Your first concern after a disaster is your family’s health and safety. You need to consider possible safety issues and monitor family health and well-being.
CHOKING
If the person is unable to speak, cough or breathe, call 911. If the problem is resolved, you can call back and cancel.
- Identify yourself and ask if you can help the victim. They can nod “yes” or shake their head “no”.
- Stand behind the person.
- Place the thumb side of your fist against the middle of the abdomen just above the navel.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand.
- Give quick upward thrusts.
- Repeat until the object is coughed up. Stop if the person becomes unconscious.
HEAD, BACK AND/OR NECK INJURIES
For Severe Pain or Pressure in the Head, Neck, or Back.
- Check the scene first to ensure your safety, and then check the victim.
- Identify yourself and ask the victim if you can help.
- Apply basic precautions to prevent disease transmission.
- If you think the victim has a head, neck, or back injury call, or have someone else call, 911.
- Minimize movement of the head, neck, and back.
- Place your hands on both sides of the victim’s head and support and maintain the victim’s head in the position you found it.
- If the head is sharply turned to one side, do not try to align it.
- Remember – support the victim’s head as you find it.
SHOCK
- Check the scene first to ensure your safety, and then check the victim.
- Cover the victim and keep her/him lying down. Cover only enough to keep her/him from losing body heat.
- Do not give food or water.
- Raise feet.
- Obtain medical help as soon as possible.
CONTROLLING BLEEDING
For an Open Wound
- Check the scene first and then check the victim.
- Identify yourself and ask the victim it you can help. Apply basic precautions to prevent disease transmission.
- Cover wound with dressing.
- Press firmly against the wound (direct pressure).
- Cover the dressing with a roller bandage.
- Tie the knot directly over the wound.
- Elevate the injured area.
- Keep the wound above the level of the heart (only when you suspect that a bone is not broken).
- If bleeding does not stop:
- Apply additional dressing and bandages.
- Use a pressure point to squeeze the artery against the bone.
- Call or have someone else call 911.
APPLYING A SLING TO AN ARM OR SHOULDER
- Check the scene first and then check the victim.
- Ask the victim if you can help.
- Apply basic precautions to prevent disease transmission.
- If the victim is unable to move or use an injured arm call, or have some else call 911.
- Support the injured arm above and below the site of injury.
- Check for feeling, warmth and color below the injured area.
- Place the sling
- Leave the arm in the position you find it.
- Place a triangular bandage under the injured arm and over the injured shoulder to form a sling.
- Tie the ends of the sling at the side of the neck.
- TIP: Place pads of gauze under the knots to make it more comfortable for the victim.
- Secure the injured area.
- Secure the arm to the chest with a folded triangular bandage
- Recheck for feeling, warmth, and color below the injured area.