First Aid Safety Tips for Managing an Emergency from St. John's Ambulance

(NC)­ No one is ever completely out of risk of injury. Disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. However, you can be prepared to manage an emergency if you know what to do. St. John Ambulance, Canadačs leader in safety-orientedTM first-aid training, offers courses to teach you what you need to know in an emergency and how to render first aid that could save a life.

Reacting efficiently and effectively in an emergency can make all the difference. In cases of serious injury, medical professionals refer to the first hour after the incident as the golden hour, when the chances of sustaining life are greatest. That's why it's imperative that people who respond to an emergency are ready to take immediate action.

Follow these Steps to Effective Emergency Scene Management.

1. Call for help and acknowledge a response. If youčre injured while trying to help, you'll be in jeopardy if no one has been alerted.

2. Make sure you're safe. Emergency scenes can be dangerous and you must ensure you don't put the casualty or yourself, at risk.

3. Take time to look for hazards and assess the risks of any action you consider.

4. Watch out for an energy source that may have caused the original injury. Is it still active and a threat? (live wires or running machinery can have deadly consequences)

5. Look for secondary hazards, such as leaking fuel at a car crash.

6. Assess yourself. Your first priority is to prevent injury to everyone­ including yourself. Can you handle the scene? Are you able to help the casualty?

7. Always be cautious. Avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids. Wear surgical gloves if possible.

8. If you are trained in first aid, offer to help a conscious casualty before approaching them. Be sensitive to the emotional state of the person.

9. Keep onlookers away as much as possible. Try to ensure the privacy of the casualty.

10. Leave the scene as you found it ­ exactly. You may unknowingly disturb evidence that would assist a police investigation.

If you have help at the emergency scene, and are awaiting first responders - ­ambulance, fire fighters, police etc.­try to assign tasks to keep the area safe.

Here's what bystanders can do:

• Help make the area safe

• Find all casualties and assess for conscious response.

• Find a first aid kit.

• Control onlookers or traffic.

• Call for medical help.

• Help give first aid, under the direction of a trained individual.

• Gather and protect casualties' personal belongings.

• Take notes.

• Lead emergency personnel to the scene.