If an emergency situation occurs, almost always, bystanders do not know how to manage it or how to give a hand. This is a brief guide to understand the main 5 steps to guarantee a concrete help, even if you are not paramedics.

The idea is to give brief and simple indications to bystanders on how to handle an emergency situation while awaiting the ambulance to arrive. Dr Tarun Kumar Tiwari explains what to do.

1. Determine if you can do anything to help

The most important thing you can do is to remain calm, and stay in control of the situation. Sometimes there is nothing that bystanders can do, and that’s fine. Don’t be worried about admitting that there’s nothing you can do to help.

If there are other bystanders on the scene who may be upset or fearful, try to reassure them. Employ them in going to get help. It’s better to remain with someone in a supportive way than to do an action that may result in additional damage. If you’re not sure what to do, simply stay with the patient while you are waiting for the ambulance.

 

2. Handle emergency situation: take time to think before acting

Being in an emergency situation can result in panicked thinking and actions can reveal to have disastrous outcomes. Instead of immediately reacting to a situation, take time to calm down. Breathe deeply before you take any action.

Things change suddenly in emergency situations. No panic if you feel not to handle this. Things suddenly go in a different direction than you’d expected. Take time to pause whenever you’re overwhelmed, panicky or confused. If you need to stop in the middle of taking an action to calm down, that’s okay.

3. Handle emergency situation: get the first aid kit

A first aid kit should contain helpful emergency tools for taking care of many medical emergencies. Any first aid kit should contain bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, disinfectant, and other useful items.

If you can’t retrieve the first aid kit, consider what other items in your immediate vicinity might be good substitutes. You should keep a first aid kit at your home, and your workplace is required by law to maintain a first aid kit. A good first aid kit should also have a “space blanket” which is a light-weight piece of special material meant to conserve body heat.

 

4. Ask the injured person basic questions

It’s important to understand the mental state of the patient in order to better understand the type of injuries. If the person appears confused by the questions or provides the wrong answer, this may suggest additional injuries than the physical ones.

If you’re not sure if the victim is unconscious, touch their shoulder. Shout or ask loudly, “Are you okay?”

• Questions you should ask include: What is your name? What is the date? How old are you?
• Once you’ve determined the basic mental status of the person, check with them about any medical complications. Ask them if they have a medical alert bracelet or another medical ID. Avoid moving an injured person. If someone has a neck injury, moving him could result in injuring the spine. Always call emergency services if someone has a neck injury and is unable to move.
• If the person can’t walk because of leg or foot injuries, you can help move them by holding them at the shoulders.
• If the person is afraid to leave a dangerous situation, respond with reassurance.

5. Handle emergency situation: use the telephone only to ask for help

Your full attention should be on the present situation, and talking on the phone is distracting. In addition, if you are on an older model telephone, the emergency dispatcher may be trying to reach you. Stay off the phone unless you’re calling to ask for help.

• If you’re not sure if you’re in a true emergency, call emergency services and the dispatcher can help you figure out if emergency officials should be sent.
• Don’t try to document the emergency unless you are sure you are out of danger. Taking “selfies” or posting about your situation on social media in ongoing emergency situations may result in additional injury

 

 

Author: Dr Tarun Kumar Tiwari

Owner of Metrax Life Sciences, a company handling emergency situations in India

 

 

 

 

READ MORE

OHCA Among Drunk Bystanders – Emergency Situation Nearly Turned Violent

You’re Too Late! Road Traffic Accident Bystanders Attack Ambulance Crew

When Drunken Bystanders Don’t Want To Collaborate With EMS – The Difficult Treatment Of A Patient

Tourniquet And Intraosseous Access: Massive Bleeding Management