1. Sudden Illness
Chapter 15

2. Sudden Illness
Fainting
Diabetic Emergencies
Seizures
Stroke

3. Fainting Partial or complete loss of consciousness Cause: Triggers:
Temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain
When brain is deprived of blood, it will momentarily shut down
Triggers:
Emotionally stressful situation
Pain
Specific medical condition
Standing for long period of time/overexertion
Sudden change of position: laying down > standing up

4. Fainting Can occur without any warning Warning signs: Sweating
Vomiting
Distortion or dimming of vision
Head/abdominal pain

5. Fainting: Care Self correcting condition
Victim will usually regain consciousness within a minute
Falling usually creates the injury; not fainting itself
Place victim on back and elevate feet
Loosen restrictive clothing
Check for life threatening injuries

6. Fainting: Care
Do Not:
Give the victim food/water
Slap the victim
Splash water on face
If the victim recovers quickly there is no need to call 9-1-1
Call physician or emergency department to determine if episode was linked to more serious condition

7. Diabetes Mellitus
A chronic condition in which your body’s ability to break down sugars and carbohydrates are effected
Typically your body breaks down sugars and carbohydrates into glucose
Glucose is needed to fuel the cells in your body, but your cells need insulin to take in the glucose
With diabetes your body doesn’t:
Make enough insulin
Can’t use the insulin
Both

8. Diabetes 7th leading cause of death in America
Can lead to other health issues
Kidney, heart, periodontal (tooth) disease
Stroke

9. Diabetic Emergency
Situation in which a victim becomes ill because of imbalance of insulin and sugar in bloodstream
Without proper balance the cells will starve and the body will not function properly

10. Diabetes Type I Insulin dependent
The body produces little or no insulin
Tends to develop in childhood
Need daily injections of insulin

11. Diabetes Type II
The body produces insulin but the cells do not use it effectively or not enough is produced
May not need injections; only regulated diet

13. Insulin Imbalance Condition
Hyperglycemia
Insulin levels are too low, sugar levels too high
Hypoglycemia
Insulin levels too high, sugar levels too low

14. Insulin Shock Sugar is used too rapidly
Too much insulin
Fails to eat adequate or because of sudden illness cannot keep food down
Over exercise, burns off sugar too quickly
Experience great emotional stress
Because of lack of sugar, brain will not function properly

15. Insulin Shock Signs & Symptoms Dizziness Drowsiness Confusion
Irregular breathing
Abnormal pulse
Feeling/looking ill

16. Diabetic Emergency If conscious If unconscious
Check for non-life threatening injuries
Food
Sugar, fruit juice, candy
If unconscious
Call 9-1-1
Monitor signs of life and breathing
DO NOT try anything by mouth

17. Seizures Normal function of brain is disrupted
Electrical activity becomes irregular resulting in loss of body control
Causes:
Injury
Disease
Fever
Poisoning
Infections
Chronic condition (epilepsy)

18. Seizures Generally last 1-3 minutes Victim may experience an Aura
Unusual sensation or feeling
Such as a visual hallucination
Strange sounds, taste, smell
Urgent need to get to safety

19. Seizures During the seizure Breathing may become irregular or stop
Drool
Eyes may roll upward
Body may become rigid

20. Seizures Mild blackouts Body will remain relatively still
Non-convulsive
Convulsive
Mild blackouts
Body will remain relatively still
Bystanders may mistake as daydreaming
More severe
Sudden, uncontrolled muscular contractions
Lasting several minutes

21. Seizures: Care Do Not hold or restrain victim
Could cause injury
Do Not place anything in their mouth
Rarely bite tongue/cheeks
Move any objects such as furniture away
Try to stay calm

22. Seizures: Care
When over, victim will usually be drowsy and disoriented
Allow them to rest
Reassure victim
Check for any injuries

23. Seizures: Care When to call 9-1-1 Seizure lasts more than 5 min
Repeated seizures without regaining consciousness
Victim appears to be injured
No predisposing condition
Pregnant
Infant/child experiencing the seizure
Diabetic
Takes place in water
Fails to regain consciousness

24. Febrile Seizure
Infants or young children who could be at risk for epilepsy, as well as seizures brought on by a rapid body temperature increase
Common in children under 5 who have a rectal fever of 102 degrees
Infections will trigger it
Ear, throat, digestive system

25. Febrile Seizures: Signs & Symptoms
Sudden rise in body temp
Change in consciousness
Rhythmic jerking of the head and limbs
Confusion
Drowsiness
Crying out
Becoming rigid
Holding breath
Rolling eyes upward

26. Febrile Seizures: Care
Cool the body down immediately
Contact physician
Make them comfortable
DO NOT try to restrain
DO NOT place anything in mouth

27. Stroke Blood flow to the brain is cut off
Brain cells are then deprived of oxygen and begin to die
Causes:
Blood clots
Ruptured arteries in brain caused by head injury, high blood pressure
Aneurysm: weak area in the wall of an artery that balloons out and can rupture
Tumor or swelling from head injury

28. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
“Mini Stroke” or “Warning Stroke”
Difference between a TIA and a stroke is a TIA is only a temporary clot
Symptoms usually disappear within minutes or hours
Victims now have a higher chance of a stroke
Call 9-1-1

29. Hypertension High Blood Pressure
This increases a risk for a stroke 7x’s
Putting pressure on arteries making them more likely to burst

30. Stroke Risk Factors Age Genetics Family History TIA Diabetes
Unpreventable
Preventable
Age
Genetics
Family History
TIA
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Control blood pressure
Do not smoke
Healthy Diet
Exercise Regularly
Control Diabetes

31. Stroke: Act FAST F A S T Facial drooping Arm weakness Speech slurred
Time: call immediately

32. Stroke: Signs & Symptoms
Looking/feeling ill
Abnormal behavior
Blurred vision
Unequal pupils
Severe headache
Confusion/change in mood
Drooling
Lose bowel/bladder control

33. Stroke: Care Call 9-1-1 If unconscious; make sure airway is open
Check for non-life threatening injuries
Reassure the victim
DO NOT give any food/drink
Use simple “yes” and “no” questions