Under which circumstance might a SAR provider use implied consent?

Implied consent applies in situations where an individual is unable to provide explicit consent, and immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent serious harm or death. In cases where a person is unconscious and there is a reason to believe that they have life-threatening injuries, the law assumes that they would consent to emergency treatment if they were able to. This principle allows search and rescue personnel to provide critical care without needing to obtain direct consent, which may not be possible in such circumstances.

In the context of the other choices, if a patient is conscious and coherent, they can provide informed consent for their treatment. When treating a child without parental presence, the need for consent varies based on local laws and regulations, but generally, efforts should be made to contact a parent or guardian. Lastly, the unavailability of emergency personnel does not justify the use of implied consent since the presence of first responders would lead to obtaining a more traditional form of consent.