First Aid When a person needs first aid, even trained bystanders may wait for someone else to do it. They don’t remember the procedure. Or it’s too intimidating. Recently, the American Red Cross, American Heart Association and other organizations simplified several prescribed procedures. “We want people to feel empowered,” 5x says Carol Maloney, instructional programs manager for the Red Cross serving King and Kitsap counties. Here are some of the streamlined procedures, or standard ones that many people may be confused about. Choking The goal is to dislodge the food or object that is blocking the person’s airway.

1. Give five back blows Lean the person forward and give five back blows with the heel of your hand. If person is unconscious: Follow CPR procedure below. 2. Give five Look in the back of the throat for expelled foreign object between abdominal thrusts compressions and rescue breaths. Quickly find the person’s navel with your finger. If a person is pregnant or too Clasp hands just above big to reach around: navel. Thrust inward Give chest thrusts by reaching and upward. around them under their armpits. 5x If you are choking: 3. Continue the back blows You can give abdominal thrusts to and abdominal thrusts, yourself in the same manner. Or alternating 5 each. Do this until the lean over and repeatedly push your object is forced out or the person can abdomen against a firm object like breathe or cough forcefully. a chair back.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation-CPR for adults 1. Check for consciousness 2. Check for breathing and movement 3. Give two quick rescue breaths, 4. Give chest compressions 5. Continue cycle If person doesn’t respond to shouts Place person face up on a hard surface. Tilt if not breathing Kneel at victim’s side. Place heel of one hand on Two breaths, 30 and shoulder taps, call 911. If an head, lift chin and look, listen and feel for signs Pinch the nose, cover person’s mouth with in the middle of the breast bone between the compressions. automatic defibrillator (AED) is of life for no more than 10 seconds. Do not yours and blow until chest rises. Each nipples. Place other hand on top of that hand. available, use it immediately. Easy check for pulse. breath should take only about one second. Do 30 quick compressions, pushing in about two instructions come with the AED. inches, faster than one per second.

External Burns Spine bleeding •Cool burn with cold, stabilization running water as quickly •Apply direct as possible. Continue Suspect a spinal injury pressure to the until pain is relieved. if the injured person: wound with gauze or a cloth •Loosely cover blisters •Is involved in a motor- until bleeding with a sterile vehicle accident. stops. dressing; leave •Has fallen from greater than blisters intact. •Bandage with a standing height. sterile dressing, •Do not use butter, •Complains of neck or back if available. lard or other pain. makeshift •If bleeding preparations •Complains of tingling in the continues, apply on burns. arms or legs, or complains of additional weakness. dressings and bandages on top. •Appears to be intoxicated, or is not fully alert. •Do not spend time checking for •Appears to be frail or older pressure point. than 65. What to do Manually support the head in position found. If head is sharply turned to one side, do not move it CPR CLASSES, INFORMATION: unless necessary for American Heart Association: 800-AHA-USA1 (800-242-8721); info, www.americanheart.org/eccguidelines breathing. American Red Cross: 206-323-2345 or www.seattleredcross.org ILLUSTRATIONS BY KRISTOPHER LEE / THE SEAT T L E T I M E S More information on CPR, with animation: University of Washington, www.learncpr.org TEXT BY WARREN KING AND AMERICAN RED CROSS Sources: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, University of Washington Warren King: 206-464-2247 or [email protected]

REPEAT CYCLE: two breaths and 30 compressions