Recognizing Sudden Illnesses Chapter 5 Recognizing Sudden Illnesses

What to look for: p. 72 Change in level of consciousness Breathing problems Signals of possible heart attack Signals of stroke Loss of vision Sweating Persistent abdominal pain Diarrhea Seizures

Video Recognizing Sudden Illnesses (8:27) http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/e1.html

Stroke: ✓ What is stroke? Also called a brain attack. Caused when blood flow to a part of brain is cut off or when there is bleeding into the brain.

What causes a stroke? Caused by a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. ✓What is a “mini stroke?” When a person has the signals of a stroke, which then completely go away. Someone who has a mini-stroke is at very high risk of having a full stroke within the next 2 days.

✓What are controlled and uncontrolled risk factors of stroke? Age Gender Family History High Blood Pressure Diabetes Diet Changes in lifestyle Medication Cigarette Smoking

✓What are ways to prevent stroke? Control your blood pressure Quit smoking Eat a healthy diet Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Control diabetes

✓ What are signals of stroke? Weakness/numbness of face, arm, or leg Facial droop or drooling Trouble with speech Loss of vision or disturbed vision in one or both eyes Sudden severe headache, dizziness, confusion, agitation, loss of consciousness Loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, or ringing in the ears. Incontinence

✓ Explain Think FAST for a Stroke. Face: Weakness, numbness or drooping on one side of the face Arm: Weakness or numbness in one arm Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking Time: Try to determine when the signals began.

Types of Poisoning: ✓ List 4 ways a person can be poisoned and list some examples of poisoning for each category.

Types of Poisoning: Swallowed poison-includes foods, such as mushrooms or shellfish Inhaled poison-gases, fumes, drugs Absorbed poison-plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak. Injected poison- through the bites or stings of insects, spiders, snakes

✓ What are signals of poisoning? Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea Chest or abdominal pain Trouble breathing Sweating Changes in consciousness, seizures Headache, dizziness, weakness, Irregular pupil size, burning or tearing eyes Abnormal skin color

✓What information should you find out if a person swallowed poison (4 things)? The type of poison The quantity taken When it was taken How much the person weighs

✓ List 3 safety tips for preventing poisoning in children. Use childproof safety caps Always supervise children closely Install special child safety locks to keep children from opening cabinets.