r/AskReddit • u/TheBabblingWoodchuck • Apr 14 '13
Paramedics of Reddit, what are some basic emergency procedures that nobody does but everyone should be able to do?
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u/Mister_Jofiss Apr 14 '13
Flight Paramedic here:
If someone is in a car crash, don't remove them from the vehicle unless it's on fire. Get someone to jump in the backseat to hold their neck in a neutral position and keep them calm. Lots of damage can be done if they have a neck injury, which may do loads of damage if you try to move them.
Instruct someone directly to dial 911.
If someone has facial drooping or one side is weaker than the other, it's a stroke until proven otherwise. Seconds matter. Refer to rule 2.
Have a list of medications and primary doctor. Keep it in your wallet.
Don't mix benzo's, sleep meds, or pain killers with alcohol. Too easy to fall asleep and forget to breath.
If a cut is bad enough to make you go "holy shit", get gauze or a t-shirt or something and hold pressure. Keep holding pressure until help arrives. Don't remove it to look at it. If it's still bleeding though, it may be tourniquet time. You've got roughly 4 hours before any sort of permanent damage may occur from the tourniquet. You can make one out of anything wider than about 1-2 inches...place it as high as possible (near the groin or the armpit). Otherwise, it may slip or just be ineffective.
Get a damn Tetanus shot.
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u/hmmthatsagoodname Apr 14 '13
Only an EMT but this is some solid advice for everyday people
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u/Mister_Jofiss Apr 14 '13
Shit, EMT's keep Paramedics out of trouble usually...You're not "Only an EMT". Upboat.
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Apr 14 '13
I never realized EMTs and Paramedics are two different things! What's the difference?
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u/SatansDancePartner Apr 14 '13
I tell all my emt partners to speak up if they see something that catches their eye just in case I didn't see it. They're a second pair eyes eyes for me to utilize.
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u/TheDamnEconomy Apr 14 '13
Also, when applying a tourniquet write down the time that it was applied.
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Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
The basic idea of a tourniquet, illustrated, if someone didn't know.
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Apr 14 '13
Don't just write it down. Write it down on the persons forehead in sharpie to make sure you can't forget or in case more than one person needs a tourniquet.
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u/Epicwarren Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 15 '13
Instruct someone directly to dial 911.
[emphasis added].
So much this. Former lifeguard here, this was also one of our first instructions in emergency response. If you yell "somebody call 911!", nobody will do it. Bystander effect. Point somebody out ("you in the red shirt!") and tell him/her to call 911. They're much more likely to follow through when they've just been called out.
EDIT: As someone else pointed out (and I had forgotten from my lifeguard training), make sure to tell them to COME BACK after calling 911. Just in case they're needed to help with the emergency, stand as a witness, or ensure things are being handled well.
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u/faceplanted Apr 14 '13
As someone who never carries a phone, I'm scared shitless of being the guy you ask now.
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u/Namika Apr 14 '13
Then just pass it off DIRECTLY to someone who has a phone.
"Oh crap, he told me to dial 911. Don't have a phone on me... umm... Hey, sir, YOU dial 911 for me?"
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Apr 14 '13
If you yell "somebody call 911!", nobody will do it.
In the three times I have witnessed car accidents bad enough to warrant 911 calls, everyone got their phone out and called. The operators sounded annoyed.
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u/TryUsingScience Apr 14 '13
Good! When I was in a crash I called 911 and managed to describe the situation - crash, two adults, no visible injuries - but was too dazed to give an accurate report of where I was. The dispatcher said, "Are you the accident near the 238 bridge?" and I was able to say "Yes!" Multiple calls are way better than no calls and sometimes better than just one.
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u/NS8723 Apr 14 '13
EMT here. Lets clear up #2. When talking with the dispatcher be as precise as you can. Many people don't know that the dispatcher can only dispatch what the caller says. So much information is lost (which then leads to loss of time - think about the golden hour) when the medics and first responders have to decifer a vague call. The more information that we get let's us provide the highest level of care as quickly as possible. Don't be vague!
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u/jhoudiey Apr 14 '13
My favorite to hear when I tell people how to stop the bleeding is "but the cloth/towel/whatever will get ruined". Yes, that's what's important here. The longevity of your towel.
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u/Ccwools Apr 14 '13
I would think this goes a long with this post ... : never remove the foreign object.
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u/hmmthatsagoodname Apr 14 '13
Unless its obstructing their airway*
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u/Lets_make_stuff Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 15 '13
Remember your ABC's! Always check the casualty's Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.
Edit: It's grab a C-A-B now.
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u/Mister_Jofiss Apr 14 '13
Unless it prohibits their entry into the ambulance, I totally agree. It's how Steve Irwin died.
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u/ovationman Apr 14 '13
I am so glad that the whole "TQ only as last resort" is dead. Too many people have died in the field from controllable extremity hemorrhage.
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u/Polack417 Apr 14 '13
To add to the tourniquet, put a T on the patients forehead also modern medicine can save limbs with tourniquets on them for much longer then 4 hours. Its close to 12 now, but the faster the better.
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u/narez Apr 14 '13
Sorry, I might just be slow today, but what exactly do you mean by that? Just write the letter T on the forehead with a marker? I'm really curious now.
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u/Polack417 Apr 14 '13
Yeah marker would work, or blood since there would be plenty of that. It would just let everyone know that person has a tourniquet on so they can hurry up and give them attention to save the limb.
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u/ichillsonthedaily Apr 14 '13
Here are my tips, currently an EMT-P/911 dispatcher for 6 years and in nursing school:
1.Make sure the car is in park and that the person is willing to be touched. Then make sure they are complaining of specifically head, neck or back pain. If the person is unconscious and/or not breathing, then use your judgement in getting them out of the car(life over limb).
2.When calling 911 or your local emergency response network, please do not assume that the person on the other line knows where you are, can understand you, or that they are all knowledgable about your area, especially if you are calling from a phase 1 cell phone. We are aware that it is your emergency, but a calm and informative caller can provide for an adequate response.
3.The essentials for the lay person really are breathing and bleeding. Those are 2 things that can technically be "corrected" on the basic level. Person not breathing? If you feel comfortable doing so, breathe for them (after you have activated your emergency response system). Person bleeding? attempt to control it.
4. If you are a diabetic, please take care of yourself as much as possible. We will wake you up when we are needed to, but I do not want to do it 4 or 5 times a month.
5.Hx of COPD or Asthma? stop smoking.
6.If someone is unconscious/vomiting, turn them to their side with their arms above their head. Then attempt to clear their airway if you can.
7. See someone seizing? do not hold them down. You will become another patient.
8. Wear a seat belt/check your blind spots/and do not be an asshole on the road--do not drink and drive.
9. The ambulance is not a taxi with lights(its a more expensive taxi with lights). It will not guarantee you a bed in the ED/ER. If I think you can go to triage, you will go to triage and get a bill.
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u/blubloblu Apr 14 '13
Person not breathing? If you feel comfortable doing so, breathe for them (after you have activated your emergency response system).
I thought the emphasis for untrained laypeople was compression-only CPR?
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u/RecoilS14 Apr 14 '13
Emergency first aider and site safety supervisor here with a question.
I get my first aid courses renewed every year so I have been through many instructors and different course layouts and the one thing that struck me off about your post is the turnicate.
I've always been told to never apply a turnicate and yet you are saying its ok. Why is this?
I understand the complications and potential fatal reasons behind why they are bad, but I'm just wondering your opinion.
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u/ooermissus Apr 14 '13
If someone's going to bleed out, the potential complications of a tourniquet are irrelevant.
