Verbal First Aid: What You Say Can Be As Important As What You Do: Part 3

The introduction of the Verbal First Aid technique in part one established the concept that words can mean the difference between pain and comfort, panic and calm, and even life and death, and that words, and images in our minds, can determine the outcome of medical emergencies. Part two reviewed testing it in the field. The conclusion to this series discusses specific applications of the technique on scene.

F/Lt Mike Harvitt, a trooper with the Michigan State Police, saw first-hand how putting Verbal First Aid techniques into practice at the scene of a motorcycle accident made a difference. The victim was knocked of his bike and run over, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. The verbal discussion that occurred between Harvitt and the victim concerning his condition may have very well saved his life. "The victim asked me how his leg was," Harvitt says. He told him, "Your leg is injured. For now, though, I need to know if you have any other areas on your body that need my attention." Diverting his attention away from his leg changed the victim's demeanor. His heart rate and respirations slowed down and he began to breathe easier.

Verbal First Aid Applications

Verbal First Aid can be used in a wide variety of applications.

Verbal First Aid for Burns: The right words can help when a person has been burned and is told to picture "cool and comfortable," imagining the injured part is packed in ice or snow. If Verbal First Aid is applied in this manner to someone with less than second-degree burns within the first hour of the injury, before the normal physiological and psychological reactions set in, there is evidence that scarring can be reduced significantly. Pain and swelling are due to the nervous system's inflammatory response and these can be influenced by the thoughts and mental pictures of the patient. When a person is treated with this "hypnotic icing" within the first hour of injury, such treatment may even be lifesaving, according to testimony by Jerold Kaplan, M.D., of the Burn Center, Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA, in Hypnosis for Medical Emergencies.

Verbal First Aid with Crowds: Words can make the difference at the scene of a major critical incident or a domestic or international terrorist attack. For example, several years ago, in an effort to commit suicide, a distraught man parked his SUV on the train tracks in Glendale, CA. His vehicle was hit by the first train on the scene, which collided into a second train. Many people were killed and injured in that disaster.

In an attempt to triage the injured and control the crowd, one firefighter reported that he used a megaphone and requested that those who could walk should make their way to the fire engines. In the shock of the event, no one seemed able to respond. He repeated his request to no avail. Then he added the simple Verbal First Aid assurance that, "Help is on the way." He reported once he made that statement, people became calm enough to hear him and comply with his next request.

In most emergencies you'll encounter, bystanders may complicate the rescue. But remember they are generally concerned and want to help, even though what they say and do may sometimes seem to make your job harder. The Verbal First Aid technique that is helpful in such cases is to enlist their aid. Have them find the person's purse, calm the dog, or hold the door open for you. Have them call the appropriate relative or find the necessary papers. When people, including the victim, are part of the solution, they are less lost to the fear of the moment and are better able to respond to your positive suggestions.

Verbal First Aid with the Unconscious: In her article, "Experiences of Previously Unconscious Patients," Madelaine Lawrence, RN, PhD writes, "Twenty-five percent of all unconscious patients can hear, understand, and emotionally respond to what is happening in their external environment. However, because of their medical condition, they are incapable of moving or communicating their awareness."