First aid measures

Before becoming a first aider, try to keep calm and breathe deeply. It's normal to be excited in this situation. Act step by step and remember first aid skills. Remember, the only mistake you can make is doing nothing.

Here's a step-by-step guide on what to do in an emergency. It is based on current international recommendations.

 

 

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The most important first: self-protection

In order to be able to help efficiently, all dangers that pose a danger to oneself must be taken into account (e.g. approaching vehicles, poor visibility due to darkness or fog, sources of electricity or fires, unsafe terrain on the mountain). Self-protection is a top priority. The best first aid knowledge is useless if you have hurt yourself. So, for example, the accident site must be secured first.

 

If necessary and possible: Remove the casualty from the danger area. Pay attention to your protection, do not put yourself in danger. If your risks are too great, call helpers such as the fire brigade, rescue or police.

Next: emergency check-up

A simple emergency check should be performed for every emergency involving sick or injured people. Check awareness and breathing:

1-Control of consciousness

 

Talk to the person concerned. If there is no reaction, gently shake the victim's shoulder.

 

If the victim responds (answers, tricks, movements): Leave him/her in the position you found him/her in and make the emergency call. Check the condition regularly until emergency services are on site. More about this in the text below

 

If she still shows no reaction, call for help until someone realizes the situation and calls an ambulance. If you are alone, you should perform the next step and then call the emergency call yourself.

2-Breathing control

 

Extend your head by placing one hand on your forehead and lifting your chin with the other hand. The following applies: hear, see, feel for a maximum of ten seconds, i.e. bend your head over the patient's face and look at his chest. Watch if the chest rises and falls, hear if you hear breathing noises, and feel if you can feel the breath on your cheeks.

 

The following steps depend on whether you have observed the sick person's (normal) breathing:

Unconscious people with current breathing should lie on their side in a stable position. Then dial emergency and continue to monitor breathing (more on this below).

attention!

In case of cardiac arrest, so-called sudden breathing can occur (“single” breaths with extended pauses between them); This should not be confused with normal breathing! The same procedure applies to non-breathing.

Call the emergency If the person dies and is not breathing or is not breathing normally, call emergency immediately and begin resuscitation.​

emergency call

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An emergency call is especially important in an emergency situation. Describe the situation as slowly as possible on the emergency phone and focus on the situation. The following information is especially important:

Where is the emergency location? The more accurate, the better.

What happened? Illness and injury.

How many people are affected? The number of injured people is like in a traffic accident

who is calling? The name of a phone number to call back.

You do not need to remember these questions - they are asked to you by the employees of the Rescue Control Center!

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If breathing stops completely: begin resuscitation

 

If the sick person is unconscious and not breathing (normally), resuscitation measures should be initiated immediately, regardless of the cause.

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1-Is there a defibrillator?

 

If a defibrillator is available nearby, you should get it as soon as possible. If there are other people present: Ask them to bring a pacemaker while you begin resuscitation.

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Instructions on where to place the contact points on the patient can be found on automatic defibrillators. Then follow the defibrillation instructions.

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2- Cardiac massage

 

Until a defibrillator is available or if it is not available: Perform a cardiac massage.

 

Press 30x at a frequency of 100 to 120x per minute.

 

The pressure point is the middle of the chest.

 

The depth of the indentation should be at least five centimeters (but not more than six centimeters).

 

Do not lean on the victim's chest! The chest should be relaxed after each compression.

 

3-Breathe

 

If you dare: Breathe the person in question twice.

 

To do this, return to the person's head, cover his nose and cover his entire mouth with his lips. Blow into it forcefully and watch the patient's chest: if it raises itself when blowing, ventilation is successful.

 

Wait for the chest to drop again (exhale) and try again.

 

Important: If ventilation is not working (the chest does not rise and fall during breathing), it is likely that a foreign body is obstructing the airways. If you can see the foreign object, remove it carefully. If you can't see a foreign object, but still suspect it, don't use your fingers to look up your throat! Any object present can slip deeper and make the problem worse. Proceed as shown; Cardiac massage and frequent ventilation can help expel the inhaled foreign body.

After ventilation, start chest compressions again. Continue this procedure (30x cardiac massage, 2x ventilation) until the patient shows signs of life or emergency services arrive. If there are other people on site, take turns changing every two minutes; Cardiac massage is physically exhausting for the assistants.

Anyone who is afraid of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should refrain from doing so. Heart massage is definitely important!

attention!

Children are excluded, and should always be ventilated!

If breathing is available: Determine correct position

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Patients or injured people who are currently breathing should be repositioned properly until emergency services arrive.

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Subconscious position

 

In general, the following applies: Unconscious people should always be placed in a stable sideways position. This position prevents you from suffocating, because if you are not conscious there is a risk that the affected person will breathe in saliva or blood or that the tongue will slip into the throat.

 

How does stable side position work:

 

First, place your arm at a right angle to the side to which the affected person is directed.

Then pull the opposite knee up and place the wrist of the other arm on it.

In the next step, turn the affected person to the angled arm.

The final step is to extend your head and open your mouth. This allows blood, vomit, or mucus to drain.

 

NB

People with suspected spinal injuries should be moved as little as possible. In case of loss of consciousness, the stable side position also applies in this case.​

Pose consciously

In general, care must be taken to change the subject's position at will - if he or she is able to provide the information. Depending on the injury or illness, some positions are preferred:​

Upper body lifting: for shortness of breath, heart problems, head injuries, and heat emergencies.

Elevated legs: in case of an allergic reaction, bleeding, collapse, burning, hypoglycemia.

Stable lateral positioning: when there is a risk of vomiting.

Tucked legs: for abdominal injuries and severe abdominal pain.

Additional basic measures
 

Until emergency services arrive, you can also do the following:

 

Heavy bleeding must be stopped quickly. Apply pressure to the wound to stop or slow blood loss.

Make sure the patient is breathing calmly. Open windows and loosen tight clothing.

Infected or sick people can catch a cold very quickly. Therefore, cover the affected person(s).

People who are injured or sick are often very afraid. Therefore, stay with the person concerned to take care of him and comfort him.

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