Page 27 - Participant Manual

Call

If you decide it is necessary to summon EMS personnel (see Box 1-5), make the call quickly and return to the
person. If possible, ask someone else to make the call so that you can begin giving care. The person making
the call should be prepared to give the dispatcher the following information:

■ The location of the emergency (the address, or ■ The telephone number of the phone being used
nearby intersections or landmarks if the address A description of what happened
is not known) ■
■ The number of injured or ill people
■ The nature of the emergency (e.g., whether
police, fire or medical assistance is needed) ■ What help, if any, has been given so far, and by
whom

The caller should stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells him or her it is all right to hang up. The
dispatcher may need more information. Many dispatchers also are trained to give first aid and CPR
instructions over the phone, which can be helpful if you are unsure of what to do or need to be reminded of
the proper care steps.

If you are alone and there is no one to send to call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number, you may need
to decide whether to call first or give care first (Box 1-8). Call First situations are likely to be cardiac arrest.
In cardiac arrest, the priority is getting help on the scene as soon as possible because early access to EMS
personnel and an AED increases the person’s chances for survival. Care First situations include breathing
emergencies and severe life-threatening bleeding. In these situations, there are immediate actions that you
can take at the scene that may prevent the person’s condition from worsening. After you take these actions,
call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number to get advanced medical help on the way.

Box 1-8. Call First or Care First?

Most of the time, you will call first and then give care. But if you are alone, you may have to decide
whether to call first or care first.

If you are ALONE:

CALL First (call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number before giving care) for:
■ Any person about 12 years or older who is unresponsive.
■ A child or an infant whom you witnessed suddenly collapse.
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
■ An unresponsive child or infant known to have heart problems.

CARE First (give immediate care, then call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number) for:

■ An unresponsive infant or child younger than about 12 years whom you
did not see collapse.

■ A person who is choking.
■ A person who is experiencing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
and has an epinephrine auto injector.

■ A person who has severe, life-threatening bleeding.

Chapter 1 Before Giving Care | 18 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 1 Before Giving Care | 19 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual