Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace

Physical Assessment The physical assessment is designed to identify signs and symptoms of illness or injury not discovered when attending to the airway, breathing, and circulation. Physical assessment is performed after assessing for and attending to any immediately life-threatening problems. To “perform a physical assessment” on a victim means to do a head-to-toe check for injuries. It also includes asking an injured or ill victim about signs, symptoms, and their medical history. Information obtained from performing a physical assessment can be useful for the first aid provider and should be passed on to EMS providers or other health care professionals. When Caring for Children The head-to-toes assessment sequence should be reversed (toes-tohead) in infants and young children. Infants and young children find it threatening when strangers want to touch their face. By beginning with the toes and going backward, you reduce the chance of scaring the child. Try to gain the child’s trust as you go. Be calm, friendly and reassuring.9 When Caring for Older Persons Talking with older persons may be difficult. Elderly victims may have trouble seeing, hearing and talking. Speak face-to-face at eye level. If the older person seems confused and a relative or friend is available, check with them to see if this difficulty is normal for the older person. Always speak slowly, distinctly, and respectfully. Don’t shout. This training guide is provided online for individual use only. Reprinting for classroom distribution is prohibited. Physical Assessment Briefly assess the victim in a logical manner (head to toe.) Look and/or feel for signs of injury. This may be done through simple observation or by gentle touch. If the victim has been subject to extreme forces, such as a car crash; or head, neck, or spinal injuries are suspected, perform a head-to-toe assessment only if another first aid provider is available to help hold the victim’s head still. ASSESS head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and all four limbs. D-O-T-S is helpful in remembering what to look for. • Deformities • Open injuries • Tenderness • Swelling Ask questions to gather information about the victim’s signs and symptoms and medical history. S-A-M-P-L-E is helpful in remembering what information to ask about. • Signs/Symptoms (signs of injury/symptoms of illness) • Allergies (to medications, food, environment) • Medications (ill or injured person is taking) • Pertinent past history (of medical problems) • Last oral intake (liquids or solids) • Events (that may have lead to illness/injury) Emergency Moves In most cases, a first aid provider should not move an ill or injured person. Emergency services personnel are the best trained and equipped to do this, and you should wait for them. However, in a life-threatening emergency or catastrophic disaster, there may not be time to wait for professional help. In these cases, it may be necessary to perform an emergency move. In a situation such as a fire, explosion, or collapse, you may be able to drag a victim to safety. Drag the victim in the direction of the long axis of the body to protect the spine as best as possible. Never pull the victim sideways or pull the head away from the neck and shoulders. Clothing drag method. 8 Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace Responding to Emergencies

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace

Basic First Aid for the Community and Workplace Contents Basic First Aid Emergency Action Steps Severe Bleeding and Shock Major Wounds Minor Wounds Burns Bites and Stings Dental Injuries Eye and Nose Injuries Injuries to Limbs Injuries to the Spine Head Injury Sudden Illness Specific Conditions Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Endnotes About This Program

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