In An Emergency

Three important pieces of information to post by your phone:

1. Your 911 address:
   Most tracts have a 911 address sign posted by the main entrance. Emergency responders need this sign to find you. If there is no sign near the entrance to your property, contact the Infrastructure Chairman for assistance.

2. Your telephone number:
   You may not be the one making the emergency call. Make sure your phone number is clearly posted in case of emergency.

3. GPS coordinates of a helicopter landing site:
   Pick an area large enough for the Shannon AirMed1 helicopter to land (50ft diameter for day, 100ft diameter for night) and record the GPS coordinates. Maintain this as a clear area for use in an emergency. At night, be prepared to light this location with a cars headlights to aid the helicopter landing.

CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY for any of the following:

1. For ANY kind of uncontrolled FIRE OR a LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY such as:

• Breathing difficulty/shortness of breath/ breathing has stopped
• Choking (can't talk or breathe)
• Constant chest pain - in adults (lasting longer than two minutes)
• Uncontrollable bleeding/large blood loss
• Drowning
• Electrocution
• Drug overdose/poisoning
• Gunshot wounds, stabbings
• Vomiting blood
• Sudden fainting / unconsciousness
• Convulsions/seizures (uncontrolled jerking movements)
• Severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing/unresponsive)
• Major burns (white or charred skin: blisters and redness over large area)
• Someone who will not wake up, even when you shake them.
• SEVERE injuries from:

• Traffic accidents
• Head Injury
• Significant falls
• Physical entrapment (i.e. car accident with victim trapped in the vehicle)

CRITICAL INFORMATION THE 911 DISPATCHER NEEDS TO KNOW:

• WHAT'S THE EMERGENCY?
  What's wrong?
• WHERE IS THE EMERGENCY?
  Give the address; include the 9-1-1 road number (at the entrance of the driveway or road.) HAVE GPS coordinates available to give to dispatch
• WHO NEEDS HELP?
  Age/ number of people
• ARE THEY CONSCIOUS?
  Yes or no
• ARE THEY BREATHING?
  Yes or no –This is very important for EMS
• The telephone numbers and addresses must be given accurately to the Dispatcher. 
  WAIT for the DISPATCHER TO HANG UP BEFORE YOU DO.
• Remain calm and give direct answers to the questions asked. Speak slowly and clearly.
  You will be asked additional questions so the dispatcher can send the right type of help.
  All questions are important.
• When Kimble County EMS is dispatched and checks enroute to the YOLA, the crew will ask the dispatcher to call AIRMed 1 to be dispatched to the YOLA
  (GPS coordinates are helpful here. Kimble County EMS has a file of the YOLA coordinates in each unit).

2. For LOCAL CPR / Defibrillator ASSISTANCE (while EMS is in route via above 911 call)

• Call 911
• Using the CPR/AED map, identify a trained neighbor who you can call for help.
  Call for Local Assistance
  Stay with patient
  provide CPR (if qualified)
• PLAN AHEAD!!!
  Local assistance should, if possible, come from the opposite end (West or East of 4-Corners) of the Ranchlands in order to facilitate pick-up of the AED at 4-Corners on the way.

3. In the event of a MEDICAL EMERGENCY:

• STAY WITH THE PATIENT and by CALLING for LOCAL ASSISTANCE (#2 above) SOMEONE CAN WAIT OUT FRONT to meet the paramedics and lead the way
• GATHER OR MAKE A LIST OF MEDICATIONS that the patient is using and give it to emergency personnel
• WAVE A FLASHLIGHT, turn on the porch light if it's dark or visibility is poor
• CONSIDER HAVING AN INTERPRETER if the patient does not speak English
• SECURE PETS, especially dogs

START FIRST AID!