How long do you check for a pulse and breathing during the primary assessment?
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To Check the victim, you must first survey the scene to ensure your safety. You need to notice the victim's position as you approach him or her and any automatic red flags. If you get hurt trying to help, you may only serve to make matters worse. Next, do a primary survey. This can be done while you are walking/running out on the field. This involves checking to determine if the victim is conscious or unconscious, has an open airway and is breathing, and has a pulse. Once you have approached the victim, if they are unconscious you need to look, listen, and feel. Place your ear over the person's mouth and look for the rise and fall of the chest. Feel for the breath on your face, and listen for any moving air and possible blocked airway. If the victim is not breathing you will need to begin CPR. If they are breathing but unconscious, call 911 and continue to monitor vital signs until the arrive. If there is suspicion of a head or neck injury you would need to resume the C-spine position until EMS arrives. CPR is the number one priority if the individual is not breathing. If you determine the patient has a head or neck injury you should assume the C-spine position to keep them from making any unnecessary movements. If there is any suspicion of a head or neck injury and the athlete stays down, there should be an EMS called. Show After checking the victim, designate a person to Call EMS. If you are the only one, then you must do it yourself. You should be able to tell EMS your location, the situation at hand, and description of the patient. The 911 director would also need to know your name, and how they will be able to enter the facility. Also you should be able to give the EMS up to date directions to your current location. Remaining calm in this step is crucial. Never be the first one to hang up the phone on a 911 call. After calling the EMS, provide appropriate Care until EMS arrives and takes over. Continue monitoring the vital signs of the victim until EMS arrives. It is important to do your best to stay calm and stay focused so that you will be able to provide the best care possible for the injured individual. As a rescuer, you are of zero help to a casualty if you get injured yourself. Before rushing in to assist another, take a moment to assure the environment is safe for you. Assessing a scene should only take about 5-15 seconds, although there are a number of important issues that need to be evaluated during this brief period. Check the area for Danger! Determine whether or not the environment poses a hazard to you as a rescuer. If a scene is unsafe, do not enter it. If the area is not safe to approach, stay back and call 911. This is especially important to remember when dealing with emergencies involving confined spaces, fire, electricity, chemical spills, and other situations where the rescuer may become another casualty. During this phase you should also attempt to determine the number of casualties, the nature of the injuries, and any clues to the cause of the injury. Alert EMS / Call 911 Once it has been determined there is an emergency, it is time to activate and alert the Emergency Medical System. If possible, enlist others to help so you may begin care of the casualty. Ask a bystander to activate EMS by calling 911, or if no one else is available to assist, the rescuer should make the call themselves. Try to speak calmly and include important information such as the location, phone number, and the casualty’s condition. Stay on the line with the 911 dispatcher. If a rescuer suspects the casualty is experiencing a cardiac emergency, the rescuer should have an assisting bystander return with an AED if one is available as well as the nearest first aid kit or other rescue supplies. Attend / Primary Survey The first things to look for are conditions that may threaten a casualty’s life. The rescuer should begin treatment and primary assessment by talking to the casualty if conscious. Rescuers will then want to control severe bleeding and treat for shock or other serious injuries or illness. Check for Responsiveness (Tap and shout ~ “Are you okay?”) If there are no obvious signs of responsiveness such as movement, talking, coughing, or breath – or if there is only gasping or inadequate breathing, then immediate action is required! If the casualty is unresponsive, then either full C.A.R.E. CPR™ or Compression-Only CPR™ is required.  Primary Survey If there are more than one casualty, a rescuer should refer to the triage section for assessment and assisting. Evaluate for confusion or unresponsiveness. If the casualty has been unconscious for any length of time, immobilize the head and neck, and activate EMS immediately. Perform a head-to-toe evaluation. Look for signs of trauma, bleeding, deformity, embedded or impaling objects, discoloration, or anything that might be of concern. Be sure to locate any concealed injuries that may be more life threatening than the obvious injuries that may be noticed first. To determine if an individual may have a potential fracture, a rescuer may simply ask the casualty if they can move the area without causing pain. If the casualty is unable to move the area, or if it causes significant pain, do not allow them to move it, and treat it as if known to be a fracture. In order to prioritize your treatment, a rescuer should be constantly aware of the most life threatening situations. This becomes even more important when dealing with an unconscious casualty who cannot relate information to the rescuer. It may be necessary for a rescuer to consider the following questions: Life Threatening Priorities
These items must be dealt with in order of their severity. For example, although any of these situations could cause a fatality, severe bleeding should not be addressed until Step 1 (Unresponsiveness, which may include breathing and heartbeat), has been remedied, as these are a more immediate threat to life. Secondary Survey A rescuer should be prepared to perform a secondary survey once it has been determined that the casualty has no life-threatening injuries or conditions requiring ongoing care. The secondary survey is to check for less obvious problems that may require first aid. The secondary survey follows these steps:
Continue to monitor casualty for consciousness. The casualty’s condition can suddenly worsen, so it is important to continue to watch for any changes and be ready to perform CPR if necessary. Rest & Reassure As the rescuer waits for Emergency Medical Services to arrive, the rescuer should have the casualty rest comfortably and calmly reassure them that help is on the way. This can be one of the most important acts a rescuer can do to help the casualty. If a rescuer can help keep the casualty calm and comfortable, it is possible to prevent them from going into to shock or deeper, more severe shock, which is a life-threatening condition. What should follow a primary assessment?Assess, Alert & Attend. Assess / Survey the Scene. As a rescuer, you are of zero help to a casualty if you get injured yourself. ... . Alert EMS / Call 911. ... . Attend / Primary Survey. ... . Check for Responsiveness. ... . Primary Survey. ... . Life Threatening Priorities. ... . Secondary Survey. ... . Rest & Reassure.. What should I check first during primary assessment?During the primary assessment, you are checking for any life-threatening conditions, including unconsciousness, absence of breathing, absence of pulse and severe bleeding. Check for responsiveness and, if the victim is conscious, obtain consent. If no response, summon more advanced medical personnel.
What is the primary assessment in ACLS?In the Primary Assessment, you continue to assess and perform an action as appropriate until transfer to the next level of care. Many times, members of a high-performance team perform assessments and actions in ACLS simultaneously. Remember: Assess…then perform appropriate action.
What is the correct process when completing the primary survey?DRABC is the acronym for the steps in the primary survey procedure that every first aider must complete when they initially come across a casualty. DRABC stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Although, there is some debate as to whether this is enough steps in some cases.
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