NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK

APPENDIX F:
FIRST AID/HOT AND COLD WEATHER SURVIVAL
FIRST AID
First aid is the immediate treatment administered to a casualty before
they can reach medical assistance. Prompt and correct first aid for
wounds will not only speed healing, but will often save a life—and that
life may be yours! The most important points are to remain calm and
use common sense. This short guide is intended as an emergency reference.
The tactical situation and the expertise of the personnel present
may influence treatment decisions.
The four priority life-saving steps in first aid are:
Restore breathing and pulse.
Stop bleeding.
Protect the wound.
Prevent or treat shock.
VITAL SIGNS
To Feel for a Pulse
1. Place the tips of index and middle fingers on the thumb side of the
casualty’s wrist to feel for a pulse. Do not use your thumb as this will
confuse the casualty’s pulse with your own.
2. If a pulse cannot be felt at the wrist, check the carotid pulse gently
with your fingertips (it is located in a groove next to the windpipe, deep
in the neck) or the femoral pulse (deep in the groin).
3. Once a pulse has been located, count the number of beats in 15 seconds
and multiply by 4 or if the pulse is very slow or irregular, count for
60 seconds. A pulse rate may vary depending on the casualty’s
condition.
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