First Aid Guidelines

If an emergency or accident occurs during your trip, try following the American Red Cross first aid guidelines below. Note that all of our cabins have a basic first aid kit located under the kitchen sink for easy access.

First Aid for Adults

1. Before administering care to an ill or injured person, pause and look at the scene and the person. Size up the scene and form an initial impression by answering the following questions:
   • Is the scene safe to enter?
   • What happened?
   • How many people are involved?
   • What is my initial impression about the nature of the person’s illness or injury? Does the person have any life-threatening conditions, such as severe, life-threatening bleeding?
   • Is anyone else available to help?

2. If the person is awake and responsive and there is no severe, life-threatening bleeding:
   • Obtain consent: Tell the person your name, describe the type and level of training you have, state what you think is wrong and what you plan to do, and ask permission to provide care.
   • Ask a bystander to get the first aid kit. A first aid kit is located under the kitchen sink of each cabin for easy access. 
   • Use appropriate PPE: Put on gloves if available.
   • Interview the person to gather more information about signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent medical history, last food or drink they’ve had, and events leading up to the incident.
   • Conduct a head-to-toe check: Check head and neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen, hips, legs and feet, and arms and hands for signs of injury.
   • Provide care consistent with your knowledge and training according to the conditions you find.

3. If the person appears unresponsive:
   • Shout the person’s name to get their attention. If there is no response, tap the person’s shoulder and shout again, while checking for normal breathing. Check for responsiveness and breathing for no more than 5-10 seconds.

4. If the person is breathing but needs emergency help:
   • Ask a bystander to call 911 (see EMERGENCIES section).
   • Ask a bystander to get the first aid kit. The first aid kit will always be located under the kitchen sink for easy access.
   • Proceed with gathering more information from bystanders about signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent medical history, last food or drink the victim had, and events leading up to the incident.
   • Conduct a head-to-toe check: Check head and neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen, hips, legs and feet, and arms and hands for signs of injury.

5. If the person is not breathing:
   • Ask someone to call 911 and obtain an AED and first aid kit.
   • Place the person face-up on a firm, flat surface, such as the floor or ground.
   • Begin CPR (starting with compressions) or use an AED if one is immediately available and you are trained in giving CPR and using an AED.
   • Continue administering CPR until the person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, an AED becomes available, or EMS or trained medical responders arrive on the scene.

Note: End CPR if the scene becomes unsafe or you cannot continue due to exhaustion.

First Aid for Children

1. Before administering baby or child first aid:
   • Make sure the scene is safe, and then tap the child on the shoulder and shout “Are you OK?” to ensure that he or she needs help.
   • Open the airway. With the child lying on her back, tilt the head back slightly to lift the chin.
   • Check for breathing. Listen carefully for no more than 10 seconds for sounds of breathing. (Occasional gasping sounds do not equate to breathing.)

2. If the child is NOT breathing, follow these child first aid steps for seeking assistance and administering CPR:
   • Ask a bystander to call 911 and retrieve an AED. If there is no bystander, call 911 after delivering 2 minutes of care.
   • Begin steps for CPR.
   • Continue administering CPR until the child exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, an AED becomes available, or EMS or a trained medical responder arrives on the scene.

Note: End the cycles if the scene becomes unsafe or you cannot continue performing CPR due to exhaustion.

3. If the child does respond and IS breathing:
   • Ask someone to call 911 to report any life-threatening conditions and obtain consent to give care. Check the child from head to toe and ask questions to find out what happened.
   • Maintain an open airway and monitor for any changes in condition.
   • Provide care based on the conditions found. There are different first aid steps depending on if the individual is:
     • Choking and conscious
     • Choking and unconscious
     • Bleeding externally
     • Burned
     • Poisoned
     • Having, or has had, a seizure
   • Roll the person onto her side into a recovery position if there are no obvious signs of injury.

Get More Help

Get help from local resources and facilities if you need more immediate help during your vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. Go to Mighty Vacay’s Emergency Tips for contact information.

• Visit the ER and Urgent Care Facilities for medical assistance.
• Dial 911 for situations needing assistance from the police, fire department, or ambulance.
• Call the Police Department for non-emergency assistance.