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These are situations that no one wants to confront but which can arise at any time. Knowing how to respond and what steps to take can save a person's life. In an accident on the highway, around the house, a swimming pool, the ocean or a public place, knowing techniques for resuscitating an injured person and moving them can save the person's life.

Act quickly and efficiently
In general,ï¿½when an accident involves several people it is essential toï¿½prioritize and take care ofï¿½ most serious wounded.ï¿½ And there is a sacred rule which can be ignored only in very specific cases. Otherwise, it must be respected even if this seems illogical: do not move the victims. Doing so incorrectly can have disastrous consequences, so it is better to wait for experts to arrive and do the job. Nonetheless, at times the life of the injured person will be in jeopardy if he or she staysï¿½on and you have no choice but to move them.

In the event of an automobile accident, if a person is trapped in the car, you should carry
out the so-called Rautek manoeuvre. The first step is to free up his or her feet if they are stuck, and approach the person from the side, slipping your arms under their armpits. With one hand grab the person's arm by the wrist, and with the other hold their chin so that they are supported by your chest. Move the victim slowly and remove them from the car maintaining as much as possible a straight line between their head and torso, forming a sort of block. Lie them down on the ground gently. A fire or cardio-respiratory failure are also among the few situations that justify moving an injured person.

Ways of moving a sick person
When the person is conscious and has no serious injuries, you can move them by holding them in your arms or on your back. If their weight allows it, you can move them by dragging them carefully, holding them under their arms, by their feet or tying their wrists together and placing their arms around your neck.

One important, early step is to examine the person. If they are unconscious, you have to check the pulse, placing your fingers under their chin. If there is a pulse and the person is breathing, lean their head back so they can breath correctly. Lie them on their side, with a hand under their head and the free leg placed a bit forward. Always keep the head back a bit so they don't choke if they vomit.ï¿½

Resuscitation
If the person is not breathing and there is no pulse, place them face-up on a hard surface. First, open the breathing channel by pressing back on the chin and placing a hand firmly on the forehead. This way the mouth will open completely and be prepared for resuscitation. The mouth-to-mouth technique is simple and useful in case of respiratory failure. It is done like this: pinch the nose shut and cover the person's mouth with your own. Try to cover it completely so no air escapes. Breath twice, about two seconds each time, with a bit more air than normal. Check for a pulse. If there is, keep up this artificial respiration at the rate of 12 breaths per minute, checking now and then to see if the pulse is still there.ï¿½

If the person does not respond to the mouth to mouth, you must do a cardiac massage. First find the spot where you are going to apply it: the middle third of the sternum. Here, place the bottom part of the palm of your hand (the part right above the wrist) and on top of it, the same part of the other hand, linking up the two. Keep your hands firm and your arms extended to exert force as you compress the thorax about 4 centimetres and do 80 compressions per minute. You can combine the cardiac resuscitation with the pulmonary version in this way: two breaths for every 15 compressions, keeping up this rhythm.

A bite of food that goes down the wrong pipe can cause a person to suffocate. In this case try to have the person cough the food up, or slap them on the back. If neither of these steps work, it is time to apply the Heimlich manoeuvre. With the person seated or standing, stand behind them, slip your arms around their waist, place a fist a few centimetres above their navel and hold that fist with your other hand. Press firmly on the abdomen, applying a clear blow angled upward. If the person is overweight or pregnant, you can do this manoeuvre in the upper part of the torso, at the base of the sternum.