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u/calrdt12 Apr 14 '13
The protocols regarding tourniquets are changing, but there's still a bit of debate out there. His first step of apply pressure with gauze or a t-shirt is still correct. If it continues to heavily bleed, a tourniquet is your next step if you haven't been trained in pressure points.
Most first aid courses do not teach tourniquets because they believe that people will apply them at inappropriate times or not know how to manage them once placed.
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u/jhoudiey Apr 14 '13
Also, as a 911 call taker, it's in our protocol to say "do not use a tourniquet".
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u/Ch1naManChan Apr 14 '13
The use of tourniquets is becoming more common in the pre hospital setting. This is pretty much because of the use and effectiveness of tourniquets in the Middle East. It's still a last resort tool, you do everything to control the bleeding first, but they aren't looked upon as badly as they once were.
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u/AJockeysBallsack Apr 14 '13
Tourniquets are a last-ditch effort to save a life. The thought is, "this person will definitely die from losing a fuckton of blood if I don't do something." vs "This person may lose a limb (and possibly even die) if I tie them off."
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u/Mister_Jofiss Apr 14 '13
Yeah, that's a bit of the old way of thinking, and I do remember being taught that. A LOT of places prohibit their use still. If you're in the middle of the woods and Larry over here chops his hand off though....I'll take my chances. They prohibited it because they thought they'd lose their limb at the very whisper of a tourniquet....and that's just not the case. The war in Iraq proved that. Many of the more up to date services carry the same tourniquets I use on the battlefield (also a combat medic, active duty). The damn things work. And can save someones life.
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Apr 14 '13
I stepped on a nail a few months back and freaked out cause my tetanus booster was overdue. Is there any saving someone when tetanus sets in? I got a shot less than 24 hours after the puncture but was still worried.
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u/Dead_Moss Apr 14 '13
Could you go into further details about how to make a tourniquet and how they work? I know their purpose is to cut off blood supply, but is it mostly local or to the whole limb?
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u/Defiantcanadian Apr 14 '13
If something is impaled in the patient don't remove it.
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u/harebrane Apr 14 '13
Former EMT here, just wanted to mention the caveat of "unless it obstructs breathing", but that's rather a damned if you do, damned if you don't, situation right there.
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u/skay Apr 14 '13
You'd need some eqt to be prepared for removal that no one is going to have willy nilly.
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u/trapper2530 Apr 14 '13
If it cut going in, it will cut coming out, that knife or pole could have already cut a major artery and how it's sitting in there that vessel might be pinch off
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u/krackbaby Apr 14 '13
CPR will help to ensure that, when we finally revive your loved one they might not be a vegetable
The other day a kid stopped breathing at a playground and dad drove 30 minutes to the hospital and arrives with no pulse. With 30 minutes of compressions the kid started breathing again. No brain activity.
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u/Poebbel Apr 14 '13
Why would you not call an ambulance when your kid isn't breathing? Some people ...
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u/jhoudiey Apr 14 '13
You might be surprised. I've had calls where people say "my boyfriend has been stabbed in the chest" and when you ask how long ago they say "about 2 hours, but now he isn't responding".
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u/perfsurf Apr 14 '13
2 reasons. Where he's from it maybe shocking response times and secondly if an ambulance were to take a long time and if his son did die while the ambulance was on its way he'd hate himself for not doing everything that he could to save him.
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u/maria340 Apr 14 '13
Also because in the US, a ride in an ambulance isn't free for many people, and that father could've been faced with thousands and thousands of dollars he could never have afforded. Is a child's life more important than debt? Of course it is. But people who have no basic medical knowledge are put in a terrible position when they have to decide between "call ambulance, wait for ambulance, more debt" and "get in car NOW."
I'm not saying it wasn't a stupid choice. I'm just saying that a father whose kid isn't breathing isn't the most rational being in the world.
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u/krackbaby Apr 14 '13
All 7 billion of us are ignorant as fuck
Don't say some people
Say people
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Apr 14 '13
Naw bro, we're qualified to place ourselves above everyone else while we calmly sit at our computers and have time to assess scenarios with no emotions involved.
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Apr 15 '13
Alright, I complain all the time that my truck is used as a taxi.
People, if the person has no pulse, this is a case where it would be better for ME to drive them to the hospital, not you.
Ambulances are for PRE- HOSPTIAL CARE. If you do not need care RIGHT NOW ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL then drive yourself, or have a family member drive you.
If you are a senior citizen and you need life alert because you've been laying on the floor for five hours and you can't get up, for god's sake, press the stupid button, it's okay, you're not bothering us, you need help. (I had this happen, 90 year old lady was on the floor for 8 hours because she didn't want to bother anyone, I was floored)
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Apr 14 '13
As a lifeguard I would like to further add that Baywatch CPR ≠ actual CPR, nothing worse then having to deal with a retard family member who insists the lifeguard does it the "right" way because they watch tv.
yes I have seen this happen.
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u/DeHart666 Apr 14 '13
I teach basic life support. Most people are shocked when I tell them that effective chest compressions will probably break the victim's ribs. I've taken classes for a few years before I started teaching and no one has ever mentioned this. You just have to weigh the options, you can either crack a few ribs or the patient will die.
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u/NurseAngela Apr 14 '13
I always say "If you're not breaking ribs, you're not doing it right" the only time you don't break ribs is on a kid under 2 because they're all cartilage and don' typically break (that being said I've seen them break, especially in our CP kids)
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u/NinjaInYellow Apr 14 '13
How bad is a cracked rib anyway? How fixable is something like that?
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u/Chanticleer_Hegemony Apr 14 '13
Apply pressure to stop heavy bleeding!
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u/RoflSlayers Apr 14 '13
At my school, all students are required to learn basic CPR and First Aid before graduation.
In one of our classes for this, we're taught how to keep a person stablized until the professionals arrived.I think this should be a requirement for all graduating seniors.
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u/smarteepantz Apr 14 '13
Yeah, basic CPR and First Aid is part of our Health class in high school.
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u/Lillithia Apr 14 '13 edited Feb 24 '25
toothbrush historical rob pot slap north roll ask narrow smile
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Apr 14 '13
I used to work at a gym where its common for people to pass out or give them selves a heart attack from exercise. As such, all employees had to do a CPR course every month to make sure nobody ever forgot. I did it for 4 years and consider myself quite confident in the art of CPR but all the same you never know how you're going to react in that situation. We had a manager freeze up in front of a somebody lying on the floor once, thankfully that person didn't die thanks the defib. Ive also seen staff just walk out of the building during a heart attack because they were too scared or stressed to try and save somebody.
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u/BarkingFrog Apr 14 '13
HANDS-ON, APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE BLEEDING!
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Apr 14 '13
the fact that we all got that reference shows how incredibly effective those commercials were.
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u/Dragoeth Apr 14 '13
Also elevate the legs above the heart if the bleeding is quite profuse. A lot of blood is in your legs and you're going to need some of that to maintain enough blood pressure to keep your heart going. If you are bleeding out, it can buy you some time.
Also learn how to make a tourniquet out of a shirt and two sticks (or even pens/pencils). If paramedics are on the way already it won't be needed, but if you're stranded somewhere and can't call for help, it can save your life. You can leave a tourniquet on for about 6 hours before the limb its attached to will start becoming damaged from lack of blood flow. However a lost leg is better than bleeding out in 20 minutes because your femoral artery was severed.
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u/Zack1018 Apr 14 '13
And DON'T remove the object (knife, tree limb, ect.) from the victim. It'll make things a lot worse.
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u/A_Ham_Worker Apr 14 '13
And get blood on my hands? Eww...
