Today I had an extreme situation at work. One of the patients lost consciousness and fell down. I reacted positively. Here's what I've done more or less:
1. Checked verbal response (patient was unconscious)
2. Checked the breathing (listened to the breath by placing ear next to his mouth and observing his chest) (meanwhile the ambulance was contacted)
3. Checked his pulse on the neck
4. After establishing that he was breathing i placed him in recovery position.
So...For all of you there! Here is a small review what to do if this happened to you!
To check if the person is conscious, try to get their response by gently tapping their shoulders and calling their name.
If there is no response:1.Open their airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
2.Check breathing by looking, listening and feeling for breathing on your cheek for up to ten seconds.
If they are not breathing normally,
resuscitate.
If they are breathing, treat any life-threatening injuries and put them in recovery position.
Recovery position for adults.This is the best position for casualty who is unconsious and breathing.
If the casualty is unconsious but breathing, place them on their side in the recovery position.
1.Place arm nearest you at right angle.
2.Move the other arm, as shown, with the back of their hand against their cheek. Then get hold of the knee furthest from you and pull up until foot is flat on the floor.
3.Pull the knee towards you. Keeping the person's hand pressed against their cheek, and position the leg at a right angle.
4.Make sure that the airways remain open by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Check breathing.
5.Monitor the casualty condition until the help arrives.
Read this couple of times until you become familiar with the algorithm.
Pictures and text taken from
Red Cross UK website.
