COTTAGER MEDICAL EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Evaluate the situation
If calling Emergency services, be prepared to comment so as to rule out (or in)
these key factors:
- Not breathing
- Does not have a pulse
- Is bleeding profusely
(blood soaks more than 1 bath towel)
- Has impaired consciousness
- Has injured the back, neck or head
- Has a visible major trauma to a limb
What should I do?
- Assess the problem.
- Make sure the patient is safe from further harm.
- Ask patient and others who know the patient about both recent history and any background
medical problems (e.g., has this happened before?)
- Any warning signs?
- Is he or she at risk?
- Know the location of the emergency
- This is your ToA address _________-____________-__________
- This is your Dock’s GPS location _____________°N ___________°W
- If not at your cottage, use your cell phone to obtain your GPS location – download app.
- Call 911
- Follow the direction/advice & information given by the Operator
- Anticipate these questions:
- What is your emergency? Male or Female? Age? Describe Incident
- Know if any pre-existing conditions of patient
- What is your phone number? 911 will call you back if you are cut off.
- Stay on the phone with the operator!
Help is being dispatched simultaneously as more information is being collected. - Discuss transportation strategy with emergency dispatch
- Call someone with First Aid and/or CPR training (to provide assistance before the arrival of professional medical help – consult your Emergency Phone Numbers).
- If no one trained in First Aid and/or CPR is available, try to:
- Stop the bleeding with firm pressure on the wounds
- Clear air passages using the Heimlich Maneuver in case of choking
Evacuation of a patient
- What are your personal options for moving the injured/sick person? (The emergency operator may take this into account depending on the medical history, the availability of transport and personnel.)
- Ask the 911 Operator if they can send help directly to your location (OPP or Coast Guard), and if yes, ask how long it will take.
- If it will take too long under the circumstances; or if they are unable to come to your location:
- Call the friends/neighbours you have identified that
- Know First Aid and/or
- Can assist getting the patient into the boat, and/or
- Can drive their boat or your boat to the station at night
- Call the Marine Patrol during their regular daytime hours, or
- If prearranged, call your Marina or Contractor for assistance
- Call the friends/neighbours you have identified that