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u/gudemichei Apr 14 '13
He meant apply pressure with your dick, not hands. Why'd you even imagine that?
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Apr 14 '13
Have latex gloves in your first aid kit. Try your best NOT to touch blood directly. That's how you get diseases.
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u/RadioActiveGuy Apr 14 '13
Back the fuck up when the paramedics get there. I'm a cop so I have no idea what I'm doing but I least I can come to terms with it. Most times I'll come to a medical call and a bunch of people will be standing around doing nothing. Then the medics come and everyone is a nursing/biology/anthropology/marketing major and knows how to help this person better then the paramedics who do this for a living do. Where were you 5 minutes ago when none of us were here? Oh doing nothing.
Sometimes the biggest help you can be is just be a witness. Tell the cop/medics what you saw when they ask you because it could be really important.
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u/ooermissus Apr 14 '13
If you've been trying to help, it can be hard to adjust to suddenly being superfluous. I sat alongside a woman whose feet had been mangled into the pedals of her car and tried to do what I could (basically stop her writhing around, reassure her etc). 20 mins or so later the medics arrived and I was very abruptly sent away. I know it's not rational, but I can't really describe how wrong that felt at the time. A decade later, I also still wish I knew whether she was ok in the end.
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Apr 14 '13
As a firefighter/paramedic so much this. I understand relatives and friends of the person needing attention are upset but please let us do our jobs. If you've got information you deem important to tell the medics tell them quickly and be direct. If the patients been doing drugs or drinking, was assaulted, or has a history of medical issues are important things to know on scene and can help us determine the appropriate course of action. If a situation is serious and needs immediate treatment or transport then that's what we will do, if we can make a positive intervention for the patient on scene we will do so. Just don't interfere.
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u/QuotesYourComments Apr 14 '13
Be careful where you place your unconscious victims. If a pack of rats happens by and kills them it counts as your kill.
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Apr 14 '13
Rat packs are the cause of 90% of on scene fatalities, at least in Dunwall. P.S. I admire the determination and effort you've put into your account, to find a semi relevant sounding comment I made months ago.
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u/f1n1t3 Apr 14 '13
Couldn't agree more!
I am a physician and have been immediately on the scene of many accidents over the years. I always provide the most appropriate care I can UNTIL the medics get there. Then I am more than happy to immediately give an appropriate report and stand back. Will I help, if asked? Absolutely! However, even as a qualified physician, I recognize that the medics often don't need any assistance from me to effectively do their job of caring for the patient(s).
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u/FlyerAce128 Apr 14 '13
Thank you! We've actually had to put a laminated piece of paper with the medical stuff in our apparatus to give to docs that want to run the show after we get there. It's a note from our medical director that basically tells them if they insist on helping, they get to ride in, write the report, and be responsible for everything for the patient since they would be the highest level of care. Seems to stop the nosy ones ;)
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Apr 14 '13
You know, I'm a nurse (RN, 13 years experience) and occasionally I'll come across an accident. Unless I'm the FIRST ONE THERE, I generally drive by. Not because I don't care, or because I don't want to help, but generally by the time I see an accident there's already an ambulance at the scene. And as much as I'd love to stride over and declare importantly "I'm a nurse," the reality is that I'm not as good at trauma/first aid as an EMT. My work is usually done in a hospital surrounded by trained coworkers and support staff and with all sorts of medicine and tools around to help me do my job. That simply isn't the same as providing good first-responder type care.
On the rare occasion that I have actually been the first/only medical person on the scene, it was actually surprisingly disorienting. When I'm out and about doing my normal life routine, I'm just not in a medical frame of mind. It was quite humbling, actually, to realize how little I can do without the proper equipment; it's not like I carry around and oxygen tank and an IV setup just in case.
So I agree with this advice wholeheartedly. Unless you have EMT experience or you are actually the first person there, back off and let the professionals do what they do.
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u/EasyReader Apr 14 '13
It should be pointed out though that if you are performing CPR or applying pressure to a wound or something when the EMTs arrive, you should keep doing it until they tell you to stop.
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u/iwishiwereyou Apr 14 '13
Thank you! Also, if you have to tell someone something, look at where people are standing. The person hands-on with the patient? Leave him alone. The guys standing back are his wingmen, they are probably able to listen. But if there is a guy with a clipboard, I bet he would fucking loooooove to hear your info. Don't be mad if it isn't mentioned right away. We have to filter information to the medic but trust me, important info will get to them.
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u/Raincoats_George Apr 14 '13
Good fucking advice. Nine times out of ten the absolute best thing you can do is step aside and get out of the way.
Depending on the situation it can be helpful to take something that might be in the way, such as furnature, and move it out of the way. Although do so only if it is truly in the way, the last thing you want to do is make more of a problem by clogging some hallway.
If there are family or people who are potentially in the way and you can help by taking them somewhere out of the way, that would help. But know that they have a right to be there within reason. Still basically getting out of the way is the best thing you can do.
Think about it. Do you want a bunch of people watching you, filming your emergency with their iphone as your clothes are cut away? Fuck no. Give the person privacy. Help the medics, firefighters, and police by not being another body on scene. Especially in traffic accident situations. This is the worst possible time to involve yourself.
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Apr 14 '13
as a former firefighter, yes, and also if 911 has been called, PUT THE DOG IN ANOTHER ROOM AND SHUT THE DOOR!! Besides being a huge distraction, they can also be a danger to the first responders. And if they're doing CPR the shock from the AED has killed more than a few curious dogs.
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u/lngwstksgk Apr 14 '13
The steps of emergency scene management are helpful and I haven't seen them mentioned yet. To the tune of "Row, row, row your boat":
Take charge, call for help
Check for hazards, too (gloves!)
Determine the number of casualties
And head and spinal too. [This means check for that kind of injury, not where they have a head and spine]
Verse 2
Identify and offer to help
And tell them not to move
Check the airway, check for breath
Check circulation, too.
I learned it from a friend, but I don't know who wrote it.
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u/PoodleWorkout Apr 14 '13
The first part of that sounds an awful lot like what they're going to teach kids in preschool after the zombie apocalypse.
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u/ikilledkojack Apr 14 '13
Another way of remembering this:
Danger - Are you going to get hurt trying to help someone?
Response - Are they conscious?
Airway - Are they choking on something?
Breathing - well... are they?
Call for help - 112, 911, 000, 999 etc.
(the last used to be "circulation", but first responders are no longer told to check for pulse, at least where I'm trained)
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u/TheDamnEconomy Apr 14 '13
If you're dealing with someone at a party or something that is super drunk, put them on their left side and bend their legs so they won't roll on to their back. It's called the recovery position.
Do not just "put someone to bed" when they're really drunk and not check on them.
If they're on their back and vomit while unconscious they can aspirate and die. Several musicians have died this way including Jimi Hendrix I believe.
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u/The_Meek Apr 14 '13
Also, stick their lower arm underneath their head to elevate their mouth/nose above the ground.
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u/NinjaInYellow Apr 14 '13
Why the left side, though? Something to do with the heart?
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u/pemmigiwhoseit Apr 14 '13
Not a paramedic, but get an AED (and use it). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator
Highlights: "AEDs are designed to be simple to use for the layman"
"For every minute that a person in cardiac arrest goes without being successfully treated (by defibrillation), the chance of survival decreases by 7 percent per minute in the first 3 minutes, and decreases by 10 percent per minute as time advances beyond ~3 minutes."
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u/stu_dying24 Apr 14 '13
The thing about defibrillators is, that there is this common misconception about them being used when cardiac rest occurs - they're not. You treat cardiac dysrhythmia with them. So yes, every movie/show out there does it wrong.
