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Disaster Medical Operations

Disaster Medical Operations. Operations of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Introduction. In a disaster, there are more victims than rescuers and immediate help is not always available. CERTs are integral to reducing the number of lives lost.

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Disaster Medical Operations

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  1. Disaster Medical Operations Operations of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

  2. Introduction In a disaster, there are more victims than rescuers and immediate help is not always available. • CERTs are integral to reducing the number of lives lost. • The number of lives lost in disaster can be reduced up to 40% by providing simple medical care CERT personnel are trained to provide: • Treatment for life-threatening conditions • Airway obstruction • Bleeding • Shock • Other less urgent conditions • The greatest good for the greatest number of victims • Simple triage For more information about CERT and what they do, visit the CERT website at: http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams

  3. Treating Life-Threatening Conditions: Opening the Airway The most common airway obstruction in the tongue. Head-Tilt Method for Opening an Airway: • At an arm’s distance, shake the victim by touching the shoulder and shout, “Can you hear me?” • If the victim does not or cannot respond, place the palm of one hand on the forehead. • Place two fingers of the other hand under the chin and tilt the jaw upward while tilting the head back slightly.

  4. Opening the Airway continued • Place your ear over the victim’s mouth, looking toward the victim’s feet, and place a hand on the victim’s abdomen • Look for chest rise • Listen for air exchange • Feel for abdominal movement

  5. Opening the Airway Tutorial Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTHe8qKoMqo

  6. Treating Life-Threatening Conditions: Controlling Bleeding Uncontrolled bleeding can be very serious. • Initial symptom is weakness • Within a short period of time, a person can go into shock • An adult has approximately 5 liters of blood, loss of 1 liter can result in death.

  7. Controlling Bleeding continued There are three types of bleeding, each type can be identified based on how fast the blood flows. • Arterial Bleeding: Arteries transport blood under high pressure. Arterial bleeds are characterized by spurting blood. • Venous Bleeding: Veins transport blood under low pressure. Bleeding from a vein can be characterized as flowing. • Capillary Bleeding: Capillaries carry blood under low pressure. A capillary bleed oozes.

  8. Controlling Bleeding continued

  9. Controlling Bleeding: Pressure Points Brachial Pressure Point Femoral Pressure Point

  10. Treating Life-Threatening Conditions: Recognizing Shock Shock results from the circulation of blood being ineffective. Untreated shock will lead to the death of: • Cells • Tissues • Entire Organs Signs of shock are initially compensated for by the body. It is important to continually watch for signs of shock. Main signs of shock to look for: • Rapid and shallow breathing • Capillary refill (underneath fingernails) is greater than 2 seconds • Failure to follow simple commands, i.e. “Squeeze my hand”. • Changes in skin color

  11. Treating Life-Threatening Conditions: Treating Shock

  12. CERT Certification To find a CERT near you and to get more information about getting certified visit: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/CertIndex.do?submitByState= For access to the online CERT Introductory course, visit: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/IS317/

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