INFORMATION SHEET# 5.3-2

INFORMATION SHEETS# 5.3-2
Learning objectives:

After reading this information sheet, YOU MUST be able to
recognize and assess emergency situation.

ASSESS EMERGENCY SITUATION

INTRODUCTION
In our day to day living, either directly or indirectly, we meet injury

or illness either from members our family in our homes, our co-workers in the
workplace or even outside the confines of our homes and offices. From very
common to a life threatening situations, proper recognition of the illness and
application of basic first aid is vital to prevent injury and save life of the victim.
Thus, it is important for all of us to have skills in the recognition of emergency
medical events and to be able to provide care until additional care resources can
be obtained. REMEMBER, in cases of emergency EVERY SECOND COUNTS.
Application of correct first aid can often mean the difference between LIFE AND
DEATH and RECOVERY versus PERMANENT DISABILITY.
Definition of Terms:

1. FIRST AID - Immediate, temporary treatment carried out in cases
of emergency, sudden illness or accident prior to arrival of a doctor or
transportation of patient to the hospital.
2. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT - An emergency procedure that consist of
recognizing respiratory or cardiac arrest or both and the proper application
of CPR to maintain life until a victim recovers or advance life support is
available.
3. ADVANCE CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT – The use of adjunctive
equipment, cardiac monitoring, defibrillation, intravenous lifeline and
drug infusion.
4. ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION – Also called rescue breathing. The process
of breathing air into the lungs of the person who has stopped breathing.

5. CPR- Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. An emergency procedure for a
person who is not breathing and whose heart has stopped beating. The
procedure involves a combination of chest compression and rescue
breathing.

4. TRIAGE- A system of sorting victims into categories by treatment
priority

5. HAZARD- anything that pose threat to life or health of a person

6. EMS- Emergency Medical System, a community based system that
delivers specialized care for victims who are ill or injured. Care is provided
at the scene of the emergency and is continued during transportation to
and following arrival at an appropriately staffed and equipped health care
facility

7. Infectious Disease – a disease that may be transmitted or spread;
contagious, communicable.

8. Primary survey – a series of checks to discover conditions that are
immediately life threatening to a victim

9. Secondary survey- a series of checks to discover conditions that are
not immediately life threatening to a victim but may become life
threatening if not corrected.

10. Vital Signs – the signs of life; pulse rate, respiratory rate and skin
appearance (temperature, color, moisture)

11. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) – an international scale used in grading
neurologic responses to determine client’s level of consciousness.

a. Physical Hazard to self and casualty

One of the first things you will deal with many scenes is SAFETY – not just
for the victim, but for you and bystanders at the scene. Staying safe is
your first priority; you won’t be able to help someone else if you become a
victim yourself.

• INFECTIOUS DISEASES

An infectious or communicable diseases is one that can be
transmitted from one person to another or from an infected animal or the
environment to a person.

• FIRE
- Immediately call the fire department regardless how small the fire
is, fire of any size can get out of control, threatening life and
property.

• UNSTABLE STRUCTURES
- Unstable structures is defined as , One in which you may become
trapped or injured because of weak floors or ceilings, partially
collapsed walls, debris, hazardous gases in air, or the threat of
explosion or fire.. And instability not only limited to buildings- it can
also involve wells, trenches, silos, vats, pits and mines.

• MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
- One of the greatest threats related to motor vehicle accident is that
posed by the incoming traffic. Other safety threats includes spilled
gasoline, hazardous materials and unstable wreckage

• ELECTRICAL HAZARD
- Look for downed power lines at the scene of every motor vehicle
accident and always consider downed power lines to be “live” Always
notifying local power company or fire department. Never try to move
downed wires yourself

- Never touch a vehicle, body of water or metal object that is in contact
with downed wire

• WATER
Never enter the water or venture out onto ice to rescue someone unless
you have been specifically trained in water rescue- and even then, do it
only as a last resort. Call for help and follow these guidelines while you
wait for help to arrive.

▪ If the victim is near enough to reach you, hold out your hand, a pole
, a branch or other object; once the victim grabs it , pull the victim
to shore.

▪ If you cannot reach the victim, tie a buoyant object to the end of the
rope and throw the object to the victim.

