Chapter Five Sudden Illness

Common signals of sudden illness: Change in consciousness Breathing problems Signals of a heart attack Signals of a stroke Loss of vision Signals of shock Sweating Persistent abdominal pain or pressure Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Seizures

When to call Unconscious or altered level Breathing problems Signals of a heart attack Persistent abdominal pain or pressure Severe bleeding Vomiting or passing blood Severe burns Suspected poisoning Seizures or stroke Suspected or obvious injuries to the head, neck, or back Painful, swollen, deformed areas

What to do until help arrives - 1. Do no further harm 2. Check the scene for safety and then the person 3. Care for life threatening conditions first 4. Help the person rest comfortably 5. Keep the person’s body temperature normal 6. Reassure the person 7. Watch for changes in consciousness 8. Do not give the person anything to eat or drink unless they are fully conscious, able to swallow and do not show signs of a stroke 9. Help the person with their medication if asked

Fainting Definition – a partial or complete loss of consciousness resulting from a temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain Signs and Symptoms 1. Lightheaded or dizzy 2. May show signs of shock 3. Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes 4. Sweating 5. Vomiting 6. Everything going dark

Care for Fainting Care  Lower the person to the ground  Loosen tight clothing  Check that the person is breathing  Do not give them anything to eat or drink  Roll onto side if they vomit Call if you are unsure of the victim’s condition

Seizures Definition – an irregularity in the brain’s electrical activity, often marked by loss of consciousness and uncontrollable muscle movement; also called a convulsion The chronic condition is known as epilepsy Can be caused by injury, disease, fever, poisoning, or infection

Signals of a seizure - A blank stare A period of distorted sensation during which the person is unable to respond Uncontrolled muscular contractions, called convulsions, which last several minutes May experience an aura, an unusual sensation or feeling, such as hallucination; strange sound, taste or smell; or an urgent need to get to safety

Febrile Seizures Most common in children younger than 5. Often caused by  Ear infections  Infections of the throat or digestive system They most often occur with a rapid rise in body temperature.

Signals of a febrile seizure - Sudden rise in body temperature Change in consciousness Rhythmic jerking of head and limbs Loss of bladder or bowel control Confusion Crying out Becoming rigid Holding breath Upward rolling of eyes

Call if… 1. The seizure lasts more than five minutes 2. This is the person’s first seizure 3. The person has multiple seizures 4. The cause of the seizure is unknown 5. The person is pregnant 6. The person is diabetic 7. The person appears injured or fails to regain consciousness 8. The seizure takes place in water 9. The person is elderly and could have suffered a stroke 10. The person is a young child or an infant and experienced a febrile seizure brought on by high fever

Care for Someone Having a Seizure Reassure the person Care for them the same way you would care for someone who is unconscious Do not put anything between their teeth Protect the person from being injured by moving nearby objects Protect the person’s head Roll them on to their side if there is fluid in their mouth

Stroke Definition – also known as a brain attack, is a disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, which causes permanent damage to brain tissue Mini-stroke– a temporary episode, like a stroke, is caused by a disruption of blood flow to the brain; someone who has a mini stroke is at high risk of having a full blown stroke.

Risk Factors for Stroke High Blood Pressure  Puts added pressure on arteries and make them stiffer  Controlled by losing weight, changing diet, exercising routinely and managing stress Diabetes  Uncontrolled, the resulting elevated blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels throughout the body

Risk Factors for Stroke Cigarette Smoking  Smoking increases blood pressure, damages blood vessels and makes blood more likely to clot.  Benefits of quitting smoking begin as soon as you stop. Ten years after quitting, a persons risk of stroke is about the same as someone who never smoked. Diet  Diets that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol cause fatty materials to build up on the walls of the blood vessels.  Fatty foods – egg yolks, beef, pork, ham, whole milk

Preventing Stroke Control your blood pressure Quit smoking Eat a healthy diet Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Control diabetes

Signals of a Stroke Having difficulty talking or being understood when speaking Facial droop or drooling Having blurred or dimmed vision Experience a sudden, severe headache, dizziness, or confusion Loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking Incontinence

