Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

1 Introduction to First Aid

If you need to transport a person to medical care, the best place to go is the emergency room (ER) at a hospital. An ER has all the needed resources to treat a patient. Activating 911 In most areas of Canada, access to Paramedics, Police, or Fire personnel is done by dialing 911with a landline or mobile phone. There are still some rural areas that do not have 911 access and require you to call a local emergency services phone number that can be found in local area phone directories. If a call to 911 is not connecting after several attempts, contact an operator or directory assistance. When speaking to 911 or any other emergency dispatcher be sure to listen carefully.

Emergency dispatchers are specially trained and have protocols to follow to dispatch the personnel most appropriate to an emergency.

Getting Help – Lone First Aider Every emergency is different. The more serious the condition of the patient, the greater the need to get help quickly. Calling 911 as soon as possible is the best way to get help quickly. However, if you are alone and need to summon help, the guidelines indicate when to treat and when to leave the patient to get help. Use the flow chart on the next page to help you decide when to leave and summon help. You need to assess the situation and make the best decision you can based on the condition of any ill or injured patient. Use common sense, your own training and experience to get the best care to the patient as soon as possible.

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