are required before entry; never enter an unshored trench.

Swiftwater rescue priorities are self, team, then victim; use upstream spotters, throw bags with a floating rope, and defensive swimming with feet downstream and body angled toward the current.

Water rescue personal protective equipment includes a personal flotation device with a whistle and knife, helmet, and thermal protection; a throw bag line should be at least 15–25 m of floating rope.

High-angle lowering uses a friction device with a backup belay; the descent rate is controlled by the belayer, and the litter attendant maintains a separate attachment to the main line.

Fire tetrahedron components are fuel, oxygen, heat and the uninhibited chemical chain reaction; removal of any one component extinguishes combustion.

Fire classes: A ordinary combustibles (water, foam), B flammable liquids (foam, dry chemical, CO2), C energised electrical (CO2, dry chemical, never water), D combustible metals (dry powder), F/K cooking oils (wet chemical).

Flashover indicators include high heat with rollover of flame in the smoke layer, smoke igniting at openings, and a rapid rise in temperature; evacuation and cooling from outside are indicated.

Backdraft indicators are smoke-stained windows, little visible flame, inward-pulling air and high heat; ventilate at the highest point only after charged lines are in place.

PASS for extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; a 9 kg dry-powder unit discharges in roughly 10–20 seconds.

Hazardous materials recognition uses placards, UN numbers, container shape and shipping papers; the ERG guide number gives isolation distance and protective action for the material.

Initial isolation for an unknown hazardous material release is at least 50 m in all directions; for a visible vapour cloud or fire, isolate 100 m and evacuate downwind.

Structural firefighting PPE ensemble includes helmet, hood, turnout coat and trousers, gloves, and self-contained breathing apparatus; SCBA is required in any immediately dangerous to life or health atmosphere.

Fire ground water supply: a standard 45 mm attack line flows roughly 200–250 L/min at the nozzle; pump discharge pressure equals nozzle pressure plus friction loss plus elevation loss.

Community risk reduction cycle: identify hazards, assess risk, plan interventions, implement, then monitor and evaluate; the loop repeats with updated data.

Home safety visit checklist covers working smoke alarms on every level, carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas, escape routes, electrical overload, and safe storage of medicines and fuels.

Smoke alarm placement: on each level, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas, mounted on the ceiling at least 10 cm from the wall, tested monthly and replaced every 10 years.

Drowning prevention layers are supervision, barriers around water, swimming and rescue skills, and emergency response; children under five require arm's-reach supervision.

Road safety interventions with proven effect include speed-limit enforcement, seat-belt and helmet laws, child restraint use, and separation of pedestrians and cyclists from traffic.

Emergency preparedness for households: a grab bag with water, food, torch, radio, first-aid kit, medicines and documents, plus a family meeting point and out-of-area contact.

Risk communication should be timely, accurate, consistent and actionable; messages name the hazard, the affected area, the action required and the time window for that action.

Community first-aid training targets bystander action: recognising cardiac arrest, calling the emergency number, starting compressions, controlling bleeding and relieving choking.

Means of egress comprises exit access, the exit and exit discharge; travel distance and exit width are calculated from occupant load and the building's occupancy classification.

Occupant load is floor area divided by the occupant-load factor for the occupancy; required exit width derives from occupant load multiplied by unit width per person (commonly 5 mm per person).

Fire-resistance ratings are expressed in minutes or hours and apply to structural elements, compartment walls, doors and shafts; openings are protected by fire-rated doors with self-closing devices.

Active fire protection includes detection, alarm, sprinklers and smoke control; passive protection includes compartmentation, fire doors, protected escape routes and structural fire resistance.

Emergency management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery; mitigation reduces risk before an event, recovery restores function after it.

Incident Command System structure: incident commander, operations, planning, logistics, finance/administration; span of control is kept to roughly three to seven subordinates.

Fire safety audits check escape routes clear and unobstructed, exit signs illuminated, extinguishers serviced and tagged, alarms tested, and records of drills and maintenance kept.

Building evacuation strategy is either total simultaneous evacuation or phased evacuation by zone; defend-in-place is used where occupants cannot be moved safely, such as hospitals.

Post-incident review documents timeline, decisions, resource use and lessons learned, and feeds corrective actions back into the mitigation and preparedness phases.

Primary survey sequence is catastrophic-haemorrhage control, Airway with cervical-spine protection, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (GCS/pupils/glucose), Exposure with temperature control; reassess after every intervention.

Adult compression standards: rate 100–120/min, depth 5–6 cm, full recoil, minimise pauses to under 10 seconds; compression-to-ventilation ratio 30:2 for one- or two-rescuer adult BLS.

Paediatric CPR: 15:2 for two rescuers (30:2 for a lone rescuer), rate 100–120/min, depth about one-third of chest anteroposterior diameter; start with 5 rescue breaths in asphyxial arrest.

Defibrillation is indicated for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia only; give one shock then immediately resume compressions for 2 minutes before rhythm recheck.

Anaphylaxis: intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg (0.5 mL of 1:1000) adult into the anterolateral thigh, repeat every 5 minutes as needed; adjuncts are antihistamine and steroid after adrenaline.

Hypoglycaemia: if conscious and able to swallow, give 15–20 g oral glucose and recheck after 15 minutes; if unconscious, give IV glucose or IM glucagon and never give oral fluids.

