BSA Troop 883 > First Aid Guides & Checklists > First Aid Guide: Order of Steps

First Aid Guide: Order of Steps

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Proper Order of First Aid Steps
By administering immediate care during an emergency, you can help an ill or injured person, even before EMS or certified help arrive. And you may be able to help save a life. However, whether certified, trained, or not at all, failure to follow these critical steps in order when helping and applying first aid could result in harm to yourself, the victim, or both of you.

  1. Check the scene for safety and form an initial impression
    The purpose of this assessment is to assure it is safe to provide first aid care. For example, If a car crash has occurred, is fuel coming out of the vehicle? Is the victim lying on a live power line? Such situations could pose danger to you, other bystanders and the injured individual. The first rule of administering first aid is to never put yourself in danger when attempting to assist somebody who has been harmed.
  2. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) and assess responsiveness
    Following a thorough danger assessment, you’ll need to assess the responsiveness of the injured individual. Are they conscious? Are they capable of answering questions and cooperating?
    • Obtain consent
      If the victim is responsive, you need the victim’s consent to help and then offer the level of care for which you are qualified.
    • Unresponsiveness
      If the person does not respond, is not fully awake, not breathing or only gasping, or has life-threatening bleeding or another obvious life-threatening condition, CALL 9-1-1 and get equipment, or tell someone to do so. Then, give care based on the condition found and your level of training and continue your check to determine if additional care is needed. For a person who is unresponsive and not breathing, start CPR and use an AED immediately if qualified.
  3. Interview and assess the victim if responsive
    • Interview the victim (or bystanders, if necessary), ask questions about signs and symptoms, allergies, and medications and medical conditions (SAM).
    • Do a focused check based on what the person told you, how the person is acting and what you see.
    • As you check the person, take note of any medical identification tags.
    • Do not ask the person to move if you suspect a head, neck or spinal injury. Do not ask the person to move any area of the body that causes discomfort or pain.
  4. Apply first aid
    CALL 9-1-1 and get equipment, or tell someone to do so (if needed). Then, give care based on the condition found and your level of training.

Do not attempt things you are not qualified for and ALWAYS dial 911!