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Emergency:  Medical Conditions

To Start Breathing | To Give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | Abdominal Thrust for Choking Victim | To Stop Bleeding | Seizures and Unconscious Victims | Heat Related Illness

Do not second guess.  Always call 6-6666 or 911 for medical assistance.

Only if you are trained or certified, the following instructions serve as a reminder for providing emergency assistance.

To Start Breathing

(Victim is Not Breathing, but Has Pulse)

1. Call 911.  Perform rescue breathing if trained or certified
2. With the victim's head tilted back and chin lifted, pinch the nose shut
3. Give two slow breaths.  Breathe into the victim until chest gently rises
4. Check for a pulse (on neck)
5. If there is a pulse, but the victim is still not breathing, give one slow breath every five seconds (twelve times a minutes)
6. Recheck pulse and breathing every minute.  Continue rescue breathing as long as the victim is not breathing, or until medical assistance arrives

To Give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

(Victim Is Not Breathing and Has No Pulse)

1. Call 911 for CPR instructions.  Do CPR and rescue breathing if trained or certified
2. Find the notch where the lower ribs meet the breast bone.  Place the heel of your hand on the breast bone.  Place your other hand on top of the first
3. Position the shoulders over hands.  Compress chest fifteen times using a smooth, even rhythm
4. Give two slow breaths (see To Start Breathing above)
5. Do three more sets of fifteen compressions and two breaths
6. Recheck pulse and breathing for about five seconds
7. If there is no pulse, continue sets of fifteen compressions and two breaths
8. Continue until medical assistance arrives, or until victim starts breathing and has pulse

Abdominal Thrust for Choking Victim

1. Call 911 for emergency instructions
2. Get behind victim.  Wrap your arms around the victim's waist, just above the navel
3. Clasp your hands together with a doubled fist.  Press in and up in quick thrusts
4. Be careful not to exert pressure against the victim's rib cage with forearms
5. Repeat procedures until choking stops

To Stop Bleeding

1. Call 911 for emergency instructions
2. Apply pressure directly onto the wound with a sterile gauze, clean handkerchief, or gloved hand
3. Maintain a steady pressure for five to ten minutes
4. If victim is bleeding from an arm or leg, elevate it
5. Stay with the victim until help arrives

Seizures and Unconscious Victims

1. Do not leave victim alone
2. Call 911.  Operator will provide emergency instructions

Heat Related Illness

1. Get victim to a cool place
2. Loosen tight clothing
3. Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin
4. Fan the victim
5. If the victim is conscious, give cool (not cold) water to drink
6. Call an ambulance if victim refuses water, vomits, or loses consciousness

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