Page 32 - Participant Manual

Checking a Responsive Person

After sizing up the scene, if your initial check of the person reveals that he or she is responsive and awake,
start by introducing yourself and getting consent to give care. If the person does not have any immediately
obvious life-threatening conditions, begin to gather additional information about the nature of the person’s
illness or injury by interviewing the person and checking him or her from head to toe (Skill Sheet 2-1). Tailor
your approach to the age of the person, as well as to any special circumstances (Box 2-1).

Box 2-1. Strategies for Gathering
Information Effectively

Being able to communicate and interact effectively with the person who is injured or ill can increase the
person’s comfort level with you, and makes it more likely that you will be able to get the information you
need in order to provide appropriate care.

When the Injured or Ill Person Is a Child

■ If the child’s parent or guardian is present,
remember to get the parent’s or guardian’s
consent to give care.

■ Be aware that children often take emotional
cues from the adults around them. If the child
sees that adults are upset, the child’s anxiety
and panic may increase. Stay calm, and
encourage the child’s parent or guardian to
do the same.

■ The child’s parent or guardian can be a
valuable source of information if the child
is not able to speak for him- or herself.
However, if the child is old enough to Take into consideration the child’s
understand and answer your questions, speak ■ developmental stage.
directly to the child using age-appropriate
language, rather than addressing your ❍ Infants (birth to 1 year). Infants older
questions to the parent or guardian. than 6 months often show “stranger
anxiety.” They may turn away from you, cry
■ If the care you need to provide will cause and cling to their parent. If possible, check
discomfort or pain, describe what the the infant while he or she is held or seated
child can expect to feel in terms the child in the parent’s lap.
can understand. Never make promises or
statements that you cannot support (e.g., do ❍ Toddlers (1 to 3 years). A toddler may
not say that something will not hurt if it will). also become anxious if separated from his © 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
or her parent. If possible, give the toddler
a few minutes to get used to you before
attempting to check him or her, and check
the toddler while he or she is seated in the
parent’s lap. Allowing the toddler to hold a
special toy or blanket can be comforting.

(Continued )

Chapter 2 Checking an Injured or Ill Person | 24 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 2 Checking an Injured or Ill Person | 25 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual