Practical Life Saving...

Yesterday I had an experience that when over, scared the crud out of me.

I was in the House of Payer foyer, and turned to look and saw a woman lying on the ground. It urned to ask the people sitting in some charis near here "Is she ok?". They shrugged their shoulders and didnt say anything.

I went over to her, and checked on her. She was unresponsive. Things progressed, and at one point we had a woman unconcious, with a fading pulse, and I couldt tell if she was breathing or not.

Thankfully, things improved, but at one point, it was rather scary. When it was done, and the Paramedics came and stabilized her, and took her away, I began to shake a little. All that adrenaline and intensity had to process out. Then I realized that I was totally unprepared for what had just happenned.

The odd thing is this is the 3rd time this has happenned to me in 3 years. I forgot that until driving home. Each time, the process is the same, and has turned out well. However that had nothing to do with me. Had the situation required me todo anything interventive, there is a good chance these 3 people would have died.

I didnt even know a process of steps. Obviously I checked to see if she was breathing etc... but I didnt know what and how to check someone in this situation.

I did some research, and this is what I found. this isnt meant to be instuctive, only informative. I encourage you to go review First Aid, Red Cross, or anything that will help you understand this process better.

1. What is the situation? For example, if someone has been electrocuted, poisoned, or come under the influenceof something similar (think Carbon Momoxide etc...) you have to determine if it is safe for YOU to proceed.

If it is not safe, you have to evaluate. Can you remove the threat , or not (On coming cars cannot be removed for example). YOu might need to make a veyr serious decision here.

If it is safe to proceed, then review the following.

2. Is the person injured? In my case, I couldnt tell if she was unconcious because of the fall, or fell after. There was no blood, however a broken neck or back wont neccessarily bleed.

If the person appears to be injured in the neck or back, try to progress to the next steps without moving them! Unless their life is in danger, or yours, from something else. If you find the next stpes require action, and you can only do this by moving them, make your best judgement call.

3. ABC: Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

Airway: Check their airway for any obstruction. Vomit, Food, blood etc... If there is obstuction, clear it.

Breathing: Are they breathing? Put your cheek/ear near their mouth/nose and get still and listen. Watch their chest at the same time. If they are breathing at all, check the next step. If they are not (I mean AT ALL), then you need to start rescue breathing. If they are breathing, and are not injured int he neck/back, tilt their head back slightly with your hand under their neck. If they are breathing but injured, monitor their breathing regularly.

Circulation: If they are in fact breathing, check their pulse. I couldnt find one on this girl via the neck, but another fellow found one in her wrist. It was fluctuating. If there is no pulse, rescue breathing and CPR are required. If there is a pulse, stop and evaluate.

If there is no pulse/breathing, the issue of injury and movement are irrelevant. Move them on their back, tilt their head up and start CPR.

At this point, RedCross suggests the following:

If there is no obvious neck/back injury, and they are beathing and circulating, roll them on their side, neck slightly back to clear any fuure airway obstruction, and wait with them for emergency help.


In my case yesterday, the gal was a diabetic. She was essentially in a diabetic coma. However, thankfully she had taken sugar gels right before she had passed out, which was probably why she revived. So I would suggest the following steps:

If the person is stabilized, look for a med id tag on their wrist. If there is one, read it. Look through any id or personal ites. We found her drivers license, and I kept calling her name and telling her to wake up. What I wished I had done was look for any meds. I wouldnt give her any, but I would know if she had any so I could tell EMT about it when they arrive.

I hope that I remember these basics when/if this happens again. It hink Ialso need to stop, take a breath, and command myself to calm down. Th extra 5-10 seconds of doing this could save the person in front of me.