Giving treatment in emergency situations

Now that you have an understanding about how to react in emergency situations and how to protect yourself, here are specific ways to treat different emergencies. But remember, before you can treat a victim - or victims - in an emergency situation, always use the check, call, care method.

Wounds

If you come upon an emergency situation where someone is wounded, there are a few things you should do:

• Check, call, care

• Cover the wounded area with clean gauze or a sterile dressing – if a first aid kit isn’t available, you can use washcloths, towels or other absorbent materials

• Knot the bandage directly over the wound to apply direct pressure

• Have the victim, if able, or yourself apply direct pressure to the wound – enough pressure to control the bleeding, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation

• If the wound continues bleeding before help arrives, elevate the wound above the heart if you can safely move the victim in that position (do not do this if a bone appears to be broken or it causes too much pain for the victim)

• If the wound is still bleeding, find a pressure point closest to the wound and squeeze to the bone

• Never use a tourniquet – direct pressure, elevation and pressure points can control almost any emergency bleeding situation. Only trained medical professionals should decide when a tourniquet is needed

Head, neck or back injuries

When a victim is faced with a head, neck or back injury, it is very important to give them the appropriate care very carefully:

• First - check, call, care

• Immobilize the head, neck or back – do this by either placing both of your hands on either side of the head and support it – do not move the victim

• Keep the airway open

• Continuously check consciousness

• Stay with the victim until help arrives