Emergency care: 3 reflexes to avoid losing your touch
Hi, I’m Judith. To not lose your touch in an emergency, remember three reflexes: protect, alert the emergency services, then provide aid without putting yourself in danger. A few simple actions and a quick call can help preserve a life while waiting for professionals.
Things to do right away
- Identify the dangers around the victim before approaching.
- Call 15, 18 or 112 and give the precise address.
- Check if the person responds and breathes normally.
- Ask someone to fetch a defibrillator if needed.
- Keep your phone on speaker to follow the instructions.
These reflexes also apply when an animal is injured: avoid improvised gestures, protect yourself, and quickly contact a veterinarian. To keep your thoughts clear, you can review the proper order of first aid for an animal and know what to do in the face of a bleeding that seems minor.
Three emergency care reflexes to apply in order
An emergency can happen at home, on the street, or near an animal. Staying calm and vigilant helps prevent further danger and to relay useful information to the rescuers.
Step 1: protect the victim and witnesses
Check that there is no traffic, fire, electricity, or dangerous substances. Do not move the victim unless immediate danger requires it.
This protection of the victim also involves your own safety. If the scene isn’t safe, step back and alert the emergency services to the danger.
Step 2: raise the alarm without delay
Call 15, 18 or 112. Indicate the address, what happened, the number of people involved and their apparent condition. Do not hang up until the operator tells you to.
An assessment of vital signs begins with simple observations: Is the person responsive? Do they breathe normally? If you’re unsure, describe what you see on the phone. The dispatcher can guide you step by step.
Step 3: perform the appropriate actions
Act according to the situation and what you know how to do. When in doubt, follow the operator’s instructions rather than improvising: first aid actions should help without increasing the danger.
If a person is unconscious but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor their breathing. If they are not breathing normally, start chest compressions and ask a bystander to fetch a defibrillator.
Choking, feeling unwell or cardiac arrest: what to do?
Some signs require an immediate response. A person who can no longer speak or breathe during a complete choking episode is not in the same situation as someone who is still coughing effectively.
| Situation | Action to take | Watchpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Choking with effective coughing | Encourage the person to cough and monitor them. | Do not give back blows while the cough remains effective. |
| Complete choking in an adult or a child over one year old | Alternate up to 5 back blows and up to 5 abdominal thrusts. | Call for help. The maneuvers differ for an infant: follow the operator’s instructions. |
| Unconscious with normal breathing | Place the person in the recovery position. | Monitor their breathing until help arrives. |
| No normal breathing | Alert, start chest compressions and use a defibrillator as soon as it is available. | Turn on the device and follow its vocal prompts. |
For a cardiac arrest, press in the center of the chest at a steady pace, around 100 to 120 compressions per minute in adults. If you cannot or do not want to do mouth-to-mouth, start chest compressions and let the defibrillator guide you.
Bleeding and burns: the first useful steps
In the face of heavy bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound with a pad or a clean cloth, if possible protecting your hands. Lay the person down if you can do so safely and call for help; keep applying pressure while waiting for their arrival. Hemorrhage control must not make you forget your own safety.
For a thermal burn, cool the area with tepid water for several minutes. Do not apply toothpaste, fats, or clothing that sticks to the skin. Call for help if the burn is extensive, deep, or located on a sensitive area, or if the person is frail.
Be prepared before an emergency arrives
An accessible first aid kit can save time for first aid. Keep it within reach, check its contents from time to time, and locate the nearest defibrillator when you frequent a public or sports venue.
- Single-use gloves and sterile dressings.
- Bandages and dressings suitable for minor first aid.
- Emergency blanket to help protect a person from the cold.
- Charged phone and address of the place easily identifiable.
For an animal, also prepare your veterinarian’s number and an accessible transport crate. An injured animal may react with fear: approach slowly and do not attempt a gesture that could injure you or worsen its condition.
Be prepared to act with confidence: emergency care training
Reading tips help you memorize the main steps, but they do not replace practice. An emergency care training such as PSC1 lets you practice common situations, including choking, feeling unwell, hemorrhage and cardiac arrest.
Role-playing exercises help you overcome a common mistake: waiting to be sure of everything before calling. In an emergency, raising the alarm and following instructions is already a useful action.
Frequently asked questions about emergency care
What are the three reflexes to remember in an emergency?
Protect the area and the victim, alert the emergency services, then perform the actions appropriate to your abilities and the instructions you received.
Which number to call in France?
You can call 15, 18 or 112. Provide a precise address and simply describe the situation.
When should a person be placed in the recovery position?
When they are unconscious but breathing normally. Monitor their breathing and call the emergency services.
Can a defibrillator be used without training?
Yes, an automated defibrillator guides the user with prompts. Turn it on and follow them without touching the victim during the analysis.
Thank you for your interest; Judith. Please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the article, thank you all
