Meeting re First Aid 15/07/2026
Mini meeting 15/07/2026- to talk about ML/ZT recent First Aid training 11/06
DR ABCDE which you are all familiar with has changed.
Previously, Danger- Response- Airway- Breathing- Circulation- Disability- Exposure.
Firstly, if a patient is unresponsive- call 999 straight away- before any of the checking. (112 worldwide).
IT NOW DR ‘C’ ABCDE- the extra ‘C’ stands for CATASTROPHIC BLEEDING- (lots of blood not just wounds). It is important to check for this before starting CPR as chest compressions may increase the bleeding. This is due to the huge increase in knife crime. Stabbings are happening with increasing regularity.
Ways to check- visibly pouring with blood, pool of blood. Arterial= bright red, spurting. Venous= darker red, steady flow.
If unconscious and breathing-feel under small of back and under neck- blood will pool here.
Pressure will stop bleeding but esp. in severe bleeding, pressure needs to be on the actual vessel to be effective. Use whatever is available (bandage, T shirt, sock). Large wound- soak up as much blood as possible, if can locate the bleed, start applying the ‘dressing’ on top of the bleed in small sections, till all the dressing used, then apply heavy pressure, ok to use a foot. Smaller wounds (i.e knife wounds) again, using finger first, then poke the ‘dressing’ right in and put in in small sections till full then heavy pressure. Always check, there may be more than one wound.
Bleeding from chest/head- DO NOT PACK
Leave any foreign bodies in situ.
Tourniquet (can use belts, scarfs etc.) applied above the bleed, 2 inches above but never on a joint, very tight- if using scarf/ bandage- use pen/stick to tighten and twist. Never remove a torniquet- leave for emergency services- if possible- try and remember the time the torniquet was applied and tell the emergency services.
Lots of AED’s (esp. in busy areas) are now accompanied by a RED BLEED BOX which has all the things you need to try and stop a major haemorrhage. These contain haemostatic dressing and haemostatic granules.
Signs of SHOCK (blood loss)- pale, cold, clammy, fast pulse (check for 6 secs and x 10), panting- raise legs (to get blood to brain), keep warm, no food/drink as will vomit.
CPR – still 30-2- always allow chest to relax before next breath- if you have chosen not to do breaths- still break briefly after 30 compressions- you will last longer- take turns if other people present.
Effective CPR- pt may groan, eyes may move, colour may improve.
Children 5 rescue breaths and 15-2 more effective.
Drowning- always 5 breaths first.
Choking- same as we’ve always been told. 5 back slaps- 5 abdominal thrusts.
Pregnant women - chest thrusts above baby.
Infants- NEVER ABDOMINAL THRUSTS, only back slaps and chest thrusts (damage to liver).
If you are on your own, use back of chair or hands behind back, launch onto floor. As soon as choking with no sound, call 999!
PUBLIC DEFIB'S- All the locked AED’s (defibrillators) available in public spaces use the same code to unlock them. The code is C159X. (diagonal from top left to bottom right on a keypad). They could not stress enough how important that this code does not end up on social media for obvious reasons.
WHAT 3 WORDS APP- very useful for telling people where you are- its free and works completely if offline.
EMERGENCY SMS Service- you can also text 999 but you need to register your device with the EMERGENCY SMS Service- text REGISTER to 999- you will get a reply- read and send back YES. Your device is then registered with the Emergency Services and they will reply. Your phone needs very little signal to send a text so often works when a call won’t. TEXT to include what the emergency is and location (ideally WHAT 3 WORDS).