First Aid: The First Line of Defense Starts with You

Editor's note: The Community Emergency Preparedness Academy is an eight-week program in Aliso Viejo that teaches residents what to do in an emergency. Each week we will provide tips and information from the sessions. The workshop began Feb. 8.

Disclaimer: This guide is a supplement but not a substitute for actual first-aid training. Visit the American Heart Association to find classes.

During a disaster, public services will be overwhelmed. You might be the first responder in such a situation, so it could be critical to learn first aid.

However, Amy Smith, an American Heart Association CPR instructor, had words of warning.

"In the state of California, it is illegal to administer medicine to someone else if you are not a medical professional," she said. "You could be held liable if you do administer the medicine."

According to Smith, common sense should dictate if a person should be given medicine. If it is a close friend or relative, chances are he won't take legal action against you. With a stranger or co-worker it is best not to administer medicine. Smith said the legislation is being reconsidered.

In this week's class, participants learned how to set up a triage system, which prioritizes injuries for when advanced medical help arrives later.

Here's how a first responder can set up a triage system.

1. Ensure the building is safe before entering.
2. When inside, yell to see if there are survivors.
3. The first people who walk to you with minor injuries will be used as your assistants. They are labeled with green.
4. Typically there will be more injured people than helpful people. Enter the building and find others who responded but did not come to you.
5. If they have injuries, such as broken bones, noncritical bleeding and even impalements, they are to be labeled as delayed, with yellow.
6. People who need immediate help are those who are not breathing for 30 seconds, have profuse bleeding and can't respond to speech. These people should be labeled as immediate, with red, and treated as soon as possible.
7. The last category is those who have died upon arrival. They are labeled in black and should be kept separate from the living so they don't spread disease.

Once the triage system is set up, place people according to urgency closer to the entrance of a building so that when advanced medical care arrives, they can take them away faster.

With first-aid training, a person is not expected to be a medical professional, nor should he be considered one. People trained in first aid cover the basics and are almost always the first responders in an emergency.

Other topics covered:

Heart Attacks

If you suspect a person is having a heart attack, look for these symptoms:

1. Chest discomfort or pressure
2. Pain in the upper body or back
3. Neck or jaw pain
4. Stomach pain
5. A cold sweat
6. Nausea
7. Lightheadedness
8. Inability to move arms

If you suspect the person is having a heart attack, help him lie on the floor. This will prevent further injury to himself or you. Have someone else call 911 immediately while you attend to the victim.

Stroke or Shock

To a non-medical, professional stroke or shock may look similar. Some of the symptoms:

1. Acting restless or irritable
2. Pale skin
3. Weakness or dizziness
4. Cold to the touch
5. (In a stroke) slurring words

If you see any of these symptoms, lay the person on the ground. Once he's  on the ground, elevate his feet 12 inches upward. This will move blood to the core and help him feel better. Have someone else call 911 immediately while you attend to the victim.

Major Cuts and Impalement

If a person is bleeding here's what to do:

1. Put on safety gloves.
2. Place a sterile gauze on the cut and apply pressure.
3. If the first gauze does not stop the bleeding, place a second gauze on top of the first. Do not remove the first gauze.
4. Once the bleeding has stopped, wrap the wound with a bandage,  ensuring that at least a finger can fit through the bandage. This gives the wound ample space if it swells.

Burns

There is a misconception that aloe vera or other ointments can help reduce the pain of a burn. Never, under any circumstances, apply anything to a burn other than cool, clean water.