How to Make a First Aid Process Flow Chart

A first aid flow chart can be a very useful item for an emergency response department or an institution such as a school or office. First aid flow charts can clearly visualize first aid processes to help emergency responders, nurses, or other persons to carry out first aid procedures. But to avoid confusion or error, the first aid flow chart should be carefully written and tested for accuracy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Identify the process you want to document. A first aid flow chart can be more basic than some other types of scenario-solvers; your process can be as basic as "Identify Patient" or address a more complex procedure as in a "tracheotomy."
2. Get the "raw data" from the most skilled medical staff at your disposal. The basic methodologies should come from the top, from doctors or certified nurses. Identify how a problem scenario is most usually dealt with.
3. Identify "split" scenarios that will need to have their own "procedure chains" within the chart. For example, is patient breathing? is patient prone/inert? Every possibility addressed on the chart will need its own solution. Get more information from your original sources as necessary.
4. Draw out your processes. Use boxes for specific steps, either in situational prompts (ex: patient = high pulse, patient = pupils dilated) or for steps in the first aid process (ex: administer x meds, do not move patient, etc.). Connect the steps clearly so that aid workers can follow them easily.
5. Review the chart, looking for ways to highlight the most important steps, either with colors or shapes. The conventional flow chart design offers solutions like using boxes for one kind of item (ex: patient identifiers) and diamonds for another (ex: procedures).

Tips & Warnings

• Pass your chart around. Getting feedback on a procedural flow chart is crucial to enhancing its accuracy and providing a good "legitimacy" in case any questions arise.