First Aid/CPR/AED

Scene Safety

Remain calm

The most important basic principle of first aid is to remain calm. You cannot help others when you are in a panic, nor will you be able to ease the victim's fears and anxieties, which can contribute to his/her condition. 

Check the scene

Always check the scene of an emergency before you rush in to help. Look for hazardous conditions, such as: 

• Smoke and flames;
• Spilled chemicals or odors;
• Downed electrical wires;
• Risk of explosion;
• Possible building collapse/instability;
• Traffic dangers; and
• Potential personal violence. 

If the scene is dangerous, stay away and call for help. You must not become a victim yourself.

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Get Help - Call 911

Call 911 immediately if you recognize a life-threatening injury or illness, or the situation requires a specialized response, such as police, fire, hazardous materials, or power company assistance. Life-threatening conditions include:

• A problem that threatens the victim's airway;
• A problem that threatens the victim's breathing;
• A problem that threatens the victim's circulation of blood, such as severe bleeding or shock;
• The victim is unconscious or unresponsive;
• The condition could become life-threatening; and
• Moving could make the condition worse. 

In many situations, emergency services may not be called but the victim stills needs to see a healthcare provider. Encourage family and friends to ensure the victim follows through with seeing a doctor. When in doubt, call 9-1-1 from any phone or use the blue emergency phones located around campus, if necessary. 

Provide the following information to the dispatcher:

• Your name and the phone number you are calling from;
• The location of the victim (full physical address, ex. Virginia Tech Campus, 575 Beamer Way, Blacksburg, VA);
• The number of person(s) injured;
• What happened, if known (brief description);
• The victim's condition (ex. awake and able to speak, unconscious/unresponsive, bleeding, etc.);
• The victim's approximate age and gender; 
• What is being done for the patient (CPR is in progress, controlling bleeding, stabilizing, etc.).

Be sure to check the area for bystanders who may be willing to assist you. Bystanders can help by:

• Calling 911;
• Meeting response agencies and leading them to the victim(s);
• Helping other victims with minor injuries;
• Helping to calm the victim down; and
• Getting the nearest first aid kit or AED.

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Personal Safety

Legal Protection

In general, you should not hesitate to help a victim because you are afraid of being sued. In Virginia, there are Good Samaritan laws designed to protect volunteers who attempt to help another person. In addition, the following guidelines will provide even more protection for you:

• Act only as you are trained to act.
• Get the victim's consent before giving first aid.
• Do not move the victim unnecessarily.
• Call for professional help (911).
• Keep giving care until someone of equal or higher training takes over.

Infectious Diseases

There is some risk of getting an infectious disease when providing first aid - especially where contact is made with an infected person's blood. Bacteria or viruses contracted through a person's blood are called bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens may also be present in other bodily fluids, such as bloody saliva, vomit, semen, or vaginal secretions.

Diseases associated with providing first aid include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV). During training, you will learn about "universal precautions" that should be taken and appropriate personal protective equipment that should be worn, in order to minimize exposure.

Although rare, there are a few airborne diseases to be aware of, such as tuberculosis (TB) or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Special precautions are generally not required for first aid responders.

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Provide Care

After you have surveyed the scene for safety and put on your gloves, you should assess the victim. During first aid training, you will learn the proper techniques for each of the steps. This assessment is prioritized to find life-threatening problems first and should always be performed in this order. If a problem is found during the step, you should provide the appropriate care before moving on to the next step. 

• Check the ABCs: Airway, breathing, and circulation.
• Get  information about the victim which may identify a medical condition that is not evident (i.e. the victim's history) or clues regarding what might be wrong.
• Check the rest of the victim's body by performing a physical examination.
• Monitor the victim for changes while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

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Hydrofluoric Acid Quick Response Guide

Interdepartmental Service Request (ISR) payment instructions for EHS classes.

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