Medical Emergencies (First Aid)

What are some signs and symptoms that a person experiencing an asthma attack will have?

• Breathing really fast/slow

• Having trouble breathing

• Has noisy breaths, like you can hear a whistling sound 

• Can barely form sentences

Mild Airway Blockage

The person can talk, make sounds, and cough loudly.

Severe Airway Blockage

Cannot breathe, talk, make sounds, coughing with no sound coming out, or makes universal choking sign.

Abdominal Thrusts/Heimlich Maneuver

Used when a child or adult is choking; perform 5 abdominal thrusts, and 5 back blows. If it is a pregnant woman or obese person, instead of abdominal thrusts, you would do chest thrusts. 

Obstructed Airway CPR

When person becomes unconscious after choking. Check airway before giving breaths.  

Mild allergic reactions

• stuffy nose

• sneezing

• itching around the eyes

• itching skin

• rashes/hives all over body

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

• trouble breathing

• swelling of tongue and face

• signs of shock 

What drug can you administer for a severe allergic reaction?

Epinephrine

Heart Attack

“Clot” in bloodstream blocking blood flow from/to heart. During heart attack, heart continues to pump blood. Person will feel discomfort in arms, neck, jaw, or between shoulder blades. 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Results from abnormal heart rhythm, and heart cannot pump blood.

Signs of heart attack in women, elderly, or people with diabetes

• Ache in chest

• uncomfortable feeling in back, jaw, neck, or chest

• shortness of breath

• Nausea or vomiting

Low blood sugar

occurs when diabetic person’s blood sugar becomes too low, this can led to life threatening injuries.

Signs of low blood sugar

• Irritable

• hungry, thirsty or weak

• sleepy

• sweaty

• “Cold and clammy give some candy”

Stroke

Happens when blood stops flowing to brain; a vessel could have been obstructed or burst

Signs of Stroke

• drooping face on only one side

• loss of speech, or slurred speech

• weakness on one side of the body

• FAST

Seizures

Abnormal electrical activity in brain and are mostly caused by epilepsy, but can also happen when a person has a head injury, low blood sugar, a heat related injury, or sudden cardiac arrest.

Signs of seizures

• loss of muscle control

• jerky movements of extremities

• falling to the ground

• loss of response