How to Check, Call and Care in Emergency Medical Treatment

You never know when you will find yourself at the scene of an accident or disaster as a "first responder." Whether you've received formal training or not, there are certain steps you can follow to expedite the response and facilitate a positive outcome for the victims.

Instructions

Check the Scene

1. Survey the scene visually to see if there are any obvious hazards that could result in injury to you or the victim. Check for things such as downed wires, unstable structures, overhead objects that could fall on you and other obvious dangers.

2. Listen for hazards. For example, if you are attempting to rescue a hiker from a dry riverbed, listen for the roar of a flash flood coming from upstream. Or if you are at the scene of an automobile accident, listen for the sound of oncoming cars.

3. Check for signs of explosive or toxic chemicals in either liquid or gas form. Sniff the air. Scan the site for spills, leaks or other biohazards.

Call for Help

1. Note the location of the scene, the type of injury or accident, the number of victims and whether there are any ongoing hazards present.

2. Call 911 and give the operator the relevant information.

3. Remain calm, and stay on the call until you are instructed to hang up. It is possible that the 911 operator will guide you through the proper steps to provide intermediate care until more advanced medical care arrives.

Care for the Victims

1. Don a pair of rubber gloves, or find some other means of containing the victim's body fluids so that you do not come into direct contact with the fluids.

2. Request consent to render care from a conscious victim. If the victim is unconscious, you have implied consent to render assistance. If the victim refuses care but subsequently loses consciousness, you have implied consent to provide care.

3. Administer care appropriate to the emergency situation. If you suspect a head, neck or back injury do not move the victim. Otherwise, once you have administered whatever care is necessary to temporarily stabilize the victim, place the victim in the recovery position. Refer to the eHow article "How To Use the Recovery Position" for more information on the recovery position.

4. Stay with the victim and monitor for signs of shock until advanced medical care arrives.