Follow the Action steps - the basic principles of CHECK-CALL-CARE
Call for an ambulance if the victim ____
Unconscious or altered level of consciousness
Breathing problems (no breathing or difficulty breathing)
Persistent chest or abdominal pain or pressure
No pulse
Severe bleeding
Severe burns
Vomiting blood or passing blood in feces or urine
Poisoning or suspected poisoning
Seizures, severe headache, or slurred speech
Injuries to the head, neck, or back
Broken bones or suspected broken bones
The general care for sudden illnesses is very similar. Only in a fewsituations, such as a seizure, vomiting, poisoning, or known diabetic emergency,does your care require you to do more.
General care for sudden illnesses follows the same general guidelines
Do no harm
Monitor breathing and consciousness
Help the victim rest in the most comfortable position
Keep the victim from getting chilled or overheated
Reassure the victim
Provide specific care needed
Fainting:
Partial or complete loss of consciousness as a result of a reductionof blood flow to the brain.
Caused by:
Emotional Shock - seeing blood
Medical conditions - heart disease
Standing too long resulting in blood pooling in legs
Overexertion
Note: Pregnant and Elderly susceptible to fainting when suddenly moving position.
Signs and Symptoms of Fainting include
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
Note: Fainting mild form of shock => symptoms of shock include pale,moist, cool skin. Victim may be nauseous and complain of numbness in fingersand toes. Breathing and pulse may become faster.
Care for fainting: Note that just being in a horizontal positionincreases blood flow to the brain.
Injuries can result from the fall caused by fainting.
Treatment: If you do not suspect a head or spine injury, or victim havingtrouble breathing; broken bones, or if victim's nauseated.
Elevate the victim's legs about 12 inches.
Loosen any clothing, such as a tie or collar
Check lifethreatening or non-lifethreatening conditions
Don't give the victim anything to drink or eat
A quick recovery with no lasting symptoms: You probably don't have tocall EMS personnel. Note: Precaution suggest they visit their doctor todetermine if the fainting is associated with a more serious condition.
Diabetic Emergencies
Sugar cannot pass freely from the blood stream to the cells.
Needs the help of a hormone INSULIN. Without insulin cells are starvedof sugar.
When the body does not produce enough insulin a condition called sugardiabetes or diabetes Mellitus results.
Two major types of diabetes.
Type I: Insulin dependent diabetes, occurs when the body produceslittle or no insulin.
Juvenile diabetes: Individuals have to inject insulin into their bodiesdaily
Type II: Noninsulin-dependent diabetes, body produces insulinbut not in quantities sufficient to match the body's needs.
Maturity-Onset diabetes - Older adults
Two problems can occur with diabetics: Too much ortoo little sugar in the body
This results in a diabetic emergency
HYPERGLYCEMIA - occurs when there is insufficient insulin in thebody, causing a high level of sugar in the blood.
Results
Cells in body starved for sugar
Body compensates by using up energy stores such as fats.
Converting FAT to energy produces WASTE PRODUCTS
WASTE PRODUCTS increase the acidity level in the blood resulting in ACIDOSIS (person becomes ill)
If condition worsens a DIABETIC COMA can result
On the flip side of the coin
HYPOGLYCEMIA occurs when the insulin level in the body is high,causing a low level of sugar in the blood.
Causes of hypoglycemia:
Low sugar levels in the blood
Taking too much insulin
Failure to eat adequately
Overexercises and burns off sugar faster than normal
Experiences emotional stress.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) can lead to insulin shock.
Major signs and symptoms of Diabetic Emergencies
Changes in level of consciousness, including dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion
Rapid breathing
Rapid pulse
Feeling and looking ill
IT IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO TYPESOF DIABETIC EMERGENCY AS THE CARE FOR BOTH IS THE SAME
Care for Diabetic Emergencies
If the victim is conscious give them sugar. Candy bars, Mountain Dew(non-diet soft drinks).
If the problem was HYPERGLYCEMIA - high blood sugar levelsthen the ingestion of sugar will cause no further harm.
If the problem was HYPOGLYCEMIA - low blood sugar levels thenthe ingestion of sugar will help quickly
If after 5 minutes the victim isn't feeling any better call forfurther help.
