Chain of Survival

A emergency situation has occurred and a quick analysis of the situation shows there are casualties that have been hurt. What is going to happen?

Learning basic First Aid skills gives us the ability to provide temporary care to help a survivor in a emergency. A person with these skills is able to stay in a (somewhat) objective emotional state, to assess and enter the scene first and quickly help a survivor, to prolong life. They play a role in activating the Emergency medical services, EMS.

The skills this person may have to use will be from their First Aid certified skills and training such as the following ;

– assess the surrounding area to ensure no further dangers are nearby prior to entering
– send somebody or immediately call for emergency services or 9-1-1
– identify themself
– offer assistance
– provide care (upon acceptance)

Citizen response is the first link, in the survival of a casualty of a emergency situation, as they are the first on the scene. Their basic skills help bring immediate medical care TO the casualty rather than bring the casualty to medical care. Can you imagine yourself being able to respond confidently in such a situation?

The call for emergency services or 9-1-1 and description of emergency and casualties will allow the dispatcher be able to quickly determine, what specific help is required and send the appropriate medical and professional services. Traditional responders had usually been left to wait for the firefighters, paramedics and police and sometimes industrial safety personnel, off-duty medical staff and other people with similar training related to the safety and well being of the public.

Care from the more higher skilled paramedics or emergency medical technicians (EMT) are the next link in the chain of survival. Their skills (basic, intermediate or paramedic) will provide advanced care, life-support techniques and transport the casualty to proper medical facilities.

The training the EMT-P receive must accompany certification and experience in both pre-hospital and hospital settings. Advanced training includes the ability to administer medication, intravenous fluids, advanced care for breathing problems and heart abnormalities. They are able to provide the highest pre-hospital care and considered the field extension of the emergency doctor. EMT-P’s will be able to begin and continue advanced care until the casualty reaches the hospital.

Arrival to the hospital will have the casualty entering the care of the Emergency department personnel such as the physician, nurses and other health care professionals. Another assessment is quickly made to identify any immediate threats to the casualty’s life. Care is continued and the skills common to the Emergency department are abilities to provide to the acutely ill or injured. They will be able to assess, evaluate and stabilize the critically ill or injured. Specialists are called in by the Emergency department physician such as a cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon or trauma surgeon. Other staff available are the respiratory technicians, radiology and laboratory technicians.

The final link in the chain of survival is rehabilitation which refers returning the casualty to his or her previous state of health. This process begins once the casualty is able to be moved out of the Emergency department. The regular family physician, consulting specialists, social workers and physical therapists may also be present working together in the rehabilitation stage. This is where we sometimes fall in love (least we think so) with a doctor or nurse too, notice that?

The importance of all persons performing their individual functions correctly and promptly is required to make the EMS service successful. Skills from the citizen responder, EMT and Emergency medical professionals must be up-to-date, show sensitivity, respond quickly and effectively to enhance the survival of the casualty.

A link broken in any of the chain can have disastrous effects for the casualty from anything like poor communication to the dispatcher, not recognizing a emergency, not calling the EMT and result with worsening conditions of the casualty such as disability or death. Survival occurs with knowledge of a carefully orchestrated chain of events from all participants fulfilling their roles. Do you support or promote your local EMS program? Read related –> here and there.

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Article(C)2009 Dame Scribe, all rights reserved. Dame Scribe creates articles and posts online. She creates articles on business skills & development, health, science, technology and society and has a strong passion for writing.