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3: Emergency Action Steps
EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS
ASSESS-ALERT-ATTEND
TO THE ABCD’S
The emergency action steps are intended
to help the Rescuer respond to an emergency and manage life-threatening
problems of the airway, breathing and circulation in a victim
of any age.
Concerning age, children differ in
size from infancy through adolescence. No single factor can
distinguish an infant from a child and a child from an adult.
In order to simplify training, CPR use the following age ranges.
Adult: About 8 years of age and older
Child: About 1-8 years of age
Infant: Less than about 1 year
It is important to note the use of the word “about''
in the table above. When it comes to basic life support, determining
age can be very difficult. Exactness is not necessary.
The following pages contain detailed
CPR recommendations for adults, children and infants. For
quicker reference, refer to the skill Guides.
Assess
Assess scene
Whenever you recognize an emergency, you should assess the
scene for safety. If the scene is not safe or at anytime becomes
unsafe, GET OUT!
Assess Victim
If the scene is safe, pause for a moment as you approach the
victim. What is your first impression? Is the victim lying
still or moving around? Does skin color appear normal for
the victim 's ethnic group? Does it look difficult for the
victim to breathe? Normal breathing is quiet and easy. Signs
that BLS/CPR may be needed include:
victim is not moving, is unresponsive or looks dead
Bluish or ashen tissue color, especially around the lips.
Cold and pale tissue color.
Breathing is shallow, gasping or absent.
Pink or frothy discharge from mouth.
Gently tap or squeeze the victim's
shoulder and ask, Are you all right?'' In an infant, you may
tap the foot. Use the victims name if you know it.
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