If a person is unconscious you should do what?
SEIZURE
Seizure: A disorder in the brain's electrical activity, marked by lossof consciousness and often uncontrollable muscle movement.
Epilepsy: Chronic seizures
AURA: Unusual sensation feeling, visual hallucinations, strangesound, taste, or smell: In any case the victim quite often knows that they'regoing into a seizure.
Seizure Range: Mild Blackout to Uncontrollable Muscle Contractions.
Seizures usually last 1 to 3 minutes.
Seizure Symptoms include:
1. Breathing irregularity
2. Drooling
3. Eyes roll up
4. Rigid body
5. Urination and defecation
6. Mild blackouts
7. Uncontrolled muscular contractions.
Febrile Seizures: Usually effect under 18 year olds.Most common in children under 5. Triggered by infections (ear,throat, or digestive system)
Most likely to occur when temperature of infant above 102degrees.
Febrile Seizure Signs and symptoms p 299
1. Sudden rise in body temperature
2. Changes in level of consciousness
3. Rhythmic jerking of the head and limbs
4. Urinating and defecating
5. Confusion
6. Drowsiness
7. Crying out
8. Becoming rigid
9. Holding the breath
10. Upward rolling of eyes
occurs 2% to 3% of children between 3 months and 5 years. 15-20% greaterrisk of developing epilepsy.
Do not hold or restrain the victim or placeanything between the victim's teeth. Remove nearby objects that maycause injury and maintain open airway. Cushion the victim'shead using folded clothing or a small pillow. Loosen clothing ifpossible.
Position victim on side after seizure ends (draining of fluid from mouth)
Look for nonlifethreatening conditions (broken bones, mild abrasions,etc.,)
Provide comfort and privacy to the individual.
Stay with victim until he or she is fully conscious and aware of thesurroundings.
For infant/child febrile seizure
Cool the body down by removing excess clothing and giving a lukewarmsponge bath. Call doctor before giving medication.
When to call EMS for seizures.
1. Seizure lasts several minutes
2. Repeated seizures, one after another
3. Victim is injured
4. Victim has a predisposing condition such as epilepsy
5. Pregnant victim
6. Infant of child experiencing the first febrile seizure
7. Diabetic victim
8. Seizure takes place in water
9. Victim fails to regain consciousness after seizure
Stroke
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, causingpermanent damage to brain tissue.
What is the most common cause of a stroke?
Blood clots (Thrombus or embolus) that forms or lodges in the arteriesthat supply blood to the brain.
What's an aneurysm?
Weak area in an artery wall that can balloon and rupture.
What's a transient ischemic attack (TIA) , and why should a person whoexperienced a TIA be concerned about strokes?
Mini stroke. 10X the risk of having a full stroke.
What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
1. Feeling and looking ill or displaying abnormal behavior
2. Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg (one-side usually)
3. Difficulty talking or being understood
4. Vision blurred (Pupils of eyes, unequal size)
5. Sudden; HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, CONFUSION, OR MOOD CHANGE
6. Drooling
7. Unconscious
8. Defecation or Urination.
How would you care for a stroke?
Unconscious victim
1. CALL EMS immediately
2. Open airway
3. Drain fluid or vomit from mouth (as in video)
4. Position victim on side (paralyzed side: prevents further injury)
5. Monitor breathing and pulse.
Conscious victim
1. Check lifethreatening emergencies
2. Call EMS
3. Comfort and reassure victim
4. Do not give anything to drink or eat
5. NON-Verbal communication
TIME is crucial.
Prevention of Strokes:
Control Blood Pressure
losing weight
changing diet
exercising
managing stress
Do not smoke
increases blood pressure (see above)
more likely to develop blood clots
Note effects of quitting smoking for 10 years
Eat a healthy diet
Diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol can cause fatty materialsto build up on walls of your blood vessels.
Exercise regularly
Increases blood circulation (develops more channels for blood flow)
Weight control
Control diabetes
If untreated, diabetes can cause destructive changes in the blood vesselsthroughout the body.
KPE 210 Home Page (Williams)
Page author: Emyr Williams
URL: http://www.csulb.edu/~emyrw/kpe210/suddenillness.html
Last updated: 3/26/98
