Editing First aid (section)

==Setting the priorities==
A first aid intervention would follow an order, which would try to attend in the best manner the main threats for the life and mobility of the victim.

There are some first aid protocols (such as ATLS, BATLS and SAFE-POINT) that define which are the priorities and the correct execution of the steps for saving human life. A major benefit of the use of official protocols is that they require minimum resources, time and skills, and have a great degree of success.

=== ABCDE and csABCDE general protocol ===
The '''ABCDE''' method is the general protocol of first aid and implies a quite general view.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thim |first1=Troels |last2=Krarup |first2=Niels Henrik Vinther |last3=Grove |first3=Erik Lerkevang |last4=Rohde |first4=Claus Valter |last5=Løfgren |first5=Bo |date=2012-01-31 |title=Initial assessment and treatment with the Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE) approach |journal=International Journal of General Medicine |language=English |volume=5 |pages=117–121 |doi=10.2147/IJGM.S28478 |pmc=3273374 |pmid=22319249 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

It was initially developed by Dr Peter Safar in the 1950s. But it has received some modifications, improvements and variations that were intended for more specific contexts. For example: it has been completed with improvements from the ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) version of the American College of Surgeons<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Schmidt |first1=Oliver I. |last2=Gahr |first2=Ralf H. |last3=Gosse |first3=Andreas |last4=Heyde |first4=Christoph E. |date=2009-03-03 |title=ATLS(R) and damage control in spine trauma |journal=World Journal of Emergency Surgery |volume=4 |pages=9 |doi=10.1186/1749-7922-4-9 |issn=1749-7922 |pmc=2660300 |pmid=19257904 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and the BATLS (Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support) version of the British Army.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Hodgetts |first1=T. J. |last2=Mahoney |first2=P. F. |last3=Russell |first3=M. Q. |last4=Byers |first4=M. |date=October 2006 |title=ABC to ABC: redefining the military trauma paradigm |journal=Emergency Medicine Journal |volume=23 |issue=10 |pages=745–746 |doi=10.1136/emj.2006.039610 |issn=1472-0213 |pmc=2579588 |pmid=16988297}}</ref>

As a result, the mnemonic of the steps of this protocol is '''ABCDE''', or its improved version '''(cs)ABCDE''' (sometimes called '''xABCDE''', the words in the mnemonic may vary), which represent:<ref>{{Cite web |last=NotSan |title=xABCDE untersuchung Rettungsdienst |url=https://notsan.info/index.php?content_id=8 |website=notsan.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120112312/https://notsan.info/index.php?content_id=8 |archive-date=November 20, 2024 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Certain |first1=Lucas |last2=Rostirola |first2=João Vitor Cerávolo |last3=Pereira |first3=Juliana Silva |last4=Rostirola |first4=Gabriela Cerávolo |last5=Estevam |first5=Barbara Canto |last6=Vieira |first6=Carla Caroline Aguiar |last7=da Silva |first7=Israel |last8=da Silva |first8=Jussara Aparecida Rodrigues |last9=Schevenin |first9=Juliana de Cássia |last10=de Oliveira |first10=Ana Barbara Regiani |last11=Franceli |first11=Amanda Bonamichi |last12=Lisboa |first12=Camila Emanuele Camargo |last13=Benites |first13=Bruno Deltreggia |date=2023-07-01 |title=First immediate transfusion at a prehospital environment in Latin America: A case report |journal=Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy |series=Diversity in Classical Hematology Research |volume=45 |issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S153–S156 |doi=10.1016/j.htct.2021.08.007 |issn=2531-1379 |pmc=10433293 |pmid=34862155}}</ref><br/>
—An attached first part (named as "cs" or "x", or in any other way) that will always mention stopping the critical losses of blood and managing with a special and careful treatment to patients with serious damages at the spine that threaten their future mobility:

* '''catastrophic-bleeding''' (stopping urgently the massive external bleedings, as it is marked in the BATLS version).
* '''spine-protection''' (previous examination of the spine, and careful preventive treatment for its damages, as it is marked in the ATLS version).
—The ABCDE protocol itself:
*'''Airway''' (clearing airways).
*'''Breathing''' (ensuring respiration).
* '''Circulation''' (ensuring effective cardiac output).<br />Any '''Defibrillation''' process for a [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation#Compressions with rescue breaths|cardiac arrest]] (total stop of heartbeat) would be included here, or in 'Disability' (as a double mnemonic 'D').
* '''Disability''' (neurological condition, level of glucose can also be examined).
* '''Exposure''' (or 'Evaluate': other questions in an overall examination of the patient, environment).

=== ABC and CABD cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocol ===
This protocol (originally named as '''ABC''') is a simplified version or concrete application of the previous csABCDE (or ABCDE) protocol, that focuses in the use of [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation#Compressions with rescue breaths|cardio-pulmonary resuscitation]]. The American Heart Association and the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation teach it as a reference.<ref>{{Cite web |last=American Heart Association (AHA) |date=2015 |title=Highlights of the Guidelines for CPR and ECC |url=http://eccguidelines.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-AHA-Guidelines-Highlights-English.pdf.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-AHA-Guidelines-Highlights-English.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190203102957/http://eccguidelines.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-AHA-Guidelines-Highlights-English.pdf.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-AHA-Guidelines-Highlights-English.pdf|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-date=February 3, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Field |first1=John M. |last2=Hazinski |first2=Mary Fran |last3=Sayre |first3=Michael R. |last4=Chameides |first4=Leon |last5=Schexnayder |first5=Stephen M. |last6=Hemphill |first6=Robin |last7=Samson |first7=Ricardo A. |last8=Kattwinkel |first8=John |last9=Berg |first9=Robert A. |last10=Bhanji |first10=Farhan |last11=Cave |first11=Diana M. |last12=Jauch |first12=Edward C. |last13=Kudenchuk |first13=Peter J. |last14=Neumar |first14=Robert W. |last15=Peberdy |first15=Mary Ann |date=2010-11-02 |title=Part 1: Executive Summary: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care |url=https://ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.970889 |journal=Circulation |language=en |volume=122 |issue=18 Suppl 3 |pages=S640-56 |doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.970889 |pmid=20956217 |issn=0009-7322|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Its current mnemonic is '''CABD''' (an improvement in the sequence for most of the cases):

