Basic First Aid
Adults
Checking an Injured or Ill Adult
If there is an injured or ill adult that appears to be unconscious, use disposable gloves and obtain consent if you can then follow these steps. First, check for responsiveness by tapping the shoulder and shouting 'are you okay?'. If there is no response, call 9-1-1, or if there is a response, call 9-1-1 (with consent) and then check from head to toe and find out what happened to them. Second, open the airway by tilting the head back slightly. Third, check for breathing quickly. Fourth, scan for severe bleeding.
Conscious Choking
If there is a conscious adult that cannot cough, speak, or breathe, get someone to call 9-1-1 and then follow these steps. First, give 5 back blows. Second, give 5 abdominal thrusts, and then continue these steps until the object is expelled, they can cough or breathe, or they become unconscious.
CPR
If the adult is not breathing, follow these steps. Give 30 hard, fast chest compressions. Give 2 rescue breaths, making sure the chest rises. Continue this process until one of the following happens: you find an obvious sign of life (like breathing), an AED is ready for use, another trained responder takes over, you are too exhausted to continue, or the scene becomes unsafe.
Control External Bleeding
If the adult is bleeding, follow these steps. First, cover the wound with a sterile dressing. Second, apply direct pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops. Third, cover with a bandage, making sure they are still getting circulation.
Stroke (Think F.A.S.T.)
If you think that an adult may be having a stroke, think F.A.S.T.
Face - Ask the person to smile and look for a
droop
Arm - Have them lift their arms and see if one drifts downward
Speech - Ask them to repeat a simple sentence and see if their speech is slurred or if they can repeat it properly
Time - Call 9-1-1 immediately if you see any signs of a stroke. Time is important