First Aid and CPR: First Aid

Self-Check: Choosing to Respond

After making sure you are safe in your surroundings, determining why a person is in medical distress is the next step in assisting a victim of an emergency. If the victim is a stranger to you, look for any medical jewelry that would alert you to any possible medical problems. "Medic Alert" jewelry is often in the form of a wrist identification bracelet or a "dog tag" around the neck. It will indicate the medical condition or treatment required, drugs to avoid, and may indicate steps to take to help the person.

Remember, first aid is temporary assistance. It is extremely important to make sure that 911 is called as soon as possible. If there are people around, the best procedure is to point to someone and say "you call 911." In that case, you can continue to render aid, and be sure that a specific individual knows that it is his/her responsibility to see that medical services are notified.

Now, you try. Complete the self-check activity by looking at the prompt below, thinking about it, and then clicking on the question to review the explanation.

1. What is the goal of a person administering first aid?

To provide temporary assistance until help arrives.

2. If you are involved in an accident, does the law require you to render first aid?

No, only to report and get help.

3. Who is covered by Good Samaritan Laws?

All people, including physicians, who render aid in a manner that a reasonable and prudent person would do.

4. Why were Good Samaritan Laws passed?

To encourage people to render aid without fear of being sued.

5. When you come upon an injured person, what is the first assessment to make?

Are the surrounding conditions safe?