Primary Survey
This Video shows how to react when a person has collapsed.
NOTE THAT THE EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 114.
Firstly, as a first aider, stay calm.
Approach the casualty, ask any bystander about what happened to the casualty and ask him/ her to stay standby as you may need his/ her help to assist the casualty.
If ever, you have a pair of gloves, you may use it, else wash your hands to prevent cross-contamination.
Then, we use the acronym
D R A B C
D stands for Danger
We should watch out before trying to save the person whether there is any danger in the surroundings.
R stands for Response
Check for the reponse of the casualty. Do this by calling them, then shake gently their shoulders, if no response, then pinch their ear lobes to see if there is any response.
Use A V P U test for response
A means Alert, V for Voice, P for pain and U for Unconscious
A stands for Airway
If person is unconscious, open the Airway, head tilt, chin up.
B stands for Breathing
Bring your face close to the face of the person and eyes set on his chest. Count till ten (10) seconds. Look for chest movements as well as sound or warmth of breath of the person.
If ever person is not breathing, immediately start CPR and call Medical Emergency Service.
If person is breathing move to the next step.
C stands for Circulation
Check the circulation of the person at the level of the carotil (neck) as he is unconscious. Monitor his pulse to know if ever the person enters a state of shock.
Pulse rate per minutes should be as follows:
Adult: 60 to 80,
Child: 100 to 120.
After performing the DRABC, then perform the Secondary Survey that is the Head to Toe Examination to know if ever there is any injury.
Then, put the person in recovery position so that airway is not blocked, the person does not swallow his tongue and if the person wants to vomit, he can vomit freely and it will not fall on him or choke. The video below shows how to put a person in recovery position.
NOTE: ALWAYS PLACE A PREGNANT WOMAN ON HER LEFT SIDE WHEN PUTTING HER IN RECOVERY POSITION.
Continue to monitor the vital signs of the casualty until emergency help arrives.
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness.
If a person faints, loosen tight clothing.
Make the person lie flat and lift their legs up so that blood flows better into their heads. Continue lifting their legs until they get back to consciousness and help them get up.