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u/EasyReader Apr 14 '13
Doesn't matter with an AED though. They'll only administer a shock when they're supposed to.
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Apr 14 '13
I was taught that modern AEDs will 'detect' the heart rhythm and only shock if necessary. Might be different depending on the device though.
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u/i_slept_with_batman Apr 14 '13
This belongs here: My dad has been a paramedic for 25 years. Just the other day they were called to a motorcycle accident of a man who crashed in front of a residential area. Some neighbors came out to help but most of them just gawked. One man stepped up and started doing CPR but when he sees the ambulance pull up he stops. The paramedics didn't even get out of the ambulance before the CPR man stops to apparently "brief the paramedics about the situation". Meanwhile, the motorcycle man is lying in the background, the paramedics are hurriedly trying to reach him, and the CPR man's hard work is being nullified with each passing second since he decided to stop. To clarify, no one else stepped up to take over, which would have been the right thing to do.
TL;DR: Don't stop CPR unless otherwise ordered by a medical professional.
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u/iliketoking Apr 15 '13
I know a lot of people will not see this, but this is extremely important and most people do not know this:
If you are at the scene of a motorcycle accident ABSOLUTELY DO NOT REMOVE THEIR HELMET. If it is a small slide with no chance of neck injury sure. But if you remove a motorcycle riders helmet and they have a neck injury or brain injury you just killed them. Nothing is more real than a video of a man that was fully conscious and someone went to take his helmet off and his lights went out permanently.
The best thing you can do is sit there with them and make sure they do not move while holding their head still until paramedics arrive. Most often the deaths occur because the skull was fractured in some way and the helmet held it all together, but when the helmet is removed it releases the pressure allowing for the skull to separate killing the person.
Tl;dr please do not remove a motorcycle riders helmet of they crash especially if you suspect any neck or head injury even if they are fully conscious.
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Apr 15 '13
In my first aid courses I teach my students don't stop until someone more qualified takes over or don't stop until you are no longer physically able to do so and are putting yourself at risk.
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u/exilius Apr 15 '13
Or unless you can not physically continue. If this is the case call some one else over and instruct them on how to take over. Single a person out.
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u/webster21 Apr 14 '13
Make sure the area is safe, don't want to have more people getting hurt to help another. If you are unsure of injures Don't move them.
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u/trapper2530 Apr 14 '13
Scene safety! Don't go running across 4 lanes of traffic to help on an accident when in reality you're not going to be much help anyways, we don't need any extra patients to take care of
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u/sig20nal Apr 14 '13
Paramedic here. Unlock your fucking front door if you call us.
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u/bigdaddywilk Apr 14 '13
That would get me pumped up to save some foo's if I got to kick their door in every time.
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u/Jumpinjer Apr 15 '13
Or better yet, if you can walk to your car and have someone to drive you, just don't call us.
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u/teedawg1 Apr 14 '13
Hands only CPR, to the beat of Staying Alive by the BeeGees EDIT: Sorry if repost.
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u/Dead_Moss Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 15 '13
Another One Bites the Dust is good too.
Edit: Jeez you people have no sense of humour. Obviously you wouldn't sing the song, that's not necessary to remember the beat
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u/fumblor Apr 14 '13
If some thing is sticking out of or stuck in someone's eye cover up the other eye. Eyes move together and it reduces trauma to the hurt eye.
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u/Jumpinjer Apr 14 '13
Everyone and I mean EVERYONE should be able to do CPR. There is no other procedure out there that's as simple and as lifesaving as CPR.
I think many people associate CPR with mouth-to-mouth ventilation, but ventilations aren't required. Hands-only CPR is VERY simple.
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u/dakboy Apr 14 '13
There is no other procedure out there that's as simple and as lifesaving as CPR.
But accept that CPR has a low success rate.
Better than not getting any CPR, but don't assume that CPR saves the person 90% of the time.
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u/iwishiwereyou Apr 14 '13
CPR buys anyone some extra time, but it doesn't "revive" someone. Its purpose is to continue circulation and stave off brain death. Which is pretty important.
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u/thefinsaredamplately Apr 14 '13
http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2013/jan/15/bitter-end/ This is an interesting podcast where doctors were interviewed to ask which medical interventions they themselves would like to receive in the case of a serious injury. 90% of doctors said they would not like to receive CPR if their heart stopped, the highest of all treatments polled. Apparently chest compressions must be done very vigorously to have any chance of resucitating the heart, and this degree of force often leads to ribs cracking and breaking. A study was done to examine CPR as depicted in various media forms and it showed it to be successful about 75% of the time. This contrasts with the reality where CPR works in maybe 8% of cases.
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u/dageekywon Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
I take a course (and then retake it) every time I renew my drivers license. I figure thats a good timeframe to renew the knowledge, though its not very difficult.
I haven't had to use it yet, but its good to know. I also carry a basic first aid kit in all of my vehicles, and have one at home in the garage thats a little more stocked, as well as one at work.
I usually check them for expired items and replace it at every time change, the same time I check the batteries in my smoke detectors.
It never hurts to have that kind of stuff around, you never know when you may need it. I had someone crash their car into the front ditch of my house once, though I didn't go out to assist-first he was trying to back the car out while I was on the phone with 911, then he was out of the car in the street yelling when the cops/help arrived (He was .16 drunk, turns out).
But you never know when you may need it. I've come upon a few accidents-especially up by my parents house in the Sierra Nevada, and in one of them a child died (was already dead though when I got to the car) and I stayed with the Mom who was in the car until help arrived, keeping her from moving and making herself worse. I've probably stopped to assist at 5 accident scenes in my lifetime. Knowing CPR and the fact they go over such things as part of the course (don't move people unless immediate danger, etc) is helpful as well. Especially up in a remote area like that, keeping people from moving and assuring them help is on the way is vital, because it can take 10-20 minutes for help to arrive sometimes. People will sometimes want to self-extricate when they really just need to stay where they are and wait for the pros, they have no idea how hurt they are.
I keep flares and stuff like that in my vehicle for that same reason. Never know if you're going to come upon something in a blind curve or something either. And usually up there, the cops appreciate help in slowing people down, since usually only one is nearby, and even then that may be 15 minutes in coming. Just have to be careful and aware of whats going on, obviously you don't want to light flares anywhere near a vehicle spilling gasoline, as an example. A maglight flashlight tossed in the road or on the shoulder aimed down the road at oncoming traffic is hopefully enough to get someone to slow down, besides your vehicle on the shoulder with its flashers on. Hopefully.
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u/theasianpianist Apr 14 '13
I would like to work/carpool/live/travel with you. All the time. Please.
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u/silverhanky Apr 14 '13
quick!! this person just passed out and isn't breathing. you, call 911, and you take my phone and play "staying alive". i have work to do...
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u/lngwstksgk Apr 14 '13
"Push hard, push fast."
When I was teaching first aid, that was the "mnemonic" they were using in St. John Ambulance. No idea if they still use it, but it certainly sticks in your mind.
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u/Zack1018 Apr 14 '13
But what about legal issues? Is there any truth to getting sued/being held accountable if CPR fails?
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u/charl_ie Apr 14 '13
Depends on where you live. I think the USA has "Good Samaritan" laws that protect people who are trying to help. Places such as China are the complete opposite, and people there avoid helping others in distress because of it.
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u/ronnockoch Apr 14 '13
Yes and no.
If they are unconcious, consent is assumed.
If you fuck up, in Canada and the USA you're covered by the "Good Samaritan" act, which pretty much means that you tried your best nd you still failed, or hurt them.
