2. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Objectives
2
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
• Recognize an emergency
• Decide how you should act
• Understand the Good Samaritan Act
• Activate the EMS system
• Explain Implied versus Expressed consent
• Understand how to perform CPR
• Explain when it is acceptable to stop CPR
3. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Introduction
3
Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. About
900,000 people in the United States die each year from some
form of heart disease.
Given the large number of injuries and sudden illnesses that
occur each year, it is possible that you may have to deal with
an emergency situation.
If so, do you know what to do? Who to call?
This course is designed to help familiarize you with your role in
the EMS system, and how you can react properly in an
emergency.
4. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Your Role in the EMS System
4
The Emergency Medical Services system is a network
of community resources including fire, police and
medical personnel. The biggest component of the
system however, is you!
The process begins when someone like you
recognizes that an emergency exists and decides to
take action by notifying the local emergency
responders (911).
The emergency operator will use the information you
provide to dispatch the appropriate resources to
handle the emergency.
5. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Your Role in the EMS System (cont.)
5
Early arrival of emergency personnel increases a persons
chance of surviving a life-threating emergency.
Calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number is the most
important step you can take!
Your role in the EMS system includes:
Recognizing that an emergency exists
Deciding to act
Activating the EMS system
Giving care until emergency personnel arrive
6. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Recognizing an Emergency
6
Emergencies can happen to anyone, anytime,
anywhere. Before you are able to help, you
must be able to recognize the signs of an
emergency.
You may recognize that an emergency exists
by becoming aware of unusual noises,
unusual sights, unusual odors and unusual
appearances or behaviors.
7. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unusual Noises
7
Loud or unusual noises can be used to recognize an
emergency exist. These can include:
• Screaming, yelling or calling for help
• Breaking glass, screeching tires
• Crashing metal
• Changes in the sound made by machinery or
equipment
• Sudden loud noises, such as the sound of
something collapsing or a ladder falling
• Unusual silence
8. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unusual Sights
8
Sometimes, you may see something that looks
out of the ordinary.
• A vehicle that has run off the road
• Downed electrical wires
• A person lying motionless
• A spilled container
• Smoke or fire
• A person waving for help
9. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unusual Odors
9
There may also be time where you can
neither see nor hear anything unusual, but
instead you may smell something unusual.
• Odors that are stronger than normal
• Unrecognizable odors
• Out of place odors
10. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unusual Appearance or Behavior
10
Sometimes you may not clues from your environment, but
from the person themselves. The following are signs that a
person may be experiencing an emergency:
• Unconsciousness
• Confusion
• Unusual behavior
• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden collapse
• Clutching the chest or throat
• Unusual skin color
• Unresponsive
11. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Deciding to Act
11
Now that you have recognized that an emergency
exists, it is time to decide that you are going to help.
There are many ways that you can help in an
emergency, but in order to help, you must first choose
to act.
Not everyone will choose to help. Sometimes, even
when faced with an emergency, people fail to act.
There are many barriers that must be overcome when
deciding to act in the face of an emergency.
12. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Overcoming Barriers
12
When faced with an emergency situation, some people may be hesitant to
help. Although they want to help, they may have mixed feelings about
actually doing something. These feelings will vary from person to person.
Some of the most common barriers that prevent people from offering help
are:
• Panic
• Being unsure if a true emergency exists
• Unsure what to do
• Assuming someone else will help
• Fear of catching a disease
• Fear of being sued
13. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Panic
13
People react differently in emergency situations. Some can
remain cool and collected, while others simply panic.
Knowing what to do in an emergency will help boost your
confidence, help you to avoid panic and help you to provide
the right care.
If you cannot overcome the panic, remember to call
9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
The worst thing that you can do in an emergency is nothing.
14. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unsure If An Emergency Exists
14
People are often afraid to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
because they are not sure if the situation is a real emergency or not.
They are afraid that if it is not truly an emergency that they will be wasting
the time of the emergency responders.
Your decision to act must be based upon your own values and good
common sense.
If you are in doubt, and unsure about giving care, at least call 9-1-1 or the
local emergency number. The operators will be able to help you decide if
an emergency exists.
Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.
15. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Unsure What To Do
15
Most emergencies happen in or near the home, so you are most
likely to find yourself providing care to a family member, neighbor
or friend.
However; you may encounter an emergency involving a stranger,
and you may feel a little uneasy about helping someone you do
not know.
The person may be much younger or much older, they may have a
disability or be of a different gender.
What you need to think about is, “What if this was my family
member?”
Whatever your final decision is, remember to at least call 9-1-1 or
the local emergency number.
16. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Assuming Someone Else Will Help
16
When an emergency happens, there may be a crowd of
people gathered around. It can be hard to tell if someone
else has already started caring for the person.
Do not assume that someone else has already decided to
act, you may be the only person there who knows CPR or
First Aid.
Although you may feel embarrassed about coming forward,
this should not stop you from offering your help. Someone
has to take action in an emergency, and that someone just
may be you!
If someone has already started caring for then person, you
may be able to offer them help.
17. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Fear of Catching a Disease
17
Many people worry about the possibility of
catching a disease if they were to administer
emergency care.
Although it is extremely unlikely that you will
catch a disease by doing bystander CPR, you
may still want to take precautions if they are
available, such as wearing medical gloves.
18. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Fear of Being Sued
18
Sometimes people worry that they might be sued for
giving care. The fact is, lawsuits against people who
give care in an emergency are unusual and rarely
successful.
The vast majority of states have Good Samaritan laws
that protect people against claims of negligence when
they are acting in good faith at an emergency scene.
Good Samaritan laws were developed to help
encourage people to help others in an emergency
situation. They do however require you to use
common sense and act accordingly.
19. Yuba-Sutter Safety
The Good Samaritan Act
19
Good Samaritan Laws are designed to help protect a bystander
who helps someone in an emergency. To be covered under these
laws, you must act in a way that a “reasonable and prudent”
person would if they were in that same situation.
For example, a prudent person would:
• Move a person only if that person’s life were in danger
• Ask a conscious person for permission to help them (consent)
before rendering care
• Check the person for life threatening injuries
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
• Continue to provide care until more highly trained personnel
arrive
• Not provide care above the level they are trained to provide
20. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Activating the EMS System
20
Activating the EMS system by calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number is the
most important step you can take in an emergency.
When your call is answered, a trained dispatcher will ask you for some basic
information such as:
• Your name
• Your location
• Your call-back number
• The nature of the emergency
They will use the information you provide to dispatch the appropriate First
Responders.
They also may provide you with instructions on how administer life saving techniques,
based upon the emergency and your level of comfort doing so.
21. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Getting Permission to Give Care
21
People have the right to decide what can and
cannot be done to their bodies. They also have
the legal right to accept or refuse medical care.
With that in mind, you must obtain that person’s
permission or consent, before administering care.
There are two types of consent:
• Informed Consent
• Implied Consent
22. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Informed Consent
22
When a conscious adult, of sound mind, gives you permission to
render emergency care, this is considered “informed consent”.
To be able to give consent, the person must:
• Be a legal adult (or emancipated minor)
• Be of sound mind and judgment
If a person refuses your care, you must honor their wishes, no
matter how strongly you feel that they need treatment. When this
happens, calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number is the only
thing you can do to help.
If you do attempt to treat this person, it can be considered battery.
23. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Implied Consent
23
When a person is not able to make a sound decision, it is
assumed that a reasonable person in their situation would want
emergency care. This is called “implied consent”.
Some examples of situations where implied consent would apply
are:
• A person is unconscious
• A person has an altered mental status
• The injured person is a minor
In these situations it is safe to assume that the person or the
minors parents would want emergency treatment and you can
begin your care.
24. Yuba-Sutter Safety
What is CPR?
24
CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
The heart and lungs are what keeps the organs in our
bodies alive. The lungs oxygenate the blood and the heart
pumps it around our body.
When a person experiences cardiac arrest, when the heart
stops beating, we can increase that persons chance of
survival by doing the job the heart normally does.
By performing compressions, you are essentially squeezing
the blood out of the heart and delivering the much needed
oxygenated blood to vital organs.
25. Yuba-Sutter Safety
What To Do….
25
If you encounter a person who is not breathing, by
initiating the EMS system and beginning emergency
care, you can increase their chances of survival.
It’s as easy as ABCD……..
But, the first thing you need to do is look out for your
own safety.
Take a quick moment to survey the scene to make
sure that you are not putting yourself into harms way.
26. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Step One: Check & Call
26
The first thing you will do, after making sure that the
scene is safe, is to check the person’s level of
responsiveness and activate the local EMS system.
To do this:
• Approach the person and tap them on the
shoulder and shout “Are you okay?”
• If there is no response, have someone call 9-1-1
or the local emergency number
• Begin care….
27. Yuba-Sutter Safety
If You Are Alone…..
27
• If the victim is an adult, call 9-1-1 or the local
emergency number, then begin the steps for CPR
• If the victim is a child or an infant, do 2 minutes of
CPR, then call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
28. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Step 2: A is for Airway
28
Once you have determined that the person is
unresponsive and you have activated the local EMS
system it is time to begin care.
