Scrollable Chapter Reader
Chapter 27: First Aid & Emergencies
Lesson 1 — First Aid Basics
First aid is immediate, temporary care given to a person who is injured or suddenly ill before professional medical help arrives. Basic skills can save lives — every person should learn them.
Check-Call-Care
The first aid action sequence: (1) Check the scene for safety; (2) Call 911 for serious emergencies; (3) Care for the person with the skills you have.
The first aid action sequence: (1) Check the scene for safety; (2) Call 911 for serious emergencies; (3) Care for the person with the skills you have.
Controlling BleedingApply direct pressure with a clean cloth; elevate the limb; don't remove cloth; add more if needed
BurnsCool with running water for 10–20 min; cover loosely; don't use ice or butter; seek care for serious burns
Choking5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver); call 911 if can't clear
ShockLay person flat; raise legs; keep warm; don't give fluids; call 911
Quick Check: What does Check-Call-Care mean in a first aid emergency?
Lesson 2 — CPR & AED
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) keeps blood flowing when the heart stops. Combined with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), survival rates for cardiac arrest double or triple.
- Call 911 first, or have someone else call while you begin CPR
- Compression-only CPR for adults: 100–120 compressions/min, 2" deep
- Full CPR includes 30 compressions + 2 rescue breaths
- AED will analyze rhythm and deliver shock if needed — voice-guided, safe to use
- Continue CPR until help arrives or the person regains consciousness
CPR for Teens
For children (1-puberty): same process but use 1 hand for compressions (or 2 fingers for infants). Push down ~2" on children, ~1.5" on infants.
For children (1-puberty): same process but use 1 hand for compressions (or 2 fingers for infants). Push down ~2" on children, ~1.5" on infants.
Quick Check: What are the compression rate and depth for adult CPR?
Lesson 3 — Common Medical Emergencies
Recognizing emergencies quickly and knowing initial actions can prevent permanent injury or death while waiting for EMS.
Heart AttackChest pain/pressure, arm pain, shortness of breath, nausea — call 911, chew aspirin if not allergic
StrokeFAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911
Diabetic EmergencyHypoglycemia: give sugar (juice, candy) if conscious; hyperglycemia: needs insulin, call 911
Allergic ReactionMild: antihistamine; severe (anaphylaxis): epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), call 911
Quick Check: What should you do if you suspect someone is having a stroke?
Lesson 4 — Natural Disasters & Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness means planning, practicing, and equipping before disaster strikes — when it's too late to figure it out.
- Build a 72-hour kit: water (1 gal/person/day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlight, first aid kit, copies of documents
- Know your family's evacuation routes and meeting point
- Tornado: go to lowest floor, interior room away from windows
- Earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On — under a sturdy table or against an interior wall
- Flood: never walk or drive through floodwater; 6" can knock you down
- Sign up for local emergency alerts (Wireless Emergency Alerts system)
Quick Check: What are the three actions for an earthquake emergency?
Chapter Vocabulary
First aidImmediate, temporary care given to a sick or injured person before professional help arrives.
CPRCardiopulmonary Resuscitation — chest compressions and rescue breaths that maintain circulation during cardiac arrest.
AEDAutomated External Defibrillator — a device that delivers an electric shock to restore normal heart rhythm.
Heimlich maneuverAn abdominal thrust technique used to dislodge a foreign object from a choking person's airway.
ShockA life-threatening condition where blood flow is inadequate to meet the body's needs.
AnaphylaxisA severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction requiring immediate epinephrine treatment.
TriageThe process of sorting injured people by severity to prioritize treatment.
TourniquetA tight band applied to a limb to stop severe bleeding when direct pressure fails.
HypothermiaDangerously low body temperature caused by exposure to cold; requires gradual rewarming.
Recovery positionA side-lying position used for unconscious breathing persons to keep the airway open.