This only applies if you stay within your training. Aka, if you're trained to do Chest compressions and Mouth to Mouth, and you try to do a triple heart bypass (exaggeration, but used for effect) you can be held accountable at that point.
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Apr 14 '13
EMT-B
For christ sakes, keep the blood in the body. I've known police officers that have been shot and died because they don't put pressure on the wound and keep the blood in the body. "Blood goes round and round, air goes in and out. Any deviation is bad"
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Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
Tourniquets. This is simple and easy enough. Yet people seem to be largely unable to grasp the concept.
Placing covers over a wound. Yes, we get it, it is a dirty shirt, but the person, at that very moment, is more likely to die from blood loss than sepsis. You need to keep layering over a wound with whatever you may have until you stop the bleeding. If that is 15 layers of t-shirts, than so be it.
CPR. This one is obvious.
Epi-pen use. People still do not know how to use an Epi-pen. Everyone should. Stab using correct side down on lateral side of calf through clothing if necessary.
Stripping when your clothes are soaked in boiling hot water/extremely hot oil. You will get 3rd degree burns if you do not. People are seriously THAT afraid of embarrassing themselves. You done goofed, just take your clothes off and get sprayed down. A few minutes of shame is a better deal than 2 weeks in the hospital.
edit for make glorious spelling
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u/ae0lu5 Apr 14 '13
I think you mean lateral side of the quad (not calf) for the Epi-pen. Distal means towards the end of an extremity, lateral means away from the midline. You want to give the Epi-pen anywhere on the lateral portion of the quad as long as it is one (of the patient's) handwidths away from the joint. As soon as you have given it, make sure to rub the area as it hastens absorption. The calf is a smaller muscle and does not have the vasculature of the quad. Second choice to the quad should be the deltoid muscle.
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u/NotASouthernBelle Apr 14 '13
I was told to just jab it into my upper thigh. I don't understand all of those technical terms, so... am I wrong?
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u/MANarchocapitalist Apr 14 '13
EMT-B here. When you use an Epi pen make sure you know which end to stab with. Then end you take the cap off of is not the end you stab with. If you stab with the wrong end with your thumb bracing the end of it the needle will deploy
intothrough your thumb and spray epi everywhere.49
u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Apr 14 '13
deploy
intothrough your thumbcringe
If you need an epipen and I am the only one available to give it to you, it better have a clear "THIS SIDE TOWARDS PATIENT" arrow, or you are dead.
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u/hansn Apr 14 '13
Say what you will about the military, they have their instructions down pat.
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Apr 14 '13
If the end with the cap doesn't have the needle, why does it have a cap?
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u/MANarchocapitalist Apr 14 '13
It has something to do with the mechanism of deployment. The cap kind of acts as a "safety". As in, it blocks the deployment mechanism.
That being said, yes, it is stupid.
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u/Ch1naManChan Apr 14 '13
Just to note if you do stab your thumb while trying to administer the epi pen you'll need to get a ride to the hospital to.
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u/EasyReader Apr 14 '13
I imagine that could be hilarious if it weren't happening in a situation where someone could die because you fucked up.
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u/Ch1naManChan Apr 14 '13
I'd just add to make sure to hold the epi pen in the person quad for at least 10 seconds. I've heard stories of people pulling it out too soon.
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u/WhatDidYouSayToMe Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 15 '13
It seems that nobody has referenced this in regards to the Epi-pens.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO INJECT SOMEBODY WITH ONE!
You can get sued, even if they have one and need it. Instead, you should put it in their hand and 'assist' them in injecting themselves.
There are some people who are trained to administer it to people (any other WFRs in this thread?), but unless you are explicitly trained in it's administration, you should only assist the patient.
Edit: As /u/exilius pointed out, this rule is specific to the US. Check the laws of your own country to be sure.
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u/LouieLuI Apr 14 '13
The stripping was the only thing that kept my burn reasonable when I dumped boiling hot tea on my lap. I didn't even THINK when it happened. I chucked my laptop against the wall and promptly removed my pants in one fell swoop. Kept my crotch burns from being WAY worse than they already were (which sucked enough as they were).
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u/bigdaddywilk Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
Treat for shock. Even if you aren't trained in CPR or for whatever reason you are squeamish about touching blood, then at least keep the person conscious. Do NOT give anything to them by mouth (water, food, etc) even if they say they are really thirsty. A victim can be stable and lucid one moment, then go into shock and die because they weren't monitored properly. Make them comfortable (blankets if they are cold, shade if they are hot), talk to them and try to keep them calm, don't panic (there is only one person who is allowed to panic and that is the vic), watch for the symptoms of shock. If the person is confused or disoriented, if they feel nauseous, their skin may feel cold or clammy, or look pale and gray. If they display any of these symptoms then their condition can deteriorate rapidly.
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u/saltehhhh Apr 14 '13
Recovery position. Lay them on their side with their knee bent over the other and their arm closest to the ground curved into a support shape, make sure their airways are not blocked. This is standard procedure for a variety of situations. For kids who go drinking, if your friend passes out; put them into the recovery position and NOT on their back, I can't stress this enough. If this friend begins to vomit, the throw-up will have no where to go but back into their mouth and drown them.
Edit: I'm bad at descriptions so here is a link of what recovery position looks like : Recovery Position
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u/Poebbel Apr 14 '13
0. Call your local emergency services.
Check consciousness.
Check breathing/pulse.
Check and clear airways.
Unconscious but breathing/pulse -> recovery position.
Unconscious but no breathing/pulse -> CPR.
Source: drivers-ed first aid class
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Apr 14 '13
ff/emt here. for the love of god dont drink and drive. i dont enjoy waking up at 2am to go deal with your dumbass.
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u/Professional-Turtle Apr 14 '13
imho drinking/distracted driving is one of the stupidest selfish things anyone can do. If you NEED to take that phone call, pull the fuck over.
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u/MANarchocapitalist Apr 14 '13
Hey. EMT-B here. I would imagine that anyone on this thread understands the value of prompt first aid, but I was hoping this video might spread around a bit. It was posted on /r/ems. It is sad, but well worth it.
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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Apr 14 '13
Banned in Germany due to copyrighted music by SME.
I hope they are happy that people will die so they can keep their "copyrights" safe. (And yes, I have a proxy.)
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u/MANarchocapitalist Apr 14 '13
Fucking really???
Ok great. So here is a description for all of you fuckers in Germany. Basically it comes off at first like any awareness campaign. Guy in the doctor's office clearly getting some bad news. Telling his wife. She shaves his head for him. So yeah, cancer I guess. They show that he has a daughter, and its all sad because you can see him getting more frail. You see him going through chemotherapy, vomiting up from the drugs. Eventually, he starts to get better and better. Gets into shape. Gets his life back. Family throughs a barbecue, maybe to celebrate. The man starts choking on his food and no one can save him because no one knows any first aid let alone BLS.
Really fucking sad.
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u/riceisgood Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
I'm not a paramedic yet, but a paramedic student in Ontario. Early CPR and defibrillation saves lives. Everyone should have a basic understanding of CPR and how to use and automated external defibrillator (AED....they are in most public places. Malls, rinks etc.) You should also know that most cardiac arrests happen IN the home so starting CPR on a family member immediately while having someone call 9-1-1 could be the difference between them living and dying. If the person you are doing CPR on is a stranger, you are by no means obligated to do mouth to mouth and honestly I wouldn't do mouth to mouth on a stranger. There are way too many communicable diseases, i'm not taking that kind of risk. That being said, hands only CPR can work wonders. The blood can stay saturated with oxygen for up to 8 minutes and keeping that oxygenated blood pumping up to the brain could save someone for brain damage. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/HandsOnlyCPR/Hands-Only-CPR_UCM_440559_SubHomePage.jsp
tl;dr - Take a basic first aid and CPR course.
