First Aid and Emergency Response

Overview

This revision covers the DRSABCD first aid steps, recovery position, asthma management, RICER and NO HARM rules for injuries, signs and treatment for common emergencies, and practice questions.

DRSABCD First Aid Steps

• Danger: Check for any danger to yourself or the patient before approaching.
• Response: Use "COWS"—Can you hear me? Open your eyes. What’s your name? Squeeze my hand.
• Send for help: Call 000 or use emergency numbers on the patient’s phone.
• Airway: Tilt the head back, lift the chin, and clear the airway with your fingers if blocked.
• Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing at the mouth and chest.
• CPR: Give adults 30 compressions and 2 breaths; children over one: 100–120 compressions/minute; babies: use two fingers.
• Defibrillation: Use an AED if available and follow instructions on where to place pads.

Recovery Position

• Lay the person on their back, bend one leg at 90°, place one arm across chest, and roll onto their side.
• Use for unconscious patients to prevent airway blockage by the tongue.

Asthma: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

• Signs: Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking.
• Treatment: Sit patient upright, reassure, give 4 puffs of reliever inhaler (one puff each, 4 breaths per), repeat if needed.

RICER and NO HARM Rules

• RICER: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Referral—used for soft tissue injuries.
• NO HARM: No Heat, Alcohol, Running, Massage—avoids further injury during first 48–72 hours.

Emergency Situations: Signs & Treatment

• Choking: Unable to cough/breathe; encourage coughing, call for help, give back blows if not breathing.
• Bleeding: Blood loss from wound; apply pressure, bandage, and seek help.
• Shock: Pale, cold skin, rapid pulse; lay down, elevate legs, keep warm, call 000.
• Fracture: Pain, swelling, deformity; immobilize, apply ice, seek medical help.
• Dislocation: Deformity, pain, loss of movement; immobilize, apply ice, seek medical help.
• Anaphylaxis/Allergy: Swelling, difficulty breathing, hives; use EpiPen in mid-thigh, call 000.

Key Terms & Definitions

• DRSABCD — First aid action plan: Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
• CPR — Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; chest compressions and rescue breaths.
• AED — Automated External Defibrillator; device that delivers a shock to restart the heart.
• RICER — Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Referral; injury treatment steps.
• NO HARM — No Heat, Alcohol, Running, or Massage.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review all steps for DRSABCD and practice COWS response check.
• Memorize RICER and NO HARM rules.
• Complete multiple choice, match-up, and scenario practice questions.
• Create and share a quiz (minimum 10 questions) on Blooket, Quizizz, or Kahoot in Google Classroom.