* '''Circulation''' or Chest '''Compressions.'''
* '''Airway''': attempt to open the airway (using a head-tilt and chin-lift technique; not in the case of babies, which require avoid tilting the head).
* '''Breathing''' or Rescue '''Breaths'''.
* '''Defibrillation''': use of an automated external defibrillator to recover heart function.

=== Wider protocols ===
These are the protocols that do not only deal with direct care to the victim but they also mention other complementary tasks (before and later).

==== European protocol ====
This method has been studied and employed for a long time in many European countries, as France.<ref>{{cite web |last=Croix-Rouge francaise |title=Les 4 étapes pour porter secours |url=http://croix-rouge.fr/Je-me-forme/Particuliers/Les-6-gestes-de-base/Les-4-etapes-pour-porter-secours |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522153855/http://croix-rouge.fr/Je-me-forme/Particuliers/Les-6-gestes-de-base/Les-4-etapes-pour-porter-secours |access-date=2024-10-30 |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |language=fr-FR}}<!-- auto-translated from French by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> It is a reference, of a certain reputation, that could be applied solely or to a certain degree, usually combining it with the common csABCDE (ABCDE) method or its simplified CABD (ABC) variant about [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation#Compressions with rescue breaths|cardio-pulmonary resuscitation]]. The European method has a wider range than them, and their steps include tasks that are previous to the first aid techniques themselves.

These are its steps (with no official mnemonic that helps to remember them):

* '''Protection''' for patients and rescuers. If dangers are present, the patient would be moved to a safer place with a careful management of any detected spinal injury.
* '''Evaluation''' of the patient (looking for priorities as critical bleeding and cardiac arrest).
* '''Alerting''' to medical services and bystanders.
* '''Performing''' the first aid practices. The '''CABD (or ABC)''' method for [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation#Compressions with rescue breaths|cardio-pulmonary resuscitation]] and many details of the wider '''csABCDE (or ABCDE)''' method would be included in this step.

=== Other mentionable protocols ===
Some other known protocols that could be mentioned in many contexts (in alphabetical order):

'''AMEGA protocol'''

{{anchor|AMEGA}}It is similar to the European protocol, because it also has a wider range<ref>Furst, J., [https://web.archive.org/web/20231022015347/http://firstaidforfree.com/what-does-amega-stand-for-in-first-aid/ What does AMEGA stand for in first aid?], updated 12 July 2019, accessed 24 January 2022</ref> than the common csABCDE (or ABCDE) protocol, and includes other tasks that are previous to the first aid techniques themselves. The order of the steps is changed, and the experience with it is lesser, but it adds the idea of a posterior 'aftermath' phase.

The mnemonic AMEGA refers to:

* ''Assess'' the situation, looking for risks.
* ''Make safe'' the situation, after having identified the risks.
* ''Emergency aid''. Performing the first aid practices.
* ''Get help''. Asking for emergency help to medical services and bystanders.
* ''Aftermath''. The aftermath tasks include recording and reporting, continued care of patients and the welfare of responders and the replacement of used first aid kit elements.
'''ATLS and BATLS protocols'''{{See also|Advanced trauma life support|BATLS}}
{{anchor|ATLS and BATLS}}They are basically the common [[First aid#ABCDE and cAsBCDE protocol|ABCDE and csABCDE protocol]], but focusing in particular aspects.

The ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) version<ref name=":0" /> was developed by the American College of Surgeons, focusing in the particular needs of trauma and specifically in the spinal injuries. And the BATLS (Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support) version<ref name=":1" /> is an improvement for the British Army that added the concept of 'catastrophic bleeding'.

The preference for one or another among all these protocols can depend on the context and the audience.

==== Check, Call and Care protocol ====
{{anchor|Check, Call and Care}}It comes from Red Cross<ref>{{Cite web |last=American Red Cross |title=Check, Call, Care: 3 Emergency Actions Steps to Take to Save Lives |url=http://redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/articles/the-three-cs-of-first-aid-check-call-care|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111144154/http://redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/articles/the-three-cs-of-first-aid-check-call-care |archive-date=November 11, 2024 }}</ref> and, as the European protocol, has a wider range than the common csABCDE (ABCDE) method. So it could be seen as a simplification of the European protocol, and, especially, easier to remember as a guide for most of cases.

It mentions the following steps:

* ''Check'' the scene for safety of the rescuer and others, and check the patient's condition.
* ''Call'' to emergency medical services.
* ''Care'' the patient.

==== SAFE-POINT protocol ====
{{anchor|SAFE-POINT}}Another European protocol, which appeared in the field of construction of Czech Republic to react to any emergence .<ref>{{Cite web |last=safe-point.cz |title=SAFE-Point: 6 steps to save life |url=http://safe-point.cz/index.php/6-kroku-k-zachrane-zivota-2/ |language=Czech}}</ref>

Their steps (which have not any mnemonic) are:

* ''Safety of the rescuers.''
* ''Calling'' to emergency telephone number.
* ''Bleeding'': treating the massive bleedings.
* ''Freeing the airways''.
* ''Resuscitation'': applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
* ''Keeping warm'' to the patient.