CHAPTER 4EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE PROCEDURESFor a Navy Corpsman, the terms “first aid” and“emergency medical procedures” relate to theprofessional care of the sick and injured before in-depthmedical attention can be obtained. Appropriate careprocedures may range from providing an encouragingword to performing a dramatic struggle to draw a personback from the brink of death. Always remember,however, that first aid measures are temporaryexpedients to save life, to prevent further injury, and topreserve resistance and vitality. These measures arenot meant to replace proper medical diagnosis andtreatment procedures. Hospital Corpsmen will be ableto provide the competent care that makes thedifference between life or death, temporary orpermanent injury, and rapid recovery or long-termdisability if theyunderstand the relationship between first aid andproper medical diagnosis and treatment,know the limits of the professional careCorpsmen can offer, andkeep abreast of new emergency medicalequipment.GENERAL FIRST AID RULESLEARNING OBJECTIVE: R e c a l lgeneral first aid rules.There are a few general first aid rules that youshould follow in any emergency:1. Take a moment to get organized. On your wayto an accident scene, use a few seconds to remember thebasic rules of first aid. Remain calm as you take chargeof the situation, and act quickly but efficiently. Decideas soon as possible what has to be done and which one ofthe patient’s injuries needs attention first.2. Unless contraindicated, make your preliminaryexamination in the position and place you find thevictim. Moving the victim before this check couldgravely endanger life, especially if the neck, back, orribs are broken. Of course, if the situation is such thatyou or the victim is in danger, you must weigh this threatagainst the potential damage caused by prematuretransportation. If you decide to move the victim, do itquickly and gently to a safe location where proper firstaid can be administered.3. In a multivictim situation, limit yourpreliminary survey to observing for airway patency,breathing, and circulation, the ABCs of basic lifesupport. Remember, irreversible brain damage canoccur within 4 to 6 minutes if breathing has stopped.Bleeding from a severed artery can lethally drain thebody in even less time. If both are present and you arealone, quickly handle the major hemorrhage first, andthen work to get oxygen back into the system. Shockmay allow the rescuer a few minutes of grace but is noless deadly in the long run.4. Examine the victim for fractures, especially inthe skull, neck, spine, and rib areas. If any are present,prematurely moving the patient can easily lead toincreased lung damage, permanent injury, or death.Fractures of the hip bone or extremities, though not asimmediately life-threatening, may pierce vital tissue orblood vessels if mishandled.5. Remove enough clothing to get a clear idea ofthe extent of the injury. Rip along the seams, if possible,or cut. Removal of clothing in the normal way mayaggravate hidden injuries. Respect the victim’smodesty as you proceed, and do not allow the victim tobecome chilled.6. Keep the victim reassured and comfortable. Ifpossible, do not allow the victim to see the wounds. Thevictim can endure pain and discomfort better ifconfident in your abilities. This is important becauseunder normal conditions the Corpsman will not havestrong pain relief medications right at hand.7. Avoid touching open wounds or burns with yourfingers or unsterile objects, unless clean compressesand bandages are not available and it is imperative tostop severe bleeding.8. Unless contraindicated, position theunconscious or semiconscious victim on his side orback, with the head turned to the side to minimizechoking or the aspirating of vomitus. Never give anunconscious person any substance by mouth.4-1
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