• HOSTILITY AND VIOLENCE
- Stay a safe distance from a hostile victim while you calmly explain who
you are and you want to help; if possible enlist the help of a family
member or friend to try to defuse the situation. If the victim remains
hostile, retreat and call for help; NEVER APPROACH A HOSTILE CROWD,
call the police and wait until the situation is under control.

- never approach a victim of violence- even one with life threatening
injuries- until you are sure that the perpetrator has left the scene.
Likewise never approach an armed person who is threatening suicide-
immediately call for police. Do not touch anything or disturb any evidence
while you wait.

2. Immediate risk to self and casualty are minimized
• Personal Protection
1. Ensure first that the place is safe before treating the victim. Do
not attempt heroic rescues in hazardous circumstances
2. Protection from infection
a. Hand washing
b. Wearing of gloves and other PPE’s
c. Immunization
d. Follow standard precautions in handling discharges, blood,
secretions
e. Dispose waste safely
3. Making area safe (cases of road accidents)
a. Park safely, well clear of incident site, and turn on hazard light

b. Do not run across busy highway

c. Have helper warn drivers to slow down and set up warning
triangle 50 yards from site

d. Switch off the ignition of any damaged vehicle or disconnect
the battery

4. Note any hazardous substance symbol

3. Casualty’s vital signs and physical condition are assessed in accordance
with workplace procedures.

Sequence of Head to toe assessment

1. Face, mouth, ears and eyes
2. Skull and neck
3. chest
4. abdomen
5. pelvis and lower back
6. shoulders, clavicle, arm, hands and fingers
7. hips, legs, feet, toes
• It will take about 2 to 3 min to complete the head to toe exam,
then give first aid to most serious injury first.
• Ask for symptoms and look for signs
• You may use observation chart
a. level of response chart (Glasgow Coma scale)
b. Pulse and breathing check chart

2. Look for external clues

If the victim is unconscious or does not cooperate, look for external
clues about his or her condition

a. Hospital card/ID indicating history of allergy, diabetes,
epilepsy

b. Medicines- e.g. Nitroglycerin-heart disease, puffers- asthma
c. Warning bracelets
d. Auto-injector

Apply Basic First Aid Techniques

Definition of Terms

Respiratory Distress – an abnormal condition where breathing is labored,
noisy, irregular or unusually fast or slow, or a combination of these.

Respiratory arrest – cessation of breathing

Basic Life Support – a term that describes the first aid procedures
necessary to sustain life in an emergency situation

Gastric Distention – inflation of stomach with air

Heimlich maneuver – system using abdominal thrust to remove foreign
objects from the airway

Cardiac Arrest – a condition in which the heart stops beating

Defibrillation – application of electricity to chest of a victim whose heart
has stopped.

Xiphoid Process – the lower tip of the sternum

Shock – failure or collapse in the cardiovascular system to provide
adequate blood circulating to the vital organs of the body

Fracture- break in the continuity of the bone

Dislocation – displacement of bone end from a joint

Sprain – an injury in which ligaments are stretched or partially or
completely torn

Strain – soft tissue injury or muscle spasm around a joint

Cramp- uncontrolled spasm of a muscle

Complete Airway Obstruction – a condition in which a person is choking
and unable to speak, cough or breath

Chest Thrust – technique of pressing on the middle of the breastbone,
used to clear the airway.

Chest Compression – a procedure for manually circulating blood in the
person whose heart has stopped beating. Involves pressing up and down
on the lower half of the breastbone

Head-tilt/ chin-lift- a technique used to open an airway of an
unconscious person. It is done by applying backward pressure to the
forehead and lifting the jaw.

Pressure Point- a point where blood vessel runs near the bone and can
be squeezed against that bone to reduce or control heavy bleeding.

Poison – any substance; solid or liquid or gas that tends to impair health
or cause death when introduced into the body or into the skin surface.

Action guide – a flowchart that simply identifies appropriate order of steps
to take in caring for specific first aid problem.

