Page 153 - Participant Manual

You may be hesitant to report suspected abuse because you do not wish to get involved or are concerned
about legal action. In most states, when you make a report in good faith, you are protected from any civil
or criminal liability or penalty, even if the report was made in error. In this instance, good faith means that
you honestly believe that abuse has occurred or the potential for abuse exists, and that a prudent and
reasonable person in the same position would also honestly believe that abuse has occurred or the potential
for abuse exists. You do not need to identify yourself when you report abuse, although your report will have
more credibility if you do. In some professions (e.g., daycare or healthcare), employees are legally obligated
to report suspicions of abuse of a person in their care to their supervisor (or to another person in the
organization, per their employer’s policy).

Emergency Childbirth

Most women plan to deliver their babies with healthcare providers in attendance, either at the hospital or at
home. But sometimes babies do not follow the plan and arrive unexpectedly and quickly. You may find yourself
in the position of helping a woman to deliver a baby. Keep in mind that childbirth is a natural process and
the body knows what to do. Your primary role will be to provide comfort and reassurance and to facilitate the
process while you wait for help to arrive. Remember, the woman delivers the baby, so be patient and let it
happen naturally.

A woman who is about to give birth will be experiencing regular contractions that are about 1 to 2 minutes
apart. She may feel the urge to bear down or like she needs to have a bowel movement. The baby’s head may
be visible at the opening of the vagina (crowning).

Call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number immediately. Be prepared to tell the EMS dispatcher the
woman’s age and expected due date, how long the woman has been having contractions, the time between
contractions and how long each contraction is lasting, and whether or not this is the woman’s first child.
The labor and delivery process will happen without much intervention on your part. Perhaps as important as
what you should do is what you should not do:

■ Do not let the woman leave to use the restroom. ■ Do not place your fingers in the woman’s vagina
(The woman could deliver the baby into the toilet, for any reason. This can introduce pathogens
putting the baby at risk for injury.) that can cause an infection.
■ Do not try to delay delivery (for example, by ■ Do not pull on the baby.
holding the woman’s legs together or trying to
push the baby back into the vagina). This can
cause serious injuries to both the mother and
the baby.
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
Provide reassurance, privacy and comfort. Put someone in charge of clearing the area of unnecessary
bystanders, and put on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, a gown, a mask
and eye protection if available. Position the woman on her back with her knees bent, feet flat and legs spread
wide apart. Place several layers of clean padding (e.g., sheets, blankets or towels) under the woman’s
buttocks. Place an additional clean sheet, towel or blanket over the woman’s abdomen. Be prepared to
support the baby’s head as it emerges. When the baby arrives, use a clean towel to receive and hold him or
her. Handle the baby carefully because he or she will be slippery. Place the baby on the mother’s stomach. If
possible, note and record the time of birth. Do not cut the umbilical cord. If the placenta is delivered before
EMS personnel arrive, handle it as little as possible. Carefully wrap it and save it for EMS personnel to take to
the hospital along with the mother and baby.

Appendix B Special First Aid Situations | 144 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Appendix B Special First Aid Situations | 145 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual