THE THREE C'S
The "Three C's" is a straightforward approach to responding to emergency situations and providing initial assistance. It stands for Check, Call, and Care. This sequence of actions guides individuals on how to react effectively when faced with an emergency.
Remember, the Three C's provide a structured approach to handling emergencies, prioritizing safety, getting help, and delivering appropriate initial care until professional medical assistance arrives.
THE THREE C'S (CHECK, CALL, CARE)
Check the immediate environment for any signs of danger or hints that there’s anything unsafe nearby. Possible hazards could take the form of fire or smoke, moving vehicles, or broken machinery.
This “Check” step is important not only for the sake of the patient, but to make sure that the first responder will not be putting themselves in harm’s way too when they attempt to help the victim.
While checking, you can also note whether there is anyone else on the scene who could be of help, if necessary.
CHECK
CALL
Call quickly to provide assistance is absolutely vital in an emergency medical situation.
The speed at which responders are able to get to a patient and administer care often makes the difference between life or death and every second counts. That’s why after performing a check of the scene and seeing whether the patient is still breathing and has a pulse (if they can be safely reached), 911 or the equivalent local emergency number should be called immediately.
You should assist the authorities by giving them all of the information you have about the patient, their medical situation, and location. Remain calm and speak clearly – the responders are there to help you and the patient, and getting panicky can lead to miscommunications and lost time.
Care – Now that you’ve performed checks and informed authorities, first responders will be needed to administer initial medical care until the professionals arrive to take over.
Again, only if it is safe for you (and/or anyone else on the scene with sufficient knowledge and capabilities) to do so, you should begin monitoring the victim’s breathing and pulse.
If any specific care is needed, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), do it to the best of your abilities – even an untrained attempt at CPR is going to be better than doing nothing at all. Pay attention to things like the victim’s positioning – proper positioning can help with breathing and stopping blood loss where that’s a concern.