First Aid for Conscious Choking Victim ( adult and child)

• Steps
1. Stand behind a standing or setting victim and wrap your hands around
the waist. Place a thumb of one hand on the midline of the abdomen
slightly above the navel and well below the xiphoid process; keeping the
thumb positioned form a fist.
2. Grasp your fist with the other hand, thumbs towards the victim
3. With a quick inward and upward thrust, press your fist into the victim’s
abdomen
4. Give 5 thrust, each separate and distinct, then reassess the victim. If
still obstructed repeat another cycle of distinct, separate thrust.
5. Continue until the foreign body is dislodged or victims becomes
unconscious

• If you are alone and choking you can perform Heimlich maneuver on
yourself by:
a. performing the abdominal thrust of yourself
b. leaning forward and pressing your abdomen on the back of the chair

First Aid for Choking Unconscious Victim

• Steps
1. Position the victim on the floor. If the victim was unconscious when you
arrived on the scene, open the airway and assess breathlessness
2. Open the airway check for presence of obstruction, hook visible foreign
body with your index finger
3. Give 2 rescue breaths and look for rise and fall of chest. If chest does
not rise and fall, reposition the head and repeat again.
4. If still unsuccessful, kneel astride the victim’s thighs or to the victim’s
side. Place the heel of one hand on the midline of the abdomen between
the navel and the xiphoid process; put the second hand directly over
the first. Your fingers should be pointing toward the victim’s head.
5. Lock your elbows. Exerting pressure from your shoulders, press inward
and upward with a quick thrust. Perform as many as 5 thrusts, making
each separate and distinct.
6. Open the victims mouth and attempt another finger sweep
7. re-attempt ventilation

Continue the cycles of thrusts, finger sweeps and ventilation attempts-
delivering 1 rescue breath, as many as five thrusts and I finger sweep in each
cycle- until the object is dislodged and the victim is breathing spontaneously
or until you are relieved by emergency personnel.

If the victim is a child over 1 year old, kneel astride the victim and use
much less thrust or use only 1 hand.

FIRST AID FOR CHOKING OBESE OR PREGNANT VICTIM
• Steps
1. Stand behind the victim with your arms directly under the victims
armpits; wrap your arms around the victim’s chest
2. Position the thumb side of your fist on the middle of the breastbone; If
you are near the margins of the rib cage, you are too low.
3. Seize your fist firmly with your other hand, and thrust backward
sharply. Repeat until the object is expelled or the victim becomes
unconscious.
4. If the victim becomes unconscious, place the victim on his back and
kneel beside the victim. Place the heel of your hand directly over the
lower half of the breastbone and give distinct, separate thrusts
downward and toward the head.

FIRST AID FOR CHOKING INFANT
• do not use abdominal thrust on infant
• use combination of back blows and chest thrust
• never do finger sweep in conscious infant
• perform finger sweep in unconscious infant only if you see foreign body
• perform the following procedure if foreign body is cause of obstruction

1. Straddle the infant over 1 arm with his face down and lower than the trunk
at about a 60degree angle. Cradle the infant neck and head with your hand
and rest your forearm on your thigh for support.

1. Using the heel of your other hand and deliver as many as five blows
rapidly and forcefully between the shoulder blades

2. While supporting the infant’s head, sandwich his body between your
hands, then turn onto the back, keeping the head lower than the
trunk. Lay the infant on your thigh or over your lap.

3. Position the middle and ring finger of your other hand on the lower
third of the infants sternum, approximately 1 finger breadth below the
imaginary line drawn between the nipples. Deliver as many as five
quick chest thrust, thrusting straight back.

4. Repeat the cycle of back blows and chest thrust until the object is
expelled or the infant becomes unconscious.

5. If the infant is, or becomes unconscious, use a gentle tongue-jaw lift
to open the mouth. If you can see the obstructing object, sweep it out
with your little finger. Attempt rescue breathing. If the infants chest
does not rise and fall, perform back blows, delivering 5 chest thrusts,
checking for obstruction, removing if you can see it and delivering, 1
rescue breath.

Casualty is reassured in a caring and calm manner and made comfortable
using available resources

People who are injured are often frightened, anxious, angry or in shock.
To establish rapport with the victim and get control of the situation, you need to
use the

Three (3) C’s

• Competence
• Confidence
• Compassion

Begin by observing any clues at the scene that ay help in assessment

Approach the victim by asking his name and introducing yourself, and tell
the victim your level of care and what you’d like to do

While talking with the victim maintain good eye contact, speak calmly and
deliberately, give orders quietly

3. First aid assistance is sought form others in a timely manner and as
appropriate

Activating the EMS System

During the first minutes after the accident, it is essential that the
Emergency medical System (EMS) system is activated.

