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How to Approach a First Aid Situation

What to do if You are Dealing with an Injured Person

Feb 5, 2009 Pam Griffin

From the outside first aid can appear to be a complicated subject, but it can be easier than you think if you remember your ABCs.

Although there are hundreds of different injuries and medical conditions which can strike, the basic process all doctors, paramedics and first aiders use to assess these conditions begins in the same way, with ABC:

Airway
Breathing
Circulation

The Primary Survey

As its name suggests, the Primary Survey is the first thing to do once you've established that there's no danger to yourself or to the casualty.

It will help you decide what action needs to be taken to help the casualty and give you vital information to pass on to the emergency services, if they have to be called out, or to the casualty's own doctor, if it is a less serious problem.

A = Airway

The A of ABC stands for airway. Is there anything blocking the casualty's airway?

Blockages can be internal, and could include swelling, the tongue dropping back, vomit, blood, or other objects the casualty may have tried to swallow. Alternatively they could be external, such as clothing being too tight or a ligature around the neck.

If the airway is blocked then the casualty will be unable to breathe and this will lead to death if untreated.

Opening The Airway

If the casualty is conscious they will be able to help you to keep their airway open, by telling you when they are having difficulty breathing and positioning themselves where they find it easier to breathe.

If the casualty is unconscious then the airway can be opened by gently tipping the head up, but not completely back, by pushing the forehead and the chin. You should never try to move the head by holding the neck as if there are any spinal injuries this can make them worse.

Placing the casualty in the recovery position will also keep the airway open.

B = Breathing

If the casualty is conscious then they will be breathing, but if they are unconscious then you will have to check to see if they are still breathing.

To do this make sure the airway is open and then put your face as close to the casualty's nose and mouth as you can, listening for breath sounds, watching to see if the casualty's chest is rising and falling, and seeing if you can feel any breath on your cheek.

You can also check for 'signs of life' such as a good colour in the face and any twitching or eye movement.

If the casualty is breathing and unconscious you should turn them into the recovery position and monitor them until the emergency services arrive.

If the casualty has stopped breathing you should start CPR - a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths - and keep it going until the emergency services arrive or the casualty's condition changes.

C = Circulation

This covers two aspects - is the casualty's heart beating and is the casualty bleeding.

If the casualty is conscious, or if they are unconscious but breathing, then they will have a heartbeat.

If there is any serious bleeding then you should try to stop it, but making sure the casualty is breathing and has a heartbeat will always take priority.

When To Call The Emergency Services

In any life threatening situation the emergency services should be called as soon as breathing has been checked.

The information in this article is taken from first aid guidance from St John Ambulance in the UK. First aid practices in other countries may differ.This article should be treated as a guide but is not a substitute for attending a first aid course

The copyright of the article How to Approach a First Aid Situation in General Medicine is owned by Pam Griffin. Permission to republish How to Approach a First Aid Situation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

9th edition first aid manual