If you are assisting a person - an adult or child - who is unconscious, this is a true emergency. “If you are alone, call 911 immediately, and give your name and address,” Dr. Pettyjohn said. “Also give a quick identifier of your location, such as ‘the house with the light on’ or ‘the house at the end of the street with a green mailbox’ so first responders can find you easily.”
After calling 911, Dr. Pettyjohn said you should return to the unconscious patient and perform CPR. “The ABCs of CPR support is airway, breathing and circulation,” he said. “If others are with you, begin CPR and send someone else to call 911.”
Dr. Pettyjohn said to perform CPR to the beat of the popular Bee Gees tune “Stayin’ Alive.” The song is easy to remember, and it has about 100 beats per minute - a perfect number to maintain the best rhythm for performing CPR.
For patients who are conscious with symptoms of a stroke - weakness, inability to speak, or difficulty moving arms or legs - time is critical to prevent permanent damage to the brain. “It is important to call 911 and provide support to the patient until the paramedics arrive,” Dr. Pettyjohn said.
“If the patient is conscious and has symptoms of a heart attack - such as chest pain, with pain in the jaw or arms - time is also critical,” Dr. Pettyjohn said. “It is important to get the patient to the hospital to prevent loss of heart muscle. Aspirin may be given.”
“For significant injuries such as fractures, large cuts and falls with injuries, you have a bit more time, but calling 911 is still the key to getting the help the patient needs,” Dr. Pettyjohn said. “For those injuries with bleeding, the old standard of first aid is to put pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding. As always, maintain care for the patient until the paramedics arrive.”
