Background Information

Chapter 1 pp 1-9

Do Now:

Assessment in Action- Page 9* Answer questions 1-4

Importance of First Aid

It is better to know it and not need it than to need it and not know it

Everyone should be able to perform first aid, the odds are you will find yourself in a situation where you will need to apply it

Who Needs First Aid?

Neglected Epidemic- Heart Disease and Cancer are critical problems but injuries create a major threat to public health (Table 1-1)

A delay of as little as 4 minute when a person’s heart stops can mean death

What a bystander does can mean the difference between life and death

Value to Self/Others

What is First Aid?

The immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person

It does not take the place proper medical care it only consists of temporary help until competent medical care needed

Properly applied, first aid may mean the difference between life and death

First Aid Kit Supplies

Table 1-3 page 6 Kits at home, work, school

First Aid and the Law

Ethical and Legal Issues (treatments to minors, stopping treatment, danger)

Although it rarely happens, a first aider can be sued!

Ways to minimize risk: 1. Obtain a victim’s consent before touching them 2. Follow guidelines and don’t exceed your training levels 3. Explain it as your go 4. Tell them you are legally bound to remain giving care

Levels of Consent

Consent- First aider must have patients consent (battery)

Expressed Consent- must be obtained from every alert, mentally competent person of legal age

Implied Consent- involves an unresponsive victim with a life-threatening condition

Children and Mentally Incompetent Adults- Guardian Permission/ Implied Consent

Refusing Help

Although rare, some victims may refuse help!

What do you do? 1. Try to persuade the person to accept care 2. Make sure you have a witness 3. Consider calling for law enforcement

Do Now:

Answer #1-10 in “Check Your Knowledge” on page 10

Abandonment/ Negligence

Abandonment- leaving a victim after starting to give help * Once you have responded you cannot leave the victim until another competent and trained person takes responsibility for the victim

Negligence- Not following accepted standards of care, resulting in further injury. This involves: 1. Having a duty to act 2. Breaching that duty 3. Causing injury 4. Exceeding your level

Duty to Act

No one is required to give first aid unless a legal duty to act exists:

• Employment• On duty (licensed) • Preexisting Responsibility exists

(parent-kid etc)(Type of Rescuer, Published Guidelines)

Breach of Duty

Act of Omission- Failure to do what a reasonable prudent person with the same or similar training would do in a similar circumstance (failure to put on a bandage)

Act of Commission- Doing something that a reasonable prudent person would not do under the same circumstance (Cutting a snake-bite site)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/12/21/new-york-emts-on-coffee-break-accused-ignoring-pregnant-woman-who-died/

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/charges-dropped-emt-called-911-pregnant-woman-died-article-1.1381913

Confidentiality

Important that you be extremely cautious about revealing information you learn while caring for a victim

Some states require you to report rape, abuse, gunshot wounds

Good Samaritan Laws

Starting in the late 1950’s enacted a law to protect doctors and other medical personnel from legal actions from providing care

Encourages people to assist others in distress by granting them immunity against lawsuits

1. Acting during an emergency 2. Acting in good faith 3. Acting without compensation 4. Not guilty of malicious misconduct or gross negligence toward victim