Good Samaritan and CPR Information

The following is a combined lesson dealing with good Samaritans and CPR conducted by Driver Education and the Health and Physical Education Courses at Montpelier High School.

Outline of Safety at Crash Scene

I. Good Samaritan Law (Ask for permission to help if possible, then go into action)

II. Using Judgement at the scene

Your safety is #1! Check the scene for any possibility of immediate danger or impending danger.

Obvious Dangers: The car, other cars and people, your visibility to others, electrical lines down, and road conditions.

Potential Dangers: The car (turn it off if it is safe to do so), look for leaking gasoline, check airbag(s), check position in roadway(s), check impending electrical lines possibly dropping, etc. Disconnect the battery if necessary.

Safety of the victim(s)

Protect them from any of the dangers that could have affected you.

Check the victim(s) and control the scene. To protect the victim check:

Unconsciousness or consciousness (Any unconscious victim needs to see a physician.)

To control the scene, use bystanders for stopping traffic and other types of assistance. Flares should be set up if available.

Call 911 for any unconscious victim or medical problem. (You or a bystander can do this. Use a universal sign to flag down a phone if necessary.)

Any 911 call needs specific information and you need to stay on the line until the 911 technician hangs up.

Treat the victim the best you know how until help comes. Check bystanders for first aid experience and/or assistance.

A certified CPR instructor should do the following portion of the training.

Care for the victim: (Always us gloves if available)

Check the Airway of the victim by lifting the chin and tilting the head. Look, listen, and feel for any breathing.

If they are not breathing, give the victim 2 breaths by pinching their nose and breathing into the mouth of the victim. Recheck for breathing. If still not breathing give one breath every 5 seconds for about one minute. Recheck for breathing and continue with what is necessary.

You should also check for a pulse. At this point CPR Training is technically necessary. If there is no pulse, give 15 compressions followed by 2 breaths. Do this sequence 4 times and then recheck the victim for a pulse and breathing. Continue appropriately until help arrives.

Check for Bleeding of the victim. If they are bleeding profusely, give direct pressure to the wound, elevate the wound above the heart, and if necessary give pressure to the supplying artery area.

Check for Circulation of the victim. Look for paleness, sweat, confusion, thirst, cold skin. This victim could be in shock. If no broken bones are expected, elevate the legs above the heart and cover with a light blanket. Get medical attention.

For multiple victims, prioritize them by their injuries in the ‘A, B, C’ order described above.

What Everyone Should Know About Good Samaritan Laws

Are there laws to protect you when you help in an emergency situation?

Yes, most states have enacted Good Samaritan laws. These laws give legal protection to people who gratuitously provide emergency care to ill or injured persons.

When a citizen responds to an emergency and acts as a reasonable and prudent person would under the same conditions, Good Samaritan immunity generally prevails. For example, a reasonable and prudent person would –

Move a victim only if the victim’s life was endangered.

Ask a conscious victim for permission before giving care.

Check the victim for life-threatening conditions before providing further care.

Summon emergency medical personnel to the scene by calling 911 or the local emergency number.

Continue to provide care until more highly trained personnel arrive.

Good Samaritan laws were developed to encourage people to help others in emergency situations. They require that the "Good Samaritan" use common sense and a reasonable level of skill, not to exceed the scope of the individual’s training in emergency situations. They assume each person would do his or her best to save a life or prevent further injury.

Lay responders are rarely sued for helping in an emergency. However, Good Samaritan laws protect the responder from financial responsibility. In cases where an individual lay responder’s response was deliberately negligent or reckless or when the responder abandoned the victim after initiating care, the courts have ruled Good Samaritan immunity did not apply.

If you are interested in finding out about your state’s Good Samaritan laws, contact a legal professional or check with your local library.

From Community First Aid & Safety, American Red Cross