Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

2 PREmergency Scene Management

Summary The steps of PSM are arranged in a logical order to allow you to move from step to step, but they are not designed to be separate. Instead they are listed by priority. When you complete a component of PSM, you are not finished with it. Once you assess the scene you must remain aware of it and any potential for danger or change. It does not matter at what stage of the assessment or treatment process you are at. Safety is always first. If at any time you assess a safety issue, then you must make it safe before you can continue providing care. Assessment of the ABCs and LOC is ongoing. Any time a life threat is assessed, it takes priority over all else except safety.

Monitoring of the patient’s full vital signs begins in the Secondary Assessment and continues until Hand-off, as does the continued assessment of any first aid you initiate. As a trained first aider, you need to remain aware of the ‘big picture’ even when you are doing individual tasks. The more you practice the skills of providing care, the more effective you will be in giving first aid. Remember, there is nothing wrong with talking out loud through the components of PSM, even to yourself. Many professionals do this to help remember the steps of PSM. It has the added benefit of letting the patient know what you are doing during the exam and treatment.

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