Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [1]
• Keep a list of emergency contacts such as family members in either your wallet or cellphone
• If you have a medical condition, wear a medical-alert bracelet or necklace
• Take a first-aid class
First Aid and the Law
Most states have Good Samaritan Laws that grant immunity against lawsuits to those providing first aid. Good Samaritan Laws apply if the rescuer is:
• Acting during an emergency
• Acting in good faith
• Acting without compensation
• Not guilty of gross negligence toward the victim
Some occupations include a duty to act, to provide first aid to victims. These occupations include law enforcement officers, park rangers, athletic trainers, lifeguards and teachers. Once you have begun first aid on a victim, do not leave the victim unless another competent and trained person takes responsibility for them. Keep any medical information the victim gives you in the strictest confidence.
Before giving first aid, ask for the victim’s consent, which can be expressed verbally or with a nod of the head. If the victim is unconscious, their consent is considered implied. Based on implied consent, treat children whose parents or guardians cannot be found. Do not call your doctor, the hospital, friends, relatives or neighbors when a serious condition occurs. This only wastes valuable time. Do not transport a victim to a hospital in a private vehicle, this can present significant dangers to a victim.
Risks of Providing First Aid
The risk of getting a communicable disease from a victim is low, however, several are serious. Three serious blood borne diseases are: hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Hepatitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation and possible damage to the liver.
A vaccine is available for hepatitis B, and medical and laboratory personnel, EMS workers and police are frequently vaccinated. Currently, there is no vaccine or effective treatment for HCV. Symptoms of HBV appear within two weeks to six months after exposure. Some people remain symptom free, but are still contagious. Symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Stomach pain
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Persons infected with HIV almost always develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which interferes with the body’s ability to fight off other diseases. There is no vaccine to prevent HIV infection.
Among air borne diseases, tuberculosis (TB) is a serious risk. Persons with a chronic cough, nursing home residents or homeless shelter residents are especially at risk. Symptoms of TB include:
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
To prevent blood borne or air borne diseases, wear eye covering, latex or vinyl gloves, and a surgical mask if available. If a mask is not available, wrap a handkerchief over your nose and mouth. When doing CPR, use a mouth-to-barrier device if one is available.
Calling Emergency Services
Most countries have emergency numbers to summon police, fire or an ambulance. Many countries have consolidated these numbers into a single emergency number. In North America, that number is 911, and in all countries in the European Union, the number is 112. In the U.S., you can dial 911 from your cell phone even if your phone has never been activated. In Europe, you can dial 112 from your GSM phone even if it doesn’t have a SIM card, or if the keyboard is locked. Some European countries, such as Belgium, Spain, UK, Liechtenstein, and Austria, are reported to connect emergency calls only from phones having a valid account on their network, that is, customers and roamers only. In Latin America, GSM networks typically do not allow 112 calls without a SIM.
In many parts of the world, emergency services can identify the landline from which a 911 call has been made, even landlines having an unlisted number or blocked caller ID. They can then associate an address with that telephone number. In the U.S. the Federal Communications Commission has required that all wireless carriers be able to pinpoint the location of