Stroke screen (FAST: Face, Arm, Speech, Time) plus documented onset time; keep oxygen saturation 94–98% and avoid routine high-flow oxygen in non-hypoxic patients.

Burn estimate by Wallace rule of nines: each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, head 9%, perineum 1%; use the patient's palm as about 1% for scattered burns.

Scene safety precedes rescue: apply the hierarchy self-rescue, then reach/throw, then boat, then swim entry with flotation; an untethered rescuer entering water is a last resort.

Confined-space entry requires permit control, atmospheric testing for oxygen, flammable gas and toxic gas before entry, continuous ventilation, a harnessed entrant, attendant and retrieval line.

Rope rescue systems are rated by safety factor: two-rope (main and belay) systems for human loads; anchor strength target is at least 15 kN per anchor for life-safety systems.

Structural collapse marking uses a marking system on a prominent surface recording team identity, date and time of entry and exit, hazards found, and number of live and dead victims located.

Vehicle extrication order: stabilise the vehicle, disconnect the battery, then create space by door removal, roof flap or dash roll; glass management precedes patient contact with sharp edges.

Trench and excavation rescue: spoil pile must be set back at least the depth of the trench or 1 m minimum, and shoring or trench boxes are required before entry; never enter an unshored trench.

Swiftwater rescue priorities are self, team, then victim; use upstream spotters, throw bags with a floating rope, and defensive swimming with feet downstream and body angled toward the current.

Water rescue personal protective equipment includes a personal flotation device with a whistle and knife, helmet, and thermal protection; a throw bag line should be at least 15–25 m of floating rope.

High-angle lowering uses a friction device with a backup belay; the descent rate is controlled by the belayer, and the litter attendant maintains a separate attachment to the main line.

Fire tetrahedron components are fuel, oxygen, heat and the uninhibited chemical chain reaction; removal of any one component extinguishes combustion.

Fire classes: A ordinary combustibles (water, foam), B flammable liquids (foam, dry chemical, CO2), C energised electrical (CO2, dry chemical, never water), D combustible metals (dry powder), F/K cooking oils (wet chemical).

Flashover indicators include high heat with rollover of flame in the smoke layer, smoke igniting at openings, and a rapid rise in temperature; evacuation and cooling from outside are indicated.

Backdraft indicators are smoke-stained windows, little visible flame, inward-pulling air and high heat; ventilate at the highest point only after charged lines are in place.

PASS for extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; a 9 kg dry-powder unit discharges in roughly 10–20 seconds.

Hazardous materials recognition uses placards, UN numbers, container shape and shipping papers; the ERG guide number gives isolation distance and protective action for the material.

Initial isolation for an unknown hazardous material release is at least 50 m in all directions; for a visible vapour cloud or fire, isolate 100 m and evacuate downwind.

Structural firefighting PPE ensemble includes helmet, hood, turnout coat and trousers, gloves, and self-contained breathing apparatus; SCBA is required in any immediately dangerous to life or health atmosphere.

Fire ground water supply: a standard 45 mm attack line flows roughly 200–250 L/min at the nozzle; pump discharge pressure equals nozzle pressure plus friction loss plus elevation loss.

Community risk reduction cycle: identify hazards, assess risk, plan interventions, implement, then monitor and evaluate; the loop repeats with updated data.

Home safety visit checklist covers working smoke alarms on every level, carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas, escape routes, electrical overload, and safe storage of medicines and fuels.

Smoke alarm placement: on each level, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas, mounted on the ceiling at least 10 cm from the wall, tested monthly and replaced every 10 years.

Drowning prevention layers are supervision, barriers around water, swimming and rescue skills, and emergency response; children under five require arm's-reach supervision.

Road safety interventions with proven effect include speed-limit enforcement, seat-belt and helmet laws, child restraint use, and separation of pedestrians and cyclists from traffic.

Emergency preparedness for households: a grab bag with water, food, torch, radio, first-aid kit, medicines and documents, plus a family meeting point and out-of-area contact.

Risk communication should be timely, accurate, consistent and actionable; messages name the hazard, the affected area, the action required and the time window for that action.

Community first-aid training targets bystander action: recognising cardiac arrest, calling the emergency number, starting compressions, controlling bleeding and relieving choking.

Means of egress comprises exit access, the exit and exit discharge; travel distance and exit width are calculated from occupant load and the building's occupancy classification.

Occupant load is floor area divided by the occupant-load factor for the occupancy; required exit width derives from occupant load multiplied by unit width per person (commonly 5 mm per person).

Fire-resistance ratings are expressed in minutes or hours and apply to structural elements, compartment walls, doors and shafts; openings are protected by fire-rated doors with self-closing devices.

Active fire protection includes detection, alarm, sprinklers and smoke control; passive protection includes compartmentation, fire doors, protected escape routes and structural fire resistance.

Emergency management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery; mitigation reduces risk before an event, recovery restores function after it.

Incident Command System structure: incident commander, operations, planning, logistics, finance/administration; span of control is kept to roughly three to seven subordinates.

Fire safety audits check escape routes clear and unobstructed, exit signs illuminated, extinguishers serviced and tagged, alarms tested, and records of drills and maintenance kept.

Building evacuation strategy is either total simultaneous evacuation or phased evacuation by zone; defend-in-place is used where occupants cannot be moved safely, such as hospitals.

Post-incident review documents timeline, decisions, resource use and lessons learned, and feeds corrective actions back into the mitigation and preparedness phases.