Vital Information that should be relayed

1. Exact location of the victim- complete address, number of the floor or
office in a building.

2. Phone number where you can be reached

3. Any information about the victim, that will help the dispatcher send
appropriate personnel and equipment

If possible, send a responsible bystander to relay the above information

If alone- (Adult victim) activate EMS immediately once unresponsiveness is
determined

- (infant or child victim) Provide 1 minute of rescue support then activate

EMS

Casualty’s condition is monitored and responded to in accordance with
effective First Aid principles and workplace procedures

WOUNDS
TWO TYPES OF WOUNDS
1. CLOSED WOUND
• it involves the underlying tissue without break/damage in the skin
or mucous membrane
• FIRST AID MANAGEMENT
I – Ice application
C – Compression
E- Elevation
S- Splinting

2. OPEN WOUND
• it is a break in the skin or mucus membrane; or the protective skin
layer is damage
• CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN WOUND
1. Laceration
2. Incised
3. Abrasion
4. Avulsion
5. Amputation
6. Gunshot
7. Punctured

• FIRST AID MANAGEMENT 4C’s
C – Control bleeding
C – Cover the wound
C – Care for shock
C – Consult or refer to physician

BURNS
• Is an injury involving the skin, including muscles, bones, nerves and
blood vessels. This results from heat, chemicals, electricity or solar or
other form of radiation.

• FACTORS TO DETERMINE THE SERIOUSNESS OF BURNS
1. The depth
a. Superficial ( First degree) burns
b. Partial thickness (second degree ) burns
c. Full- thickness (third degree) burns
2. The extent to the affected body surface area
3. Location of the burns
4. Victim’s age and medical condition

BONE AND SOFT TISSUE INJURY
1. Muscle Cramp or Spasm
-Is the sudden, painful tightening of a muscle.

FIRST AID
1. Have the victim stretch out the affected muscle to counteract the
cramp
2. Massage the cramped muscle firmly but gently
3. Apply heat. Moist heat is more effective than dry heat
4. Get medical help if cramps persist

2. Muscle Strain or Pulled Muscle
- Is the sudden, painful tearing of muscle fiber during exertion

FIRST AID
1. Apply cold compress
2. Elevate the limb to reduce swelling and bleeding within the muscle.
Rest the pulled muscle for 24 hours
3. get medical help

3. Sprain
- is caused by torn fibers in a ligament

FIRST AID
1. Remove any clothing or jewelry from around the joint
2. apply cold compress
3. elevate the affected joint with pillow or clothing
4. The victim’s physician may recommend an over the counter anti-

inflammatory medication (aspirin, ibuprofen) appropriate for the victim’s
general health.
4. Dislocation and Fractures
Joint dislocation- is the displacement of a bone from its normal position
at a joint. Fractures- is a break or disruption in the bone tissue.

FIRST AID
1. Check the victim’s ABC
2. Keep the victim still
3. Prevent infection by covering a sterile dressing before immobilizing
4. Splint or sling the injury in the position, which you found it
5. Take steps to prevent shock
6. Get medical help
7.

Fractures, Dislocation, Sprain, and Strains Action Guide

Survey the Scene
Do primary survey
Phone EMS if necessary
Do secondary survey

Was injury caused by
force?

Yes No
Is Skin Broken?
Continue secondary
survey

YES (Open Fracture) NO (Closed fracture,
dislocation, sprain or
Control bleeding but do not
elevate strain)

Check circulation

Check circulation Splint injured area

Splint injured area Apply a cold pack

Recheck circulation Recheck circulation

Care for shock Care for shock

If you suspMecotniatohr eAaBdC’s, neck or back injuMroyn, idtoor AnBoCt ’ms ove the victim unless he
is in immediate danger or stop the flow of blood or clear fluids coming from

nose and mouth.

