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DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this document has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable at the time and is presented here as a study aid and for general information use only. This information is not intended to replace or supercede the information or procedures outlined in your first aid textbook, other officially issued study materials or government published acts or legislative documents.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, the authors are not responsible for any loss, liability, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by any person in connection with the information contained on this site, or by anyone who receives first aid treatment from a reader or user of this information. |
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First aiders cannot diagnose the exact nature and extent of an injury or illness, only a medical doctor has the expertise, equipment and legal right to do this. The casualty should receive medical care following first aid.
The Golden Hour – when there are severe, life-threatening injuries and it is the first hour after the casualty was injured. If the person makes it to a hospital operating room within this hour they have a good chance survival.
The faster the care and call for medical help, the better the casualty’s chance of recovery as there is no time to spare.
The First Aider is in charge unless they give the control over to another first aider who is at the scene who may be more qualified to give aid or until paramedics arrive.
The bystanders can help by:
- making the area safe
- finding all the casualties
- finding a first aid kit
- controlling the crowd
- calling for medical help
- help give the first aid under the first aiders direction
- gather and protecting the causalty’s belonging
- take notes
- reassure the casualty’s relatives
- lead the ambulance attendants to the scene of the emergency
Below is the scenario following a car crash:
- crash scene is “discovered” by a passer-by
- the passer-by has to realize that medical help is needed
- the passer-by had to find a way to call medical help (cell phone, sending another bystander, leaving the scene to call etc.)
- the ambulance has to be dispatched and travel to the scene
- the injured person may have to be freed from the car wreck
- the casualty needs to be loaded onto a stretcher and into the ambulance
- the ambulance has to reach the hospital, and the stretcher has to be unloaded and wheeled to the waiting medical team
- once the casualty arrives at the hospital, time is needed for the medical team to make a careful assessment, take x-rays, do other required tests, prepare an operating room, etc.
Decisions
- always call an ambulance if you can – if you can’t send someone for help
- only transport the casualty to medical help yourself as a last resort or if that is the only possible way to get medical help, it takes special skill to transport a serious trauma casualty
- if you call an ambulance to an emergency scene, the ambulance officers will decide where to take the casualty
- if possible always go the emergency department of a hospital especially in the case of life threatening injuries as doctor’s offices are not equipped to handle emergency situations.
Getting Medical Help
Is medical help nearby? Medical help (phone, house etc.) should be 3 minutes within reach. If you can, carry the non-spinal injury casualty with you to get help or to a near by phone. If the casualty is unresponsive, turn her or him into the recovery position and go for medical help. If help is farther than 3 minutes away, stay with the casualty and give life-saving first aid (breathing, circulation and severe bleeding). Once the casualty’s life is out of immediate danger, decide whether to go (judgment call) get help, leaving the casualty in place. |
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