Airway Obstruction:

1. Call out to the victim in question and tell them your name and ask for permission to treat them. If they are unconscious go ahead and treat them.
   
2. At an arm's distance, shake the victim by touching the shoulder and shout, "can you hear me?" If there is no answer place the palm of one hand on the forehead and one on the abdomen turn your face towards their feet and lower your head down close to their nose and mouth. Look to see if you see their chest rise, feel to see if there is any movement in the abdominal area, and listen for any air movement.
   
3. If there is no sign of breathing, keep your hand on their forehead and place two fingers from the other on under the chin and tilt the jaw upward while tilting the head back slightly. As before look, listen and feel.
4. If there is no air exchange check to see if there is a visible obstruction in the mouth or throat that can be removed easily. (If yes remove and repeat step 3 and look, listen and feel.)
5. If there is still no air exchange noticeable, begin CPR. Remember you cannot stop until someone else arrives to take your place.
   

The "Big Three" of life-threatening Conditions:

The "Big Three" as they are called are the most important things to watch out for in any emergency situation.

1. Airway obstruction - patient cannot breath and will die within minutes.
2. Uncontrolled bleeding- patient will bleed out and die or at the very least suffer brain or organ damage.
3. Shock- the body's systems shut down and the patient dies.

These are known as the three killers that should always be treated for first and always in the order listed above. Remember to always ask permission to help someone. Only treat or help if they give you their permission. If they are unconscious treat them as necessary to save their life.

Survival Game

Gentleman;

Here are the answers to the survival game in order of importance.

1. Cigarette lighter (without fluid) your biggest danger was your exposure to the cold. The greatest need is for a source of warmth and the second greatest need is for signaling devices. This means that building a fire should have been your first order of business.
   
2. Ball of steel wool; even with the lighter out of fluid the sparks would have easily ignited the steel wool. Steel wool will even ignite when it is wet.
3. Extra shirt and pants; additional warmth, signaling, bedding, bandages, and even fuel for the fire if needed.
4. Can of Crisco shortening; mirror-like signaling device from the lid. If you only used part of the steel wool to start the fire the other could have been used to shine up the lid which can be seen for miles. A good signal device gives you a better than 80% chance of being rescued the first day. The container could have been used to boil water which you desperately need. The oil can be melted and then dried in cloth to make a candle.
   
5. 20 x 20 canvas, shelter to protect against wind and snow. Can be laid out to form a signal.
6. Small ax; to help gather additional wood, and cutting limbs to build a shelter or laying out a very large signal on the ground.
   
7. Chocolate bars; needs no explanation other than instant food energy.
8. Newspapers; fire starting, and added warmth if wadded up and placed between layers of cloths.
9. Loaded .45 pistol; sound signalization (3 shots), fire starting if you could remove the bullet from the casing. Overall not much use to you for this situation. It is in the middle of winter and there are not a lot of animals that you could stalk close enough to to kill.
   
10. Quart of 100 proof whiskey; good for antiseptic only or for fuel to burn. Do not drink to "warm" yourself up. It will kill you because it takes on the temperature of the outside air. It can cause you to lose body heat.
    
11. Compass; worthless to you because of the declination and you don't know your surroundings at all.
    
12. Map; totally worthless, again you don't know where you are and you don't know if this map is of the area that you have crash landed in.

We only had one group select enough of the right items to survive. This was our first attempt and I know that some of you did not prepare as you should have. This next simulation will be even more difficult and will require you to think outside the box. Your life is on the line, "not really" but pretend that it is and get all that you can from these little exercises. I will post the next one soon, so be on the lookout.