MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

CHANGES IN CONSCIOUSNESS

• Responsive (conscious)
• Unresponsive (unconscious)
• Not all responsive victims are fully responsive.
• What to do
– If unresponsive and not breathing, perform CPR.
– If unresponsive and vomiting, roll victim onto side.
– Call 9-1-1.
CHEST PAIN
• Causes
– Heart attack
– Respiratory infection
– Overexertion resulting in muscle pain
–
CARE FOR A HEART ATTACK

• Call 9-1-1.
• Have victim rest.
• Help victim take prescribed medication.
• Give aspirin.

BREATHING DIFFICULTY

• Causes
– Asthma
– Hyperventilation
• Recognizing breathing difficulty
– Breathing is abnormally fast or slow.
– Breathing is abnormally deep (gasping) or shallow.
– Noisy breathing: wheezing, gurgling, crowing, snoring
– Bluish lips
– Pause when speaking to catch breath

CARE FOR BREATHING DIFFICULTY

• Place in position of comfort.

• Call 9-1-1.
• Assist with asthma inhaler if needed.
• If hyperventilating, have victim inhale, hold breath,
 then exhale slowly.

FAINTING

• Decreased blood flow to the brain

• Recognizing fainting
– Sudden, brief unresponsiveness
– Pale skin
– Sweating

CARE FOR FAINTING

• Check responsiveness and breathing and provide care as needed.

• Loosen tight clothing.
• If victim fell, check for injuries.
• Call 9-1-1 if needed.
– Condition does not improve quickly
– Repeated fainting episodes
– Elderly victim

SEIZURES

• Causes
– Epilepsy
– Heatstroke
– Poisoning
– Electric shock
– Hypoglycemia
– High fever
– Brain injury, tumor, or stroke
– Alcohol or other drug withdrawal or abuse

RECOGNIZING SEIZURE

• Sudden falling
• Unresponsiveness
• Rigid body and back arching
• Jerky muscle movement
CARE FOR A SEIZURE
• Protect from injury.
• Loosen restrictive clothing.
• Roll victim onto his or her side (recovery position).
• Call 9-1-1 if seizure occurs for an unknown reason.

DIABETIC EMERGENCIES

• Diabetes is the inability to use glucose normally due to deficiency in insulin.

• Hypoglycemia
– Low blood glucose
• Hyperglycemia
– High blood glucose

LOW BLOOD GLUCOSE

• Recognizing low blood glucose

– Sudden onset
– Staggering
– Anger
– Pale color
– Confusion
– Sudden hunger
– Excessive sweating
– Trembling, seizures, unresponsiveness

CARE FOR LOW BLOOD GLUCOSE

• Provide sugar.
– Sugar, soda, juice, glucose tablets or gel
• If no improvement in a few minutes, call 9-1-1.

HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE

• Recognizing high blood glucose

– Gradual onset
– Drowsiness
– Extreme thirst
– Frequent urination
– Warm and dry skin
– Vomiting
 – Fruity, sweet breath odor
– Rapid breathing
– Unresponsiveness

CARE FOR HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE

• If you are unsure whether it is high or low blood glucose, provide same care as you would for
low blood glucose.
• If condition does not improve in 15 minutes, call 9-1-1.

EMERGENCIES DURING PREGNANCY

• Vaginal bleeding
• Cramps in lower abdomen
• Swelling of the face or fingers
• Severe continuous headache
• Dizziness or fainting
• Blurring of vision or seeing spots
• Uncontrollable vomiting

CARE FOR EMERGENCIES DURING PREGNANCY

• Keep victim warm and on her left side.

• For vaginal bleeding, place sterile pad over opening of vagina.
• Save blood-soaked pads and send them to hospital with victim.
• Seek medical care.