Life saving procedures
As a first aider the priorities when
dealing with a casualty are always the same:
- Airway
- Breathing
- Circulation.
A primary survey of a casualty will
establish your priorities. When dealing with an unconscious
casualty you should open and maintain their airway
as your first priority. If the airway should become obstructed,
possibly by the tongue falling to the back of the throat, then the
casualty will be unable to breathe and this will lead to death if
untreated.
If the casualty is breathing, the simple
procedure of placing the casualty in to the recovery position should ensure that the airway
will remain clear of obstructions.
If the casualty has stopped breathing you can assist them by
performing a combination of chest
compressions and rescue breaths. You breathe out enough oxygen
to potentially keep the casualty alive until the emergency services
arrive, the oxygen you breathe into the casualty will need to then
be pumped around the body using chest compressions.
It is important to remember that in any life threatening
situation the emergency services should be called
as soon as breathing or absence of breathing has been
identified.