Basic Life Support (BLS)

ABCs - Airway, Breathing, Circulation

Steps to follow in BLS

1. Check the responsiveness of the victim
2. Call for Emergency medical health
3. Position victim on his or her back
4. Open the airway
5. Assess breathing
6. Assess circulation
7. Stay with the victim until help arrives.
 Breathing
Mouth-to-Mouth Ventilation Children and Adults

Steps to follow in Mouth-to-Mouth

1. Place victim on their back
2. Open the airway
3. Check the victims breathing
4. If no breathing, start artificial ventilation
5. If chest doesnt rise, airway may be blocked
6. Take 5-10 seconds to check for a pulse
7. If breathing is restored, remain in position
 Choking
Steps to follow if consciousvictim is
choking:
1. Call for emergency help
2. Open the airway, dont give up
3. Use the Heimlich Maneuver
 Choking
Steps to follow if unconscious victim is
choking:
1. Call for emergency help
2. Open the airway, dont give up
3. Lay victim face up on a hard surface
4. Assess responsiveness and breathing
5. Perform Heimlich Manuever
 Circulation (CPR)
CPR is combination of artificial ventilation
and artificial circulation.
It should only be done by a qualified person
Periodic retraining is required
 Allergic Reactions
Signs of allergic reactions include difficulty
breathing (wheezing), swollen lips, tongue,
and ears, hives, skin swelling and itching
Treatment
1. Contact Medical Help
2. Keep victim quiet in a comfortable position
3. If victim stops breathing, give artificial
ventilation.
 Bites and Stings (General)
Treatment
1. Lie victim down and immobilize limb
2. Cold application on all bites except snakes
3. Flush snakebite with water
4. 2 wide cloth to provide a band near bite
5. Band should not be too restricting
6. Transport victim to hospital
7. Provide non-alcoholic liquid to victim
 Bites and Stings (Bees)
Treatment
1. Do not remove stinger with a tweezer
2. Remove stinger with a flicking motion
3. If victim shows signs, treat for allergic react.
 Bites and Stings (Animal)
Treatment
1. Seek medical attention
2. If skin is broken, wash with soap and water
 Bleeding
Treatment
1. Call for medical help
2. Keep victim lying down
3. Place pad directly over wound
4. Apply direct pressure firmly with both hands
5. Raise bleeding part higher than rest of body
 Bleeding (Tourniquet)
Use on arms or legs only
Is usually not necessary
Do not attempt to use unless you are
specially trained.
Should be placed between injury and heart
 Burns
Object is to prevent shock and
contamination.
All burns should be attended to by a
physician
Do not apply ointments, grease, or baking
soda
 Burns (Thermal)
Treatment
1. Cool quickly with water
2. Place clean cloth over burned area
3. Keep victim lying down
4. Give no fluids
5. Call for medical health
6. Place head and chest lower than rest of body
7. Raise legs if possible
 Burns (Chemical)
Treatment
1. Flush with plenty of water for 5 minutes
2. Remove clothes if needed
3. Place clean material over burns
4. Call for medical help
5. Lie victim down, provide lots of liquids
6. Place head and chest lower than rest of body
7. Raise legs if possible
 Cuts and Abrasions
Its important to prevent infections
Never put your mouth over a wound
Dont breath on a wound
Dont touch with dirty fingers or cloths
Treatment
1. Cleanse wound with soap and water
2. Hold sterile pad firmly over wound
3. Continue to cover wound if bleeding persists
 Fractures
First aid should do no more than prevent
further injury
A fracture should be assumed if body part
does not have normal look and function
Treatment
1. Unless in danger, dont move victim
2. Leave the limb in the position you found it
3. Apply a splint
 Frostbite
Signs include skin that is pink just before
frostbite and changes to whit or grayish-
yellow as it develops, initial pain, numbness
and cold.
 Frostbite
Treatment
Cover area with warm hand of woolen material
If hands, hold them in armpit
Bring victim inside
Place area in warm water (101-103 F)
Dont use hot water, water bottle, or heat lamp
Dont rub frostbitten area
Let circulation reestablish naturally, exercise
Give them something warm to drink
See a doctor
 Heat Exhaustion
Signs include pale and clammy skin,
profuse perspiration, rapid pulse, weakness,
headache, nausea, cramps in abdomen and
limbs.
Treatment
Contact emergency medical help
Have victim lie down, elevate feet
Move victim to shade or cool place
Give victim diluted salt water
 Heat Stroke
Signs include flushed hot and dry skin,
rapid, weak pulse, confusion and
unconscious
Treatment
Get medical help, delays could be fatal
Cool body by spraying or sponging with cool
water
Liquids, but no alcohol
 Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Signs include itching, redness, or blisters
Treatment
Cut clothing from exposed area (use gloves)
Avoid contact with contaminated area
Wash exposed area with soap water (no soap)
Wash yourself after treating
Apply commercial products
If blisters develop, see doctor
 Seizures and Convulsions
A seizure is not a medical emergency. It
usually ends in a few minutes. If it lasts more
than 15 minutes, get medical help.
Treatment
Remove objects that may injure a person
Do not restrain victim
Do not slap victim or douse with water
Do not place finger or hard objects in the mouth
When seizure ends, take victim to comfortable area
and allow them to sleep if they wish
 Shock

Signs include cold, clammy skin with beads

of perspiration on forehead and palms, pale
skin color, a cold feeling, shaking chills,
nausea, vomiting, shallow, rapid breathing
Usually accompanies severe injury
 Shock
Treatment
Get medical help
Correct the cause of the shock
Keep victims airway open
If victim vomits, prevent choking
Elevate victims legs
Keep victim comfortable and warm
Give water to the victim (unless abdominal)
Reassure victim
 Spine or Neck Injuries
Do not move victim unless needed
Get medical help
Do not move head except to keep airway
open
If victim vomits, roll to their side. Dont
turn head
Monitor breathing
 Sprains or Strains
Treat as though it were a fracture
Place injured part at rest
Elevate injured part if possible
Apply cold compress or ice to prevent
swelling
Contact a doctor
Dont apply heat for at least 24 hours