Check, Call, Care: Your Emergency Action Plan
When an emergency strikes, it's natural to feel a rush of adrenaline, confusion, or even panic. But what if you had a clear, systematic roadmap to guide your actions? In first aid, that roadmap is the "Check, Call, Care" principle. This foundational protocol, taught and endorsed by leading organizations like the Canadian Red Cross, is your blueprint for effective emergency response. It's designed to bring order to chaos, ensuring your safety, optimizing the chances of a positive outcome for the injured person, and seamlessly integrating with the professional emergency medical services (EMS) system.
At Ready 4 Everything Training and Supplies, we emphasize "Check, Call, Care" as the bedrock of all our first aid training. It's more than just a mnemonic; it's a philosophy that empowers you to act decisively and confidently when it matters most.
Step 1: CHECK – Prioritize Safety, Assess the Scene and the Person
Before you rush in to help, the very first and most crucial step is to CHECK for safety. Your safety, the safety of bystanders, and then the safety of the injured person. You can't help others if you become a casualty yourself.
Scene Safety:
Dangers: Look for hazards like active traffic, falling debris, downed power lines, fire, unsafe structures, or aggressive individuals. If the scene is unsafe, do not enter. Call 911 immediately and provide as much detail as possible.
What Happened? Try to understand the mechanism of injury. This helps anticipate potential injuries (e.g., a fall from height suggests head/spinal injuries).
How Many People? Quickly assess if there's more than one person in need of help. This influences your priorities and the information you'll provide to EMS.
Initial Impression: Get a quick sense of the injured person's condition. Are they responsive? Are they breathing? Is there severe bleeding?
Check the Person (Primary Assessment): Once the scene is safe, approach the person and perform a rapid primary assessment to identify immediate life-threatening conditions.
Responsiveness: Gently tap their shoulder and ask loudly, "Are you okay?" For a baby, tap their foot. If there's no response, assume they are unresponsive.
ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation):
Airway: Is the airway open? (e.g., look for signs of obstruction, snoring, gurgling).
Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
Circulation: Look for signs of severe bleeding (e.g., spurting blood) that needs immediate attention.
Obvious Signs of Death: Look for clear, irreversible signs (e.g., decapitation, rigor mortis) which indicate that care is not beneficial.
Rolling a Person: If necessary to assess breathing or place in the recovery position, learn how to roll a person safely, especially if a spinal injury is suspected.
Step 2: CALL – Activate Professional Help Promptly
Once you've assessed the situation and determined there's an emergency, your next crucial step is to CALL for professional help. In Canada, this typically means dialling 911 (or your local emergency number). Never hesitate to call!
When to Call First vs. Care First:
Call First (Immediate 911): For adults, if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Also for severe, life-threatening bleeding, signs of heart attack or stroke, anaphylaxis (especially if you have an auto-injector).
Care First (About 2 minutes of care before calling): For children and babies who are unresponsive and not breathing normally (as often their arrest is respiratory in nature). Also for choking, administering an epinephrine auto-injector, or providing care for severe bleeding if you are alone and cannot call immediately.
What to Say to the Dispatcher: Provide clear, concise information:
Your name and phone number.
The exact location of the emergency (address, cross streets, landmarks).
What happened (e.g., "A person collapsed," "There's a car accident").
The number of people involved.
The person's condition (e.g., "unresponsive and not breathing," "severe bleeding").
Any care you are providing.
Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. They may provide vital pre-arrival instructions.
Step 3: CARE – Provide Appropriate First Aid
Once professional help is on the way, it's time to provide the CARE that the situation demands. This involves applying the specific first aid skills you've learned, tailored to the person's injuries or medical condition.
Based on Your Assessment: Your primary assessment should guide your initial care. If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR. If there's severe bleeding, control it.
Continuous Reassurance: Even if the person is unresponsive, talk to them calmly. Reassure them that help is on the way.
When to Stop Care: Continue providing care until:
Professional medical help arrives and takes over.
The scene becomes unsafe.
You are too exhausted to continue.
The person shows obvious signs of life and normal breathing.
An AED tells you not to touch the person.
Secondary Assessment (if appropriate): Once life-threatening conditions are managed and EMS is on the way, you can perform a more detailed assessment, asking SAMPLE questions (Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to the injury/illness) and conducting an injury check.
Helping with Medication: If the person has prescribed medication (e.g., an inhaler, nitroglycerin), you may be able to help them administer it if they are able to follow instructions.
"Check, Call, Care" in Action: Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1 (Workplace): A colleague suddenly clutches their chest and collapses.
CHECK: You quickly confirm the area is safe, no immediate hazards. You check for responsiveness – they are unresponsive. You observe they are not breathing normally.
CALL: You immediately direct a bystander to call 911, clearly stating "Cardiac arrest, need an ambulance and an AED to [exact office location]."
CARE: You begin chest compressions and prepare to use the AED as soon as it arrives. Your clear actions are a direct result of "Check, Call, Care."
Scenario 2 (Home): Your child falls from their bike, hits their head, and is dazed but conscious.
CHECK: You ensure no further traffic danger. You approach the child, check their responsiveness (dazed, but answering questions). You suspect a head injury.
CALL: You immediately call 911, explaining the fall, the head impact, and the child's dazed state.
CARE: You encourage the child to stay still, support their head and neck, and reassure them until paramedics arrive. You don't move them excessively due to the suspected head injury.
Empower Yourself: The Ready 4 Everything Difference
The "Check, Call, Care" approach isn't just a set of instructions; it's a framework for confident, effective action under pressure. At Ready 4 Everything Training and Supplies, our comprehensive first aid courses drill these principles, allowing them to become second nature. You'll learn not just what to do, but why each step is vital, preparing you to be the calm, capable individual when an emergency unfolds.
Your Action Item: Understanding "Check, Call, Care" is the first step towards becoming a life-saving hero. Ready to build that confidence? Sign up for first aid courses for your organization today and master the fundamentals that can make all the difference.