POISON

• Is any substance: solid, liquid or gas, that tends to impair health or
cause death when introduced into the body or into the skin surface. A
poisoning emergency can be life threatening

• WAYS IN WHICH POISONING MAY OCCUR
1. Ingestion – by mouth

2. Inhalation- breathing
3. Injection- by animal bites, stings, syringes
4. Absorption- by skin contact

1. INGESTED POISON
Is one that is introduced into the digestive tract by way of the mouth

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
a. Altered mental status
b. History of ingesting poisons
c. Burns around the mouth
d. Odd breath odors
e. Nausea , vomiting
f. Abdominal pain
g. Diarrhea

• FIRST AID FOR INGESTED POISONING
1. Try to identify the poison
2. Place the victim on his or her left side
3. Monitor ABC’s
4. save any empty container, spoiled food for analysis
5. save any vomitus and keep it with the victim if he or she taken to
an emergency facility

2. INHALED POISON

- Is a poison breathed into the lungs

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
a. History of inhaling poison
b. Breathing difficulty
c. Chest pain
d. Cough, hoarseness, burning sensation in the throat
e. Cyanosis
f. Dizziness, headache
g. Seizure, unresponsiveness (advance stages)

• FIRST AID FOR INHALED POISONING
1. Remove the victim from the toxic environment and into fresh air
immediately
2. Monitor ABC’s
3. Seek medical attention

3. ABSORBED POISON

- is the poison that enters the body through the skin

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
a. History of exposures
b. Liquid or powder on the skin
c. Burns

d. Itching, irritation
e. Redness, rash, blister
• FIRST AID FOR ABSORPTION POISONING
1. Remove the clothing
2. With a dry cloth blot the poison from the skin. If the poison is a

dry powder, brush it off
3. Flood the area with the copious amount of water
4. Continually monitor the patient’s vital signs

4. INJECTED POISON
- Is a poison that enters the body through a bite, sting or syringe

4.a.Insect bites
• Signs and Symptoms
a. Stinger may be present
b. Pain
c. Swelling
d. Possible allergic reaction

• FIRST AID FOR INSECT BITES
1. remove the stinger
2. wash wound
3. cover the wound
4. apply a cold pack
5. watch for signals of allergic reaction

4.b. Spider Bite/ Scorpion Sting

• Signs and Symptoms
a. Bite mark
b. Swelling
c. Pain
d. Nausea and vomiting
e. Difficulty breathing or swallowing

• FIRST AID FOR SPIDER BITE/SCORPION STING
1. Wash wound
2. apply a cold pack
3. get medical care to receive antivenin
4. Call local emergency number, if necessary

4. Marine Life Stings
• Signs and Symptoms
a. Possible marks
b. Pain
c. Swelling
d. Possible allergic reaction

• FIRST AID FOR MARINE LIFE STINGS
1. If jelly fish – soak area in vinegar
2. If sting ray – soak in non-scalding hot water until pain goes away
3. Clean and bandage the wound
4. Call local emergency number if necessary

4.d Snake Bites
• Signs and Symptoms
a. Possible marks
b. Pain
• FIRST AID FOR SNAKE BITES
1. wash wound
2. keep the bitten part still, and lower than the heart
3. call local emergency number

Snakebites

Survey the scene
Do a primary survey, Phone EMS
(or transport if EMS is more than 30

minutes away)
Do a secondary survey

Snakebite?

YES NO

Keep victim calm If bite on arm or leg, keep Continue secondary
bitten area below the level of the heart and splint survey

Care for shock Monitor ABCs

4.e. Human and Animal Bites
• Signs and symptoms
a. Bite mark

b. Bleeding

• FIRST AID FOR HUMAN AND ANIMAL BITES

1. If bleeding is minor –wash wound
2. Control bleeding
3. Apply antibiotic ointment
4. Cover the wound
5. get medical attention if wound bleeds severely or if you suspect

animal has rabies
6. Call local emergency number or contact animal control personnel

Insect Bites and Stings Action Guide

Survey the scene
Do a primary survey, Phone EMS if
allergic reaction
Do a secondary survey, Insect bite or

sting?

YES NO
Continue secondary survey
If arm or leg affected, put bitten area below
the level of the heart ,Remove any embedded
stinger with tweezer or scrape off with object
like credit card Wash well with soap and water
Cover affected area with dressing and apply
cold pack, If allergic reaction, care for shock
Monitor ABCs

Signs and symptoms of allergic reaction include:

• Pain
• swelling of the throat,
• redness or discoloration at the site
• itching, hives,
• decreased consciousness,
• difficult or noisy breathing

BLEEDING

• Types

a. Internal bleeding

b. External bleeding

• Degree/severity of bleeding depends on
1. How fast blood is flowing from the vessel
2. The size of the vessel
3. Whether the vessel is an artery or vein
4. Whether bleeding is internal or external
5. Where the bleeding originated
6. the victim’s age and weight
7. The victim’s general physical condition
8. Whether the bleeding is the threat to airway or respiration

Hemophiliac- a person whose blood will not clot because of congenital
abnormalities in clotting mechanism.

