DRSABCD Action Plan

Any one of us can be faced with a first aid situation anywhere at any give time. Therefore, it is important to know how to approach an incident and help the patient. 

In all first aid situations, the DRSABCD action plan is followed, whether you realise it or not. It may be more obvious for severe patients, such as someone who is unconscious and not breathing. When approaching 

1. Danger
   Check if there is danger to yourself, the patient and other bystanders. If so, remove the danger or remove the patient from the danger only if safe to do so.
2. Response
   Assess the patient's condition by asking them for their name and observe their response. If they are conscious, keep them calm, treat any injuries while monitoring their response and breathing.
3. Send For Help
   This could mean calling for an ambulance (000) or someone who is more qualified to assist with the patient, e.g. a nurse, doctor, paramedic or other healthcare professional. You can also ask other bystanders to assist you if necessary.
4. Airway
   Check the patient's airway for any foreign objects. Tilt their head back and pull their jaw down and look inside. If there is anything that shouldn't be in there, roll them on their side and scoop the object out using your own or the patient's fingers. Roll them on their back once this is complete.
   
5. Breathing
   Keeping their head tilted back, while pulling their jaw down, place your ear above the patient's nose and mouth while looking down their chest. Listen for any breathing sounds. Feel for any breathing movements. Look for the chest rising up and down. Do this for 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally and still unresponsive, roll them back into the recovery position.
   
   
   
   
6. CPR
   If the patient is not showing any signs of breathing, you will need to start chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand in the centre of the chest in line with the nipples. Place one hand on the other and press down 1/3 the way into their chest for an adult patient. Do this at a rate of 2 compressions per second. If a face mask is present, give breaths every 30 compressions. Otherwise continue with compressions until physically exhausted or help arrives.
   
7. Defibrillation
   When the heart is in a VT or VF rhythm it can be shocked back to sinus rhythm. If a defibrillator is available, attach the pads following the directions given on the defibrillator. On an adult the pad placements are on the upper right chest and lower left chest. The defibrillator will provide the instructions so follow it as they are given.
   

It should be noted that although this is a general guideline to approaching a patient requiring first aid, each case is different and the treatment may vary. When providing first aid you should only do what you are confident with and not attempt anything you are unsure of.

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The next topic for first aid will be about burns.

Written by: James (Twitter @TheJamesFeng)

References:

Emergency First Aid. (2013). 2nd ed. Barton, A.C.T.: St John Ambulance Australia.
St John Ambulance Australia. Logo. [image] Available at: https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/images-home/logo.gif.
First Aid. [image] Available at: http://rotana.net/assets/uploads/2016/09/First-Aid.jpg.
Defibrillation Electrode Position. [image] Available at: http://www.tsl4training.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Defibrillation_Electrode_Position.jpg.