1.4 Emergency action steps and prioritization

Emergency action steps and prioritization are crucial skills in first aid. They involve quickly assessing patients, determining treatment urgency, and taking immediate action for life-threatening conditions. These skills help first responders make fast, informed decisions in high-pressure situations.

The ABC and CAB approaches guide responders in addressing critical needs. Techniques like triage, rapid assessment, and using tools like SAMPLE history and AVPU scale help gather vital information efficiently. Mastering these skills can make the difference between life and death in emergencies.

Assessment and Prioritization

Triage and Rapid Assessment Techniques

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Top images from around the web for Triage and Rapid Assessment Techniques

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  Frontiers | New Prehospital Triage for Stroke Patients Significantly Reduces Transport Time of ... View original

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  Major incident triage and the implementation of a new triage tool, the MPTT-24 | BMJ Military Health View original

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  Enfermer@ en Urgencias y UCI : Triage en Catástrofes II: Método rápido de clasificación en ... View original

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  Frontiers | New Prehospital Triage for Stroke Patients Significantly Reduces Transport Time of ... View original

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• Triage is the process of quickly assessing and sorting patients based on the severity of their condition and prioritizing treatment
• Involves rapidly evaluating a patient's condition to determine the urgency of care needed
• Rapid assessment techniques allow first responders to quickly gather critical information about a patient's condition
• Includes evaluating the patient's level of consciousness, airway, breathing, and circulation
• Goal is to identify life-threatening conditions and initiate appropriate interventions promptly

Patient History and Assessment Scales

• SAMPLE history is a mnemonic used to gather essential patient information during an emergency
• Stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to the incident
• Helps first responders quickly obtain relevant medical history and details about the current situation
• AVPU scale is a simple method for assessing a patient's level of consciousness
• Evaluates if the patient is Alert, responsive to Verbal stimuli, responsive to Painful stimuli, or Unresponsive
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a more comprehensive tool for assessing a patient's level of consciousness
  • Evaluates three parameters: eye-opening, verbal response, and motor response
  • Each parameter is scored, and the total score ranges from 3 (worst) to 15 (best)
  • Provides a standardized way to communicate a patient's neurological status (GCS of 13)

Airway and Breathing Management

Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC) Approach

• ABC is a mnemonic for the order of priority in managing a patient's condition
• Airway is assessed first to ensure it is open and unobstructed
  • Techniques like head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust can be used to open the airway
  • Foreign objects or fluids in the mouth should be removed
• Breathing is evaluated next, checking for the presence, rate, and quality of respirations
  • If the patient is not breathing, rescue breaths or artificial ventilation may be necessary
• Circulation is assessed by checking for a pulse and signs of adequate blood flow
  • If there is no pulse, chest compressions (CPR) should be initiated

Circulation, Airway, Breathing (CAB) Approach

• CAB is an alternative mnemonic for the order of priority in managing a patient's condition, emphasizing the importance of early chest compressions in cardiac arrest
• Circulation is addressed first by checking for a pulse and initiating chest compressions if needed
• Airway and Breathing are then managed as described in the ABC approach
• CAB approach is primarily used in cases of suspected cardiac arrest to minimize delays in starting chest compressions

Immediate Interventions

Critical Interventions for Life-Threatening Conditions

• Critical interventions are immediate actions taken to address life-threatening conditions and stabilize the patient
• Examples include:
  • Controlling severe bleeding by applying direct pressure, tourniquets, or hemostatic agents
  • Performing CPR when the patient has no pulse and is not breathing
  • Administering epinephrine for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
  • Providing rescue breaths or artificial ventilation for patients who are not breathing
  • Decompressing a tension pneumothorax using a needle thoracostomy
• Recognizing and promptly initiating these critical interventions can be life-saving in emergency situations
• First responders must be trained to identify and manage life-threatening conditions effectively