F.A.S.T. Face – weakness on one side of the face Arm – weakness or numbness in one arm Speech – slurred speech or trouble speaking Time – Call and let the dispatcher know when the symptoms started

Care for some having a stroke Note when the symptoms started If they are unconscious –  Make sure their airway is open  Position the victim on their side if they have fluid in their mouth  Stay with the person and monitor their signs of life If they are conscious –  Check for non-life threatening conditions  Reassure the victim  Have the victim rest in a comfortable position Do not give them anything to eat or drink

Diabetes Definition – the inability of the body to change sugar (glucose) from food to energy This can lead to other medical conditions such as –  Blindness  Nerve disease  Kidney disease  Heart disease  Stroke

Types of Diabetes Type I  Begins in childhood  Body produces little to no insulin  Person will be insulin dependent  No cure Type II  Body makes insulin but not enough for the body’s needs  Genetic or lifestyle factors

Types of Diabetic Emergencies Hyperglycemia  Too much sugar in the blood  Person may have not taken enough insulin or reacting badly to a meal Hypoglycemia  Too little sugar in the blood  Person may have taken too much insulin, eaten too little food, or overexerted him or herself.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Emergencies Changes in level of consciousness Changes in mood Rapid breathing or pulse Feeling or looking ill Dizziness and headache Confusion

Care for Diabetic Emergencies If the person is conscious –  Help them eat or drink something with sugar in it– Fruit juice or table sugar dissolved in water Glucagon  Help them get to their injectable medicine If they are unconscious –  Call  Do not give them anything by mouth

Allergic Reactions Allergic reactions are caused by over activity of the immune system against specific antigens (foreign substances) Antigens that often cause allergic reactions –  Bee or insect  Antibiotics  Pollen  Animal dander  Latex  Certain foods

Allergic Reactions What to Look For - Hives Itching Rash Weakness Nausea Stomach cramps Vomiting Dizziness Trouble breathing

Call if - Has trouble breathing Complains of the throat tightening Explains that he or she is subject to severe allergic reactions Is unconscious

What to do until help arrives - Monitor the person’s breathing Give care for life-threatening conditions Check a conscious person to determine –  The substance (antigen) involved  The route of exposure  The effects of the exposure Assist the person to use an Epi Pen Assist the person to take antihistamine Document any changes in the person’s condition

How Poisons Enter the Body A poison is any substance that causes injury, illness or death if it enters the body. A person can be poisoned by -  Ingestion – foods, drugs, medications, household items, plants  Inhalation – gases and fumes  Absorption – plants, fertilizers, pesticides  Injection – bites, stings, needles

Checking the Scene for Poisoning Check for clues about what happened  Unusual odors  Flames  Spilled containers Try to get information from the victim or bystanders Try to find out –  The type of poison  The quantity taken  When it was taken  How much the person weighs

Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Chest or abdominal pain Trouble breathing Sweating Changes in consciousness Headache Dizziness Burning or tearing eyes Burns around the lips, tongue, or on the skin

General Care for Poisoning 1. Remove the person from the source of poison if the scene is dangerous. 2. Check the person’s level of consciousness, breathing, and other signs of life. 3. Care for any life threatening conditions. 4. Gather information. 5. Look for containers and take them with you to the phone. 6. Call or the National Poison Control Center Follow the directions given to you by the professionals.

Poison Control Centers Dedicated to helping people deal with poisons. Many can be found in emergency departments of hospitals. Many poisonings can be cared for without the help of EMS, so PCCs help reduce the workload of the EMS system.

Special Care Considerations Toxic Fumes  Person’s skin may turn pale and ashen  Get the victim fresh air as soon as possible Chemicals  Wet – flush the area for at least 20 minutes  Dry – brush off the chemicals with a gloved hand, then flush the area with water

Preventing Poisonings Use cleaners in a well ventilated room. Wear protective clothing when working with chemicals. Read product information carefully. Never use someone else’s medication. Keep poisonous substance out of the reach of children and child proof cabinets.