First Aid
Troop 721 Milford, CT - First Aid
Order Priority for Emergencies - Continued
IMPORTANT
While this tutorial identifies life threatening conditions requiring rescue breathing or CPR, these skills
require intensive classroom skill, development and practice and cannot be effectively presented or
taught in this tutorial. Troop 721 leadership strongly encourages everyone to enroll in a CPR course
Rescue breathing will provide vital oxygen to a victim who cannot breath on their own. After giving a
victim two breaths, the pulse is checked at the Carotid Artery to ascertain if the victim has a
heartbeat. This artery is located on the side of the neck and is found by first positioning the fingers
on the victim's Adam's Apple, then sliding the fingers down into the soft groove on the side of the
neck. The pulse is checked for 5 to 10 seconds.
If the victim has a heartbeat, but is not breathing, RESCUE BREATHING is required. If the victim is
NOT breathing AND does NOT have a HEARTBEAT, CPR is required without delay!
These initial steps of checking the AIRWAY, BREATHING and CIRCULATION (pulse), together with
a check for major BLEEDING, constitute THE PRIMARY SURVEY, which looks for life-threatening
conditions!
In every instance where first aid is to be provided, it is important to always ask a conscious
victim for permission to help them. If a victim is unconscious, it is presumed
they have provided consent for you to assist them.