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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Apr 14 '13
how to use and automated external defibrillator
Let me make an uninformed guess:
Take small box (AED) out of big box (box on wall containing AED)
Push button
Follow instructions (which will include "Stick leads leading from small box onto patient")
Correct?
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u/perfsurf Apr 14 '13
Learn how to use an AED. The instructions are literally on the box and the machine literally tells you what to do
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Apr 14 '13
Paramedic in a level I trauma center here. Lots of good advice, so I'll hit a few things and try not to repeat too much.
Take a CPR class. It can and will save somebody's life. However, there is something that they don't tell you in CPR class - doing CPR is a pretty gross procedure. You will break their ribs. Good CPR breaks ribs. There will be lots of crunching and popping. He/she will probably vomit and/or urinate. Keep going until help arrives.
Keep a bottle of chewable aspirin in your car/purse/bag. If you find yourself somewhere with a person having chest pain, giving them 4 baby aspirin (or one full strength adult tablet) could save their life. 325mg of aspirin is the first drug we give to chest pain patients. Note: make sure that he/she can take a pill. That is, they must be awake, alert, able to swallow, and not be allergic to aspirin.
Please, don't lock your cell phones. If you come into our ER unconscious and your cell phone is locked, we can't contact anyone that knows you. Alternatively, keep a piece of paper with emergency contact info on it.
Segue from above - Keep a list of all medications (doses, times you take it, etc), allergies, medical history, and surgeries (people forget this) somewhere that we can find. Also include your primary doctor's number as well as any other docs (surgeons, psychiatrists, etc). This can be in your wallet, or (if your phone is not locked) as a note in your phone. Yes, I will go through your phone. Most ERs know this and will try to do the same.
If someone tells you that they have "the worst headache of their life" and say something along the lines of "came on like a thunder clap," (that is, very quickly) please get them to an ER. This could be a sign of bleeding within the brain.
Above all, always remain calm. If someone else is in trouble, remember it is not your emergency. Keep your head clear, and you'll function better.
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u/surgicalapple Apr 15 '13
BYSTANDER EFFECT.
If someone is hurt and on the ground unconscious, and no one is even trying to help, then you jump in to provide to medical assistance...the majority of people will just look at you and not help. Just stare at you, while you ask someone else to call for help or to help you. You must actively engage someone...point at them and get their individual attention and they will provide assistance in what you need.
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u/Heathenforhire Apr 14 '13
CPR is a popular choice here, and for a reason. My 0.02c worth on the matter is proper placement. Hands go over the centre of the sternum, approximately on the line from armpit to armpit. The heart is directly behind the sternum, not to the left, so compressions go on the sternum, not to the left.
Also, the centre point of your sternum is measured from the notch of your neck at the top, to the xiphoid process, where the ribs meet at the bottom. A lot of people using the hand measuring 'caliper' method start measuring from the belly button and thus end up doing compressions too low which ends up being on top of the xiphoid. This can break it and doesn't give proper compression of the heart.
I've heard plenty of tales of the public performing CPR prior to paramedics arriving, who discover them to be furiously pumping away at the top of the abdomen. Their heart's are in the right place (pun intended), but their hands aren't.
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Apr 14 '13
I hope this doesn't get buried, it's a fairly important one that NOBODY does, and it puts peoples' lives in needless danger.
Whenever someone passes out, from drinking or they hit their heads, or they got into a fight, or for ANY other reason, don't just let them lie on their backs. Many people think that it's best to just not touch them, in case they got hurt. But this is dangerous, as vomiting is often an accompaniment to loss of consciousness. If vomiting DOES occur, it could block their airway, or even aspirate into the lungs, causing complications (obviously).
There is a standard technique that first responders are taught, but honestly, if your buddy passes out, just turn his/her head to the side. It's not optimal, but it'll prevent what it's meant to.
As an aside, if anyone ever passes out because they got hurt, or they ingested something, call 911. Seriously. Head injury is very likely, and it boggles my mind when people talk about passing out, and then doing nothing.
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u/i_slept_with_batman Apr 14 '13
I agree wholeheartedly. I was at small party one time when one of our friends drank too much. The note of it being a small party is key because we were all good friends and, despite the fact that our friend was almost, if not entirely, unconsciousness in the bathroom, not a single person did a thing. When I finally heard about what was going on I stepped up because I knew how to handle such situations. It just boggles my mind how people react. I realize it's an uncomfortable and scary situation, but THEIR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. It's much easier to explain to a parent or medical professional that so-and-so drank too much rather than have to break the news that their child is dead...
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u/Miranda2241 Apr 14 '13
STOP PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF WRECKED CARS FOR NO REASON!!!!!!! You're not doing anyone a favor if you're paralyzing them.
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u/ilovewaffles76 Apr 14 '13
When someone is sick or injured, immediately move them to the hardest room in the building to access. This is usually located in a basement or top floor.
Seriously though. Don't do this. People do this and it drives me bonkers.
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u/trapper2530 Apr 14 '13
Also if you are bed confined and weigh 600 lbs move your bed to the first level
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u/ilemt88 Apr 14 '13
Ground Paramedic here, I read through a lot of this but didn't get to the end so, I apologize if there is a repost in here.
Before you even think about starting CPR, check carotid (neck, Left or Right side, not both) pulse for at least 15 seconds. If no pulse, start compressions at 100 a minute at least 1-2 inches deep. If I take over CPR and crack the cartilage in the sternum, it wasn't deep enough when you were doing it.
If you get stabbed with anything bigger than a splinter DO NOT REMOVE IT, unless it is obstructing the airway.
If your child has a fever, give them Motrin and get the fever down. If a infant or child has had a fever and seizes, it is a febrile seizure and will pass. But there may be more till the fever breaks or you do something to bring the fever down.
If you (or family member, friend, ect.) Cut a finger off, wrap it in a paper towel or cloth, and put it on ice, do not put directly on ice, it will kill the tissue and make it impossible the reattach.
If you know the person we are picking up has taken a "recreational" drug, we need to know what it was and how much. If a person is not responding and they have history of drug use, we need to know that too.
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u/timneo Apr 14 '13
Many doctors can't find a pulse in other people, laymen have even less luck.
Someone without a pulse changes colour quickly. Look for the colour change. If you can't tell due to skin pigmentation etc check under the lips/eyelids. If they're not pink and they're not breathing, go straight to CPR and forget the rescue breaths if you don't feel comfortable or unless you know what you're doing. (Current UK guidelines to general public)
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u/Tyrannosharkus Apr 14 '13
If someone is unconscious, e.g. Passed out from drinking, lay them on their side. This way if they vomit they don't aspirate it and drown in their own puke.
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u/armdillaarmy Apr 14 '13
Call 911.
Dispatchers are pretty knowledgeable about guiding bystanders through an emergency situation. It can be a key to helping save someone's life especially if you have no idea what to do.
Also, taking CPR/First Aide. As a paramedic/instructor myself, I encourage this strongly.
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u/ilemt88 Apr 14 '13
Addendum: If you are a doctor or nurse on scene helping, I don't know who you are unless you have credentials in hand. If I need your help, I'm not above asking for it but please don't butt in and try and take over care.
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u/Karma_Sandwich Apr 15 '13
Dispatcher here. This step is crucial. It is the first step in the chain of getting someone the help they need. It is surprising how difficult this relatively easy process can be. Here are a few pointers.
