When someone is unconscious, their life is in danger. Their airway might be blocked, they may not be breathing, and their blood circulation could have stopped. It is important to follow the primary survey steps to assess casualties in the order of DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Remember to take quick action because brain damage or even death can happen quickly. A secondary survey is performed after completing the primary steps of first aid.
When helping someone in an emergency, you always start with the primary survey. This means you quickly assess what is happening and the person’s needs.
The primary survey uses the letters DRABC to help you remember the steps: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
D – Danger: First, you check for danger around you, such as oncoming traffic or a falling object.
R – Response: Next, see if the person responds. Gently shake their shoulders when you talk to them. Are they awake or unconscious?
A – Airway: Then, make sure their airway is clear. That means checking if anything is blocking their breathing passage.
B – Breathing: After that, check if they’re breathing normally. Look, listen, and feel for any signs of breathing.
C – Circulation: Finally, check for signs of circulation, like a pulse. This tells you if their heart is beating.
Knowing what to do next could help save someone’s life, so it’s important to follow these steps in the correct order.
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The first thing to do in an emergency is to check for dangers. Look around to see if anything could harm you, the person needing help, or anyone nearby. This helps you decide if it’s safe to go close to someone who needs help.
WHAT TO DO
If you see any hazards, like live electricity, try to make the area safe first. For example, if there’s electricity, turn it off. If not, move the person away using something that doesn’t conduct electricity, like wood or plastic. Don’t touch them directly if there’s a risk of electricity.
Once you have ensured it’s safe, you can go close to the person who needs help. But if it’s still not secure, don’t go near them. Instead, get emergency medical help.
A person can lose consciousness when something disrupts the brain’s normal functioning. Here are some signs that someone might be unconscious:
WHAT TO DO
This is also called the lateral, recovery, or stable side position.
Now, make sure the person’s airway is clear. If they’re unconscious:
What To Do: If the person is responsive
What To Do: If the person is unresponsive
Breathing should be regular, quiet, and easy. Tilt the head back, watch the chest for movement, and listen for breathing sounds. Do this for about ten seconds to see if air comes from the mouth or nose.
WHAT TO DO
If they’re unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services immediately. If you know CPR, start with rescue breaths. If not, do chest compressions. If there’s an AED nearby, ask someone to bring it.
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is the best way to give rescue breaths. Mouth-to-nose resuscitation is used for a jaw injury or if the person needs to be revived in water. Mouth-to-mask resuscitation is done by trained people to avoid direct contact, especially if the person might have a disease like hepatitis or HIV.
Typically, 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths are performed in case of abnormal breathing.
Follow similar steps for mouth-to-nose and mouth-to-mask resuscitation but adjust for the different techniques.
In this step, check the person for any significant bleeding.
What To Do
If they’re bleeding heavily, try to stop it by pressing directly on the wound with a clean cloth or dressing. Then, call emergency services for help.
Stay with them until help arrives. Try to keep them calm and reassure them that help is coming. If they’re not bleeding but still unresponsive, put them in the recovery position. This helps keep their airway clear if they vomit.
If someone’s heart has stopped, CPR is vital to keep them alive until help arrives. CPR is exhausting, so it’s best if two people can take turns to keep the rhythm right. Remember, even if you’re not trained, attempting CPR is better than doing nothing.
The Emergency First Aid training course is designed for low-risk environments such as offices and small retail stores. It gives participants the fundamental knowledge and skills to effectively manage emergencies in these settings.
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What does DRABC stand for in first aid?
DRABC in the first-aid primary survey stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
Should you carry out a primary survey on every casualty?
Use a primary survey and apply the DRABC steps whenever you witness a casualty, such as an accident or a fall, provided it is safe to approach the injured person.
What is the purpose of the primary survey?
The purpose of the primary survey is to treat life-threatening casualties quickly. These accidents could include airway blockage, breathing difficulties, shock or a brain injury.
How can you assess the responsiveness of a casualty?
First, check if the person is unconscious by asking simple questions and gently shaking them. If they don’t respond, they’re likely unconscious. Avoid shaking them vigorously, especially if they’re children or babies. Next, put the person in the side position and check their airway, breathing, and pulse.
How many compressions must be performed in case of abnormal breathing?
Typically, 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths are performed in case of abnormal breathing.
