8.4  Basic life support techniques

In Study Session 7 you considered the effects of a single injury and how you might respond to each injury type. In this study session, you have learned how to deal with some common non-injury emergencies. In this final section, you will learn about basic life support techniques, which you must apply to a person who is unconscious or has stopped breathing for whatever reason – whether due to an injury, internal bleeding, septic shock, airway obstruction or some other cause. These techniques are also important in someone who is suffering from the combined effects of multiple injuries, e.g. after being hit by a car or falling off a horse, a person may have internal bleeding, a head injury and fractured bones.

Before giving care for each of the emergency conditions you suspect may be occurring, you must know how to prioritise your actions when giving basic life-supportive care. What should you do first, second and third? It is vital that you first address whatever condition is most threatening to their life. This section shows you how to do this.