Page 17 - Participant Manual

Activating the EMS System

In a life-threatening emergency, activating the EMS system is an important
thing for you to do.

Activating the EMS system (Box 1-5) will send emergency medical help on its way as fast as possible. The
sooner emergency personnel arrive, the better the chance for a positive outcome. At times you may be unsure
if advanced medical personnel are needed. You will have to use your best judgment—based on the situation,
your assessment of the injured or ill person, and information gained from this course and other training you
may have received—to make the decision to call. When in doubt, make the call.

Box 1-5. When to Activate the EMS System

Call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency
number for any of the following emergency
situations and conditions.

Emergency
Situations

■ An injured or ill person who needs
medical attention and cannot be
moved

■ Fire or explosion
■ Downed electrical wires
■ Swiftly moving or rapidly rising flood
waters
■ Drowning ■ Severe external bleeding (bleeding that spurts
■ Presence of poisonous gas or gushes steadily from a wound)
■ Serious motor-vehicle collision ■ Vomiting blood or passing blood
■ Severe (critical) burns
Emergency Conditions ■ Suspected poisoning that appears to be life
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.

■ Unresponsiveness or an altered level of threatening
consciousness (LOC), such as drowsiness or ■ Seizures
confusion
■ Signs or symptoms of stroke (e.g., drooping
■ Breathing problems (trouble breathing or no of the face on one side; sudden weakness on
breathing) one side of the body; sudden slurred speech
■ Chest pain, discomfort or pressure lasting more or difficulty speaking; or a sudden, severe
than a few minutes that goes away and comes headache)
back or that radiates to the shoulder, arm, neck, ■ Suspected or obvious injuries to the head, neck
jaw, stomach or back
or spine
■ Persistent abdominal pain or pressure
■ Suspected or obvious broken bone

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