What Are 3 Steps For Responding To An Emergency

There is nothing worse than dealing with an emergency medical situation and not being prepared for it. How you respond is crucial as you can save the lives of individuals while avoiding any other potential risks to them and yourself.

Even if you have undergone first aid training and received your qualifications, remember and administer the first few steps. Thankfully, we have the three steps that you must take when responding to an emergency.

Your Three-Step Guide to Emergencies

Step 1) Check the Scene

Before you rush over and administer care, make sure that the scene around you is safe and secure for both you and them. Consider what just happened to cause the injury, the condition of the person or people, and what is happening around them and you.

The last thing you want to do is rush over to the site and get yourself injured in the process. That helps nobody. Check the scene, assess the situation and act in the right manner. Doing this right sets you up for success.

Step 2) Assess the Person & Contact 911

See if the person is awake and responsive and if there are no severe life-threatening injuries or bleeding. Speak to them, tell them who you are, describe the situation and ask them if they know what happened. Most importantly, ask them for permission to provide care. You want to make sure you have the legal right to assist them. 

If you have a first aid kit around you, use it.

While they’re on the ground, check their body from head to toe for any injuries that are unseen. If you’ve had first aid training, administer it safely and securely. Make sure that other spectators are not close to the person or can get themselves injured on the scene.

Once you have settled on the scene, tell a bystander to contact 911 immediately. While you can care and help the person at the moment, as a first responder, it’s best to act right away to get help from professionals. Provide the authorities with the correct information, including the location of the incident, what happened and how the person is acting or feeling (describe their injuries).

Being accurate and concise with authorities will ensure they act quicker and get to your location on time, ready to provide the required treatment and services.

Step 3) Continue to Offer Care

While waiting for the authorities, you have one role: keep the person alive and care for them. Utilizing what you learnt in your first aid training and ensuring that the person is receiving the treatment and care they need.

Talk to them constantly, and continue to assess their injuries. Make sure the scene is safe for them, and if they can move, get them over to a safe spot. If they are in terrible condition, do not move them at all.

Keep doing what you’re doing until the ambulance arrives.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Responding to Emergencies

Your mind might be racing in the heat of an emergency. And while it might be stressful, it’s important to remain calm and in the “zone”. These tips can help you in the moment:

• Don’t panic. Panic doesn’t help anyone. Focus on what you have to do and your training.
• Make sure you’re safe to help the person. You getting injured helps nobody.
• Remember your first aid training.
• Check the person for any injuries and ask for their consent to administer treatment and care.
• Ensure nobody else is affected or in an unsafe area.
• Call 911 or your local emergency services quickly.
• Continue to provide care and treatment until the authorities arrive.

If you feel like you need to refresh your first aid training or expand your skillset and knowledge, find and book a course with First Aid Training Calgary. They’re the pros that offer a range of courses that can strengthen your first aid skills, ensuring you’re prepared for all emergencies.