Primary and Secondary Assessment:

When you encounter an emergency situation, you should follow these steps:

1. Check for safety: Make sure the scene is safe for you and the victim. Remove any hazards or move to a safer location if possible.

2. Call for help: Call 911 or activate EMS as soon as possible. Give them your location, number of victims, nature of injury or illness, and any other relevant information.

3. Care for life-threatening conditions: Perform a primary assessment to identify and treat any conditions that threaten the victim’s airway, breathing, or circulation (ABCs). These include:

• Airway obstruction: Check if the victim is choking or has anything blocking their airway. If so, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) or chest thrusts to dislodge the object.
• Breathing arrest: Check if the victim is breathing by looking, listening, and feeling for signs of breathing. If not, perform rescue breathing by giving two breaths every five seconds for an adult or one breath every three seconds for a child or infant.
• Circulatory arrest: Check if the victim has a pulse by feeling for a carotid pulse in an adult or a brachial pulse in a child or infant. If not, perform chest compressions by pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute for all ages.
• Severe bleeding: Check if the victim has any bleeding that is spurting, soaking through dressings, or endangering their life. If so, apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. If possible, elevate the injured part above the level of the heart. If bleeding does not stop, apply pressure to a pressure point near the wound or use a tourniquet as a last resort. 

4. Provide additional care: Perform a secondary assessment to identify and treat any other injuries or illnesses that are not immediately life-threatening. These include:

• Head injury: Check if the victim has any signs of skull fracture, such as deformity, swelling, bruising, bleeding, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the ears or nose. If so, do not move their head or neck unless necessary. Apply a sterile dressing to any open wounds and monitor their level of consciousness.
• Spinal injury: Check if the victim has any signs of spinal cord damage, such as numbness, tingling, weakness, paralysis, or loss of bladder or bowel control. If so, do not move their head or neck unless necessary. Stabilize their head and neck with your hands or a rigid object and monitor their breathing and circulation.
• Fracture: Check if the victim has any signs of broken bones, such as deformity, swelling, bruising, pain, or inability to move the affected part. If so, do not move the injured part unless necessary. Splint the fracture with a rigid object and padding and elevate the injured part if possible. Apply ice to reduce swelling and pain.
• Dislocation: Check if the victim has any signs of joint displacement, such as deformity, swelling, bruising, pain, or inability to move the affected part. If so, do not move the injured part unless necessary. Splint the dislocation in the position found and apply ice to reduce swelling and pain.
• Sprain: Check if the victim has any signs of ligament injury, such as swelling, bruising, pain, or difficulty moving the affected part. If so, apply the RICE method: Rest the injured part, Ice it for 20 minutes every hour, Compress it with an elastic bandage, and Elevate it above the level of the heart.
• Wound: Check if the victim has any cuts, scrapes, punctures, or burns on their skin. If so, clean the wound with soap and water or saline solution and cover it with a sterile dressing. Change the dressing as needed and watch for signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, pus, or fever.
• Burn: Check if the victim has any damage to their skin caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. If so, classify the burn according to its depth:
  1. First-degree burn: Affects only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). Causes redness, pain, and mild swelling. Treat by cooling the burn with water or a cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes and applying aloe vera gel or antibiotic ointment.
  2. Second-degree burn: Affects both the outer and inner layer of skin (dermis). Causes blisters, severe pain, and moderate swelling. Treat by cooling the burn with water or a cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes and covering it with a sterile dressing. Do not break the blisters or apply ointment.
  3. Third-degree burn: Affects all layers of skin and may damage underlying tissues. Causes charred, white, or black skin that is dry and painless. Treat by covering the burn with a sterile dressing and seeking immediate medical attention. Do not cool the burn or remove any clothing that is stuck to it.
• Poisoning: Check if the victim has ingested, inhaled, absorbed, or injected any substance that is harmful to their body. If so,
  1. Call poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for advice
  2. Follow their instructions on whether to induce vomiting or not
  3. Provide supportive care such as fluids, oxygen, or antidotes
  4. Monitor their vital signs and level of consciousness
• Allergic reaction: Check if the victim has any signs of hypersensitivity to a substance they have been exposed to. If so,
  1. Remove the source of allergen if possible
  2. Give them antihistamines or epinephrine if they have them
  3. Monitor their breathing and circulation
  4. Seek immediate medical attention if they have signs of anaphylaxis
• Anaphylaxis: A severe allergic reaction that can cause shock and death. Signs include:
  1. Difficulty breathing
  2. Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
  3. Hives or itching
  4. Nausea or vomiting
  5. Dizziness or fainting
  6. Rapid pulse or low blood pressure