Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
1. Restore and maintain breathing and heartbeat. Without these, death is certain and quick.
2. Stop the bleeding.
3. Protect wounds and burns.
4. Immobilize fractures.
5. Treat shock.
Unconscious Victim
Follow this sequence to evaluate an unconscious victim's ABCs:
1.
Shake and shout.
Check for consciousness. Tap or gently shake the victim. Ask, “Are you OK?”
If not OK, shout for help.
2.
Check for neck or back injury.
If you suspect a neck or back injury, try to evaluate the ABCs
without moving the victim. Moving a person with a spinal injury always entails a risk of severing
the spinal cord.
3.
Position the victim.
If you do not suspect a spinal injury, carefully roll the victim onto his or her
back. Grasp the shoulder and hip, supporting the neck and head as well as you can, while you try
to roll the body as a unit.
4.
Open the airway.
Use the “head tilt/chin lift” technique. Place one hand on the victim's forehead
and two fingers under the bony part of the chin. Lift the chin and push on the forehead to tilt the
head back.(
Caution:
If a spinal injury is suspected, open the airway with a chin lift only. Do not
tilt the head, unless absolutely necessary.)