SOURCES OF BLEEDING AND THEIR EFFECT

SOURCE(S) COLOR SPEED EFFECT
ARTERY
Bright red Rapid,(spurting To fast to clot,
or pulsating) most difficult to
control
Escaping from
the part of the
wound nearest
the heart

VEIN Dark red or Steady flow Easier to control;
CAPILLARY maroon large vein may
Escaping from suck in air
Red part of the

wound farthest
away from the

heart

Slow, even flow Often clots
spontaneously,

usually causes

little blood loss

Threat of
infection is
greater

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
It is important for every nurse/caregiver to recognize the signs and

symptoms of hemorrhage and to appreciate that internal and external
bleeding manifest same signs and symptoms and vary only in degree
depending on the amount of blood lost
Body cannot tolerate greater than 20% blood loss

1. SKIN – pale, cold and clammy to touch, temperature below normal
2. PULSE- rapid and weak, how rapid depend on amount of blood lost

Initially rapid as compensatory but later losses its strength

3. RESPIRATION- “ air hunger respiration” . patient sighing and
gasping for air

4. EXPRESSION- anxious, afraid and restless
5. THIRST- commonly complaints of thirst

6. EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN – due to not enough blood supply patient
may show or complain of the following signs and symptoms
Dimmed or blurred vision
Giddiness
Buzzing or ringing in ears
Dilated pupils
Mental confusion
Unconsciousness

• CONTROL OF BLEEDING

Before taking measures to control bleeding, follow these steps:
1. Determine the cause and source of bleeding and the general
condition of the victim, expose the wound to determine where
blood is coming
2. Place the victim in a position in which he or she will be least
affected by blood loss
3. Maintain an open airway

• TAKING INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTION
1. Place a barrier between you and the victim’s blood
2. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes or handling food while
providing first aid care
3. After treating the victim wash hand thoroughly with soap and hot
water or antiseptic cleanser
4. Wash all items that have the victims blood or body fluids

• NATURE’S WAYS OF CONTROLLING BLEEDING
1. Formation of clot
2. Vasoconstriction
3. Lowered blood pressure

METHODS OF CONTROLLING BLEEDING

1.Apply direct pressure- best method of controlling bleeding and the one that
should be tried first.
2.Elevation of bleeding part unless contraindicated

3.Using pressure bandage
4.Using indirect pressure- application of pressure on pressure points

Pressure points – place where artery is close to bony structure and also near
the skin surface.

- Most commonly used pressure points is the brachial and
femoral artery

- Never use indirect pressure if you suspect that the bone below
the artery might be injured

- Never substitute indirect pressure for direct pressure- both
should be used simultaneously

MAJOR ARTERIAL PRESSURE POINTS AND THEIR LOCATIONS

Pressure point Location Control blood
flow to

Maxillary Each side of the face, on the inner Face
surface of the lower jaw

Temporal Each side of the face, just above the Scalp
ear

Brachial Inner arm, just above the elbow Arms

Radial and Ulnar Wrist Arms and hand

Femoral Each side of the groin Legs

Posterior Tibial Inner side of the ankle (medial Foot
malleolus)

Dorsalis Pedis On of the foot on big toe side Foot

5.Use of air splint- create pressure dressing and control bleeding on an
extremity.

6.Use of tourniquet- use rarely and only as a last resort, after all the method of
controlling life threatening bleeding had failed

▪ consider tourniquet only either of these conditions:
a. a large artery has been severed and bleeding cannot be
controlled by direct pressure on pressure points
b. a limb has been partially or totally severed and bleeding is
uncontrollable

7.Using a blood pressure cuff

▪ in some cases, you can use a blood pressure cuff to control bleeding,
if you use a cuff
a. secure it well so the Velcro does not pop open
b. inflate it to a pressure that causes the bleeding to stop,
usually 10 to 20 mm hg above the systolic pressure
c. never deflate the cuff unless a physician orders

▪ blood pressure cuff can be safely inflated for as long as 30 minutes.