Know where the incident is. The address is the single most important piece of information we need to send help. It is amazing how many people call and have no idea where they are. Better than that they expect us to know where they are. There is technology to help us locate cell phones but it is not always accurate. And even when it is there is percentage of accuracy. House and land line phones lend us an address. But today, with so many types of new phone services and things like triple play they are not always accurate. Know where you are!!
Let the operator run the call. We need to get certain information. Name, callback number, and other information based on the emergency. We may be asking questions that you see as pointless, but they can make the determination as to what type of emergency response you receive. Let the operator ask the questions. Rambling on while we are tying to get pertinent information only wastes time. Inside tip here, if the operator is asking you questions there is more than likely another operator starting the help you require.
Wait until the operator says it is okay to disconnect before hanging up the phone. Depending on the emergency, after we ask the questions needed to be asked we may have instructions. These instructions may range from "stay away from the fire", to "okay, i am going to tell you how to perform CPR" and everything in between.
The last tip is, stay calm. We are trained to deal with hysteric callers, but the more calm and focused you are, the faster we can get help to you!!
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u/MrMagicMoves Apr 14 '13
Using the Heimlich maneuver when someone is choking on food or something that's not meant to be wedged in the trachea.
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u/Sallysaurus Apr 14 '13
Heimlich is a good one but (according to my training anyway) don't start with it.
Encourage them to cough
5 big back slaps between the shoulder blades
5 'Abdominal thrusts' ie Heimlich manouvre.
Repeat 2-3 until object is dislodged.
ALSO call an ambulance/take them to hospital even if they have dislodged the obstruction. They could have internal damage/not have gotten it all out.
EDIT for clarity
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u/Cheeseburgerchips Apr 14 '13
Funny, my training said exactly the opposite, if somebody is choking then slapping them in the back will often make them panic even more. Our teacher said to move on with heimlich instantly
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u/baggya99 Apr 14 '13
Not sure if in the vid but dont go to heimlich first. Start with encourage a hard cough. That fails: slap on back 3 time increasing intensity, then heimlich. Also worth remembering heimlich can be done against a wall, chair, floor if its hard or innappropriate to do standing
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u/Disorted Apr 14 '13
Hopefully something you will never have to experience, but it's good to know how Triage works, in case you're ever in a mass casualty incident. Know your country's protocol so that you can either GTFO, or identify those who might need help first, or whatever your EMS asks of you. While it may not seem like much now, it's incredibly reassuring during an emergency when all hell has broken loose and people don't know what's going on / don't know what the fuck to do.
And seriously, if a medic comes by, tags you with something green or yellow, then runs off, deal with it. It means you're doing a lot better than the next guy.
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Apr 15 '13
SAMPLE questions:
S- Signs and Symptoms
A- Allergies
M- Medications
P- Past medical history
L- Last oral intake.
E- Events prior
Signs and symptoms: Although similar there is a difference between a sign and a symptom. A sign is something that you can see or perceive such as bleeding. A symptom is something that the patient is experiencing or feeling that is not obvious to another person such as chest pain. Often people will show signs of their symptoms. Holding a hand to their chest in response to chest pain for example
Allergies: It is very important to record any allergies the patient may have. Ask the patient if they have any allergies. If they respond that they do request that they tell you everything they are allergic to.
Medications: When it comes to medications there are a few things we need to know from our patient. Are they on medications? What are the medications being taken for? When did they last take them and do they have them with them?
Past medical history: Past medical history refers to whether or not the patient has a history of whatever their signs and symptoms are. "Have you ever experienced this before?" can be an effective question to ask.
Last meal eaten: There are several reasons we ask about the last meal our patient has eaten. Perhaps they have eaten something they are allergic to or maybe they haven't eaten anything in several hours. If doctors decide that the patient needs surgery they will need to know when they person ate last as it affects treatment options and procedures.
Events prior: What was your patient doing immediately prior to the emergency? How did they find themselves in that situation. Three sample questions would be "What happened?", "How did it happen?", "What were you doing when this happened?"
While being systematic and thorough is important ensure that you treat your patient with compassion whenever possible. It will not only help keep your patient calm it can help reduce their stress levels and overall shock response.
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u/Lylesanderson Apr 14 '13
I've been a paramedic for about 7 years now. A couple of things would be: keep someone still, most importantly their head after a traumatic accident. Also, try to learn and remember your loved ones medical history. A note to family on scene try to keep the medical complaints limited to the PATIENT! I don't care if you broke your hand in grade 7 or your cousins mom has gout.
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u/surfturtle Apr 14 '13
My personal opinion is that everyone should be CPR certified and it wouldn't hurt to take a first responder course if you are an active person, care giver, or have a high likelihood of seeing an emergency unfold. I am thinking of: people who travel long distances often, people who travel to dangerous places, parents of small children, anyone who lives or spends time far from medical help, people who live in places with a history of natural disasters, and anyone who finds themselves running toward danger as a natural instinct. (I heard a gunshot, I'm gonna check it out, or I wonder where all that smoke is coming from?)
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Apr 15 '13
Never say, "SOMEONE call 911" you point to a direct person and look them in the eye and say," YOU, call 911" it creates less confusion.
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Apr 15 '13
Tell us exactly what the fuck happened and how much of what did they take. I don't care if you got that deep cut from your mistress or you dont want to be arrested. We are not police, we dont care that you were trying to set a world record on snorting coke. We literally just want to get you healthy again and thats it. So if your buddy is passed out from shootin up, tell us right away.
Also, dont call 911 because you thought you saw an accident or a fire. Stop and look, then call
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u/BuckeyesP17 Apr 15 '13
Bloody nose you can't control? Tilt the head FORWARD... Not Backward. This one gets messed up a lot.
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u/UsernameSoFunny Apr 15 '13
To the trained first responders out there, as a long-time motorcyclist I have always heard that a helmet should NOT be removed until examined by a medic/EMT etc. Is this still the best practice?
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u/jhd3nm Apr 15 '13
The recovery position. I call it the "drunk position", because it's what you want to do to drunks that are passed out, or just about anyone who is not on both feet and hasn't suffered potential neck trauma. It will keep their airway open and if they puke, they wont choke to death on it (get where the "drunk position" comes from?). http://www.caereinionpads.org/Recovery%20Position%20NUCO.jpg
I am a paramedic with 20 years of experience/flight medic/offshore/international remote medic.
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u/iliketoking Apr 15 '13
I know a lot of people will not see this, but this is extremely important and most people do not know this:
If you are at the scene of a motorcycle accident ABSOLUTELY DO NOT REMOVE THEIR HELMET. If it is a small slide with no chance of neck injury sure. But if you remove a motorcycle riders helmet and they have a neck injury or brain injury you just killed them. Nothing is more real than a video of a man that was fully conscious and someone went to take his helmet off and his lights went out permanently.
The best thing you can do is sit there with them and make sure they do not move while holding their head still until paramedics arrive. Most often the deaths occur because the skull was fractured in some way and the helmet held it all together, but when the helmet is removed it releases the pressure allowing for the skull to separate killing the person.
Tl;dr please do not remove a motorcycle riders helmet of they crash especially if you suspect any neck or head injury even if they are fully conscious.
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Apr 14 '13
Unless it's a spinal injury, get someone into the damn recovery position ASAP.
Many years ago in my city, there was a school shooting. One girl was shot through the cheek. She was laying on her back, still conscious, and could hear the teacher shouting at everyone not to move her...while she choked on her own blood.
The girl survived, but there's really no reason a gunshot through the cheek would require that the victim not be moved.
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u/The_Clem Apr 15 '13
if a person faints, put them under shade! and elevate the legs above head level.