A = Airway
Open the person airway so you can check for
breathing by:
• Pushing down on the person’s forehead with the
heel of one hand
• While pulling up on the bony part of their chin with
two or three fingers
29. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Child & Infant Airway
29
For a child or infant:
• Place the heel of one hand on their forehead
to tilt the head back slightly past a neutral
position where the head and chin are neither
flexed downward or upward.
If you suspect that the person may have a neck or
spinal injury, carefully tilt the head back just
enough to open the airway.
30. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Step 3: B is for Breathing
30
Once you have opened the person’s airway, you need to check to
see if they are breathing. This is done by turning your head and
lowering it so that you ear is by their mouth and you are looking at
their chest.
You will be looking for signs of breathing such as:
• Rise and fall of the chest
• Feeling the breath on your face
• Hearing them breath
Sometimes a person may have irregular, shallow or gasping
breaths. These are called agonal respirations and are not normal.
You should consider this the same as if the person was not
breathing.
31. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Step 4: C is for Compressions
31
If you determine that the person is not
breathing or is breathing inadequately, you will
need to begin CPR.
Make sure the person is on a hard rigid
surface.
You will want to provide the compressions at a
rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.
32. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Adult Compressions
32
To perform compressions on an adult:
• Position yourself correctly by kneeling beside the person’s
upper chest.
• Place the heel of one hand on the person’s breast bone at
the center of their chest.
• Place your other hand directly on top of the first hand
• Keep your arms and elbows as straight as possible while
performing compressions
• Press down on the chest at least 2 inches
• After each compression, release the pressure on the
chest without moving your hands.
• If you feel the notch at the end of the sternum, move your
hands up towards the person’s head
• Give the victim 30 compressions then 2 rescue breaths
33. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Child Compressions
33
To perform compressions on a child:
• Position yourself correctly by kneeling beside the child’s upper
chest.
• Place the heel of one hand on the child’s breast bone at the center
of their chest.
• Place your other hand directly on top of the first hand (if the child is
small, you may be able to use just one hand)
• Keep your arms and elbows as straight as possible while
performing compressions
• Press down on the chest at least 2 inches
• After each compression, release the pressure on the chest without
moving your hands.
• If you feel the notch at the end of the sternum, move your hands up
towards the child’s head
• Give the victim 30 compressions then 2 rescue breaths
34. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Infant Compressions
34
To perform compressions on an infant:
• Place the heel of one hand on the infant’s
forehead.
• Place two fingers on the center of the infant’s
chest just below the nipple line.
• Press down on the chest about 1.5 inches
• After each compression, release the pressure
on the chest without lifting your fingers off the
chest.
• If you feel the notch at the end of the sternum,
move your fingers up towards the infant’s head
• Give the victim 30 compressions then 2 rescue
breaths
35. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Rescue Breathing
35
Adult & Child
• Open the airway using the same method as when checking for breathing
• Pinch the nose shut
• Use a CPR barrier (if available)
• Give 2 rescue breaths
Infant
• Open the airway using the same method as when checking for breathing
• Use a CPR barrier (if available)
• Place your mouth over the infants nose and mouth
• Give 2 rescue breaths
Give enough of a breath to make the chest rise and fall as if the person was
taking a normal breath
36. Yuba-Sutter Safety
CPR Cycles
36
• Each time you give 30 compressions
and 2 rescue breaths, this is called a
“Cycle”.
• As a rule of thumb, 5 “cycles” of CPR
should take approximately 2 minutes.
30
compressions
2 breaths
30
compressions
2 breaths
30
compressions
2 breaths
30
compressions
2 breaths
30
compressions
2 breaths
37. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Step 5: D is for Defibrillation
37
If an automatic external defibrillator (AED)
becomes available:
• Stop Compressions
• Turn the AED on
• Follow the voice prompts
38. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Stopping Care
38
Once you begin administering CPR, you will
need to continue to do so until:
• A higher trained rescuer takes over
• Emergency personnel arrive
• An AED arrives
• The person regains consciousness
• You are too exhausted to continue
39. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Summary
39
Cardiac emergencies are life threatening and they occur
every day. These emergencies usually happen in the
home.
If you recognize the need for emergency care, then you can
help increase a person’s chance of survival by activating
the local EMS system and providing emergency care.
It is important to stay familiar with the steps to take in an
emergency.
We at FRTS recommend that everyone takes a full
CPR/AED class in their area.
40. Yuba-Sutter Safety
Be Prepared!
40
Be prepared for an emergency.
If you need a first aid kit or CPR barriers,
please visit our safety store:
www.YubaSutterSafety.com
