ASTM_F_1287_-_90_2012.pdf

Designation:F128790(Reapproved 2012)Standard Guide forScope of Performance of First Responders Who ProvideEmergency Medical Care1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1287;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers minimum requirements for the scopeof performance of first responders who may be responsible forthe initial care of sick and injured persons of all ages in theprehospital environment.1.2 This guide includes objectives based on an individualsacquired knowledge,including signs and symptoms;patientassessment;basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation(BLS/CPR);bleeding and shock;injuries to the skull,spine,chest,abdomen,and extremities;moving patients;medical andenvironmental emergencies;triage;gaining access;and haz-ardous situations that the first responder may encounter.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1031 Practice for Training the Emergency Medical Tech-nician(Basic)2.2 American Heart Association/American Red Cross(AHA/ARC)Standards:Standards and Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscita-tion and Emergency Cardiac Care33.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation(BLS/CPR)a set of skills that includes airway management,chest compressions,and others as defined by the AmericanHeart Association.3.1.2 first responder(FR)an individual trained to provideinitial care for sick or injured persons in accordance with thisguide.4.Significance and Use4.1 The purpose of this guide is to improve the quality ofinitial emergency medical care provided to the sick andinjured.As the first trained person at an emergency medicalscene,it is critical that the first responder be proficient inproviding patient care and minimizing further complicationsuntil more highly trained emergency medical service personnelintervene.4.2 In identifying these minima,the guide acknowledgesmany types of first responder emergency medical care coursesof study.This guide allows and encourages the addition ofoptional knowledge,skill,and attitudinal objectives.Programssuch as those for law enforcement,firefighters,and ski patrolare examples of this diversity meeting specific local commu-nity needs.4.3 This guide is intended to assist those who are respon-sible for defining the scope of performance for first responders.4.4 This guide is not intended to be used as a scope ofperformance for emergency ambulance personnel(see PracticeF1031).5.Objectives5.1 Required ObjectivesThese objectives are not in anorder suggesting a particular performance sequence.The firstresponder shall be able to:5.1.1 Identify the roles and responsibilities of a first re-sponder within the local emergency medical services(EMS)system,5.1.2 Function within the medical-legal scope of care as afirst responder in the local EMS system,5.1.3 Determine vital signs and identify normal ranges,5.1.4 Identify and report various forms of emergency medi-cal identification found on the patient,1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on EmergencyMedical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 onPersonnel,Training and Education.Current edition approved July 1,2012.Published August 2012.Originallyapproved in 1990.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F1287 90(2007).DOI:10.1520/F1287-90R12.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Reprinted from the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA).Copies are available from the American Heart Association,7272 Greenville Ave.,Dallas,TX 75231.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.1.5 Conduct a primary assessment for life threateningconditions,5.1.6 Provide BLS/CPR in accordance withAmerican HeartAssociation/American Red Cross(AHA/ARC)standards,5.1.7 Control bleeding,5.1.8 Dress and bandage soft tissue injuries,5.1.9 Care for a person in shock,5.1.10 Supplement respirations with available mechanicalaids to breathing,including oxygen,5.1.11 Perform a secondary assessment,5.1.12 Immobilize musculoskeletal injuries,5.1.13 Immobilize the spine,5.1.14 Move a sick or injured person from a hazardousenvironment in such a manner that the chance of aggravatinginjuries is minimized,5.1.15 Mov