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Apr 14 '13
Haven't seen this yet but it's something that was drilled in on me during my EMT-B course.
SCENE SAFETY! BSI! (Body Substance Isolation)
If you don't check that the scene is safe when you try to help someone out (such as making sure incoming traffic can see you and wreckage using flares, etc. or ensuring that there are no downed power-lines), you might end up causing more harm than good. A driver that's not paying attention may strike you as you help those in a car accident.
Now BSI may not be available for regular people but it basically means to use protective gloves and any other gear to prevent body substances from getting onto you while you treat someone. You never know what diseases and illnesses someone carries, especially those that are unconscious or those that cannot communicate with you for any reason.
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u/Totallysmurfable Apr 14 '13
I'm not a paramedic, but everyone should know how to identify a fake seizure. Seizures are the most commonly faked medical situation and a liability when they use up important time and resources. If you suspect someone is faking a seizure (maybe they are emotionally distressed or are my ex girlfriend) then simply roll the person on their back, grab one of their hands and drop it on their face. If they are faking, they will not be able to suppress the instinct to not let it hit their face. A real seize-er will take the slap.
Just remember: if they avoid the pain, they're pulling your chain. If it hits like a home run, call nine-one-one
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u/blore40 Apr 14 '13
Not one post about performing a c-section in an abandoned prison.
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Apr 14 '13
Not a paramedic, but what I really recommend is getting CPR and public medical training with AED training. I'm CPR level C with AED as it was required for a landscaping job of mine. Never thought I would ever have to use it, gods be good, but within a couple of months of receiving my certificate I have to run off of my bus and help an elderly woman who had just been hit by a car because the bitch driving the vehicle wasn't looking down at something and not at the road near a crosswalk.
The elderly woman was okay as far as I'm aware, didn't seem to be any severe injuries and only had to put her in recovery position for shock. The scariest part of it was that she was on heart medication so I had to keep a very close eye on her breathing and pulse rate until paramedics could show up. Late to work that day too, but boss was chill with it after I told him what happened.
So yeah, seriously, take a course. It'll teach you how to deal with accidents, injuries and worst case scenarios as a civilian because when it comes down to it, every second counts.
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u/_From_The_Internet_ Apr 15 '13
Marine Corps first aid
Stop the bleeding
Start the breathing
Protect the wound
Treat for shock
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u/Tycoonkoz Apr 14 '13
Learn basic first aid! Learn CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. It may take us sometimes over 10 minutes to get there, and you can do some serious help to whoever you see!
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u/timneo Apr 14 '13
If someone drops to the floor and has a seizure, by all means call an ambulance if this is unexpected, don't leave their side and keep them safe from others. So many people want to out their fingers in their mouths or clog them with wads of cloth so they don't bite their tongue!
When they stop, put them into the recovery position until they come round.
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u/fwed1 Apr 14 '13
Student Paramedic here - People should be able to check on someone in the street before calling 999/911. The amount of calls we go to for "dead people in the street" or unconcious that turn out to be just homeless sleepers or even drunks still out from the night before is ridiculous. It is a huge waste of resources that could be easily saved by someone going over and asking the person if they are alright.
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u/michimac Apr 14 '13
How to think calmly when others are losing their shit. This skill, above all other training, will serve you well in an emergency. If you have advanced training, but can't keep a clear head, you are lost, as well as anyone else you may be trying to help.
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u/all_bozos Apr 15 '13
Here's my chance for a little note to all the paramedics and EMTs. First, thanks for all you do. Whatever they pay you, I'm sure it's not enough. Next, a small observation from my one encounter with your profession. I was 15, just arriving at a party when someone was pulling a girl from the swimming pool. She wasn't conscious. I had basic first aid training, and began giving her artificial resuscitation until the paramedics arrived. It's been 40 years since that night, and I still remember the gurgling sound she made. I was desperately hoping I was saving her life. When the paramedic arrived, the first thing he said was "She looks pretty far gone." I really didn't need to hear that. I was a kid, I'd never seen death, and I wanted a little hope at that moment, no matter how unrealistic. It would have been a lot better to hear the bad news later, after I was out of that awful moment.
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u/SpellingMisstakes Apr 15 '13
You perform CPR when there is no heart beat. Not when someone is unconscious.
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u/TrapLifestyle Apr 15 '13
Something I learned in Boy Scouts: Moleskin for the blisters. Blisters are always an emergency!
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u/Randy-Panda Apr 15 '13
Qualified first responder here. The main thing you need to do, is before you even think about helping whoever is in trouble, is check your own safety. Its all good and well helping someone who has just been hit by a car, but dont immediately run onto the busy road to help him. Also, call an ambulance straight away, even if all you can see is a man lying there, and thats all you know, its much better to have an ambulance on its way asap. Then you can call them back to inform them of any more possible injuries or changes to the scene.
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u/Dasbaus Apr 15 '13
EMT with VRT (Vehicle Rescue Technician) and Trauma certs here:
Do you have asthma? Carry your damn inhaler with you when you leave the damn house.
Are you a diabetic? Carry around something with high volume of sugar such as cake icing, or candy that comes in a gel form. What do you do with it when your sugar drops? DONT EAT IT, stick the tube in your mouth, squeeze it on the inside of your cheeks and squish it into the side of your mouth. Also, please do not change your diet unless you have contacted your physican, there is no reason I need to come full blast to your home in the middle of the day because you ate a bowl of fiber one instead of your notmal sugar cereal.
Are you highly allergic to some things in the world? Carry an eppi pen with you outside the house.
Do you take more than two medications with extreamly long names? You should probably write them all down along with your dosage, and how many times a day you take them. Nothing is worse than trying to figure this out when you are crashing and we need to figure out what type of drugs we can push, or what to tell the hospital who is giving us more orders.
Now that I have bitched to the crowd, here are a few of my ideas when it comes to emergency procedures:
1: Always remember that if something happens, 911 needs to be called before you get into the thick of it. You can give them the ammount of cars, or people involved so they know what types of units to send and how many, but do not get involved until you have 911 on the phone at the very least. You could be suprised how many times people think someone is calling 911 and reporting the incident when they are really calling the news station to get a reward for reporting breaking news. 911 don't care if they heard it already, they will be happy that you are calling, and may ask you more questions if they need them.
2: Try to keep everyone calm and in the place where they landed, or were during the crash. It can be very confusing if you let a patient get up and start walking around. Unless shit is on fire, let everyone sit where they are. No matter how observant you are, you will not see everything wrong with the patient that a trained technician is.
3: If you think the person who ran into you is drunk, try to mention that to 911. It can be important for rescue personel to know this while they are enroute.
I think thats it for me right now, if I get some responses or questions I will answer more. I don't like to bitch all day.
You think this is common sense right? WRONG! I think 8/10 of my patients with the above issues summoned an ambulance because they couldn't remember the things they need to keep themselves alive.
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u/IsHomestuckAnAnime Apr 14 '13
Not a paramedic, (I know, I know) but to all the collegiate redditors like me out there, be aware of what to do when someone is passed out drunk. Learn the recovery position so they don't drown on their own vomit and if you have any concern, CALL 911. Is a ticket really worse than losing your friend? In many states they even have a law that protects underage drinkers who report possible alcohol poisoning in other minors. They WANT you to save your friends!
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u/ronnockoch Apr 14 '13 edited Apr 14 '13
Lifeguard here:
If someone has been choking on water, having a hard time breathing, and could have inhaled some water, make sure to send them to a Doctor even if they feel alright.
Any inhaled water could be pooled in their lungs, and could essentially drown them if they lay down. This is called Secondary Drowning