Environmental Emergencies

Emergency 

How to identify?  What type of symptoms were displayed by the victim?

Treatments (how to help?)  

Heat Exhaustion

The victim will feel faint or dizzy, they will have excessive sweating, their skin will be cool/pale/clammy, there might be nausea or vomiting, a rapid weak pulse, and some cramping.

• Move to a cooler location

• Take a cool shower/use a cold compress

• Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated

Heat Stroke

The victim might have a throbbing headache, a fever of over 103 degrees fahrenheit, red hot dry skin, no sweating, nausea and vomiting, a strong rapid pulse, and they could lose consciousness.

• Get emergency help

• Call 911

• Keep cool until treated

Chemical Splash

If a chemical has gone anywhere on the skin or any body part there might be redness, tingling sensation, burning, and or itchiness.

• Clean area with water, if eye flush eye out with water for at least 20 minutes

• Wash hands with soap and water

• Remove any obstructing items such as eye contacts

• Call 911 or for emergency help

Cold related injuries

Frostbite:

Early signs of frostbite are numbness, pale patches of skin, skin that looks hard, or a waxy look to the skin.

Hypothermia:

Shivering, Dizziness, Feeling hungry, Nausea, Rapid Breathing, Problems speaking, Confusion, Coordination difficulties, fatigue, rapid heart rate, drowsiness, and weak pulse.

• Call 911

• Check for signs of hypothermia

• Wrap up your body

• Get out of the cold

• Gently rewarm frozen areas

• Drink warm liquids

Poisoning

Some signs are:

Burns or redness around the mouth and lips, Breath that smells like chemicals,Vomiting, Difficulty breathing, Drowsiness, and Confusion 

The treatment depends on: symptoms, age, and whether you know type and amount of substance.

Call 911 or the poison control center

Follow directions given 

Help the person to your best ability and wait for professional help.

Poison Control Center (national number):

800-222-1222

Bleeding Emergencies

Emergency 

How to identify?  What type of symptoms were displayed by the victim?

Treatments (how to help?)  

Nose Bleed

Nosebleeds are very common, they can be identified by blood coming out of the nose, lightheadedness, and maybe some dizziness. 

• Sit upright and lean forward

• Pinch nose

  • PInch for about 10-15 minutes

• If bleeding lasts for more than 30 minutes, there is lightheadedness, or nosebleed if after an accident seek emergency care.

Severe Bleeding

Identifying what type of bleeding it is can be very important.Arterial bleeds will be Bright red, fast, spurting bleeds. Veins bleeding will be a dark red, steady, slow bleed. Capillaries bleeding will have a slow even flow. 

• Remove clothing or debris on wound

• Stop building by applying pressure

• Help person lie down

• Don’t remove gauze or bandage

• Use a tourniquet

• Immobilize injured part

• Call 911/help

Puncture Wound

A puncture wound doesn’t usually come with a lot of bleeding but can be quite deep and dangerous.

• Wash hands

• Stop bleeding

• Clean wound

• Apply an antibiotic

• Cover the wound

• Change dressing

• Watch for signs of infection

Sprains and Fractures

Sprains

Most people with a sprain will face pain, swelling, bruising, limited ability to move the joint, ability to put weight on it even when painful.

What is R.I.C.E.?

R –rest the injured limb

I –ice the area

C – compress the area

E –elevate the injured area

Fractures

Simple fracture:

Skin is broken but nothing seems to be protruding outwards. 

Compound fracture:

Skin is broken and bone is protruding out.

• Stop the bleeding

• Immobilize the area

• Apply ice packs

• Treat for shock

• Call 911

Allergic Reactions

Emergency 

How to identify?  What type of symptoms were displayed by the victim?

Treatments (how to help?)  

Mild Allergic Reaction

Mild Allergic Reactions are often from some type of bug bite or sting. They are often identified by:

• redness 

• itching

•  stinging 

• minor swelling

• Move to a safe area to avoid more bites/stings

• Wash area with soap and water

• Apply a cool compress

• Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to the bites several times a day

• Take a antihistamine to reduce itching

Severe Allergic Reaction

Life threatening allergic reactions are known as anaphylaxis. Some indicators are:

• Shock

• Sudden drop in Blood Pressure

• Trouble Breathing

• Skin reactions (hives etc.)

• Swelling 

• weak and rapid pulse

• Dizziness or fainting

• Immediately call 911

• Ask the person if they are carrying a epinephrine auto injector 

• Ask if you should help them inject it 

• Have the person lie still on their back

• Loosen tight clothing and cover them with blanket

• If person isn’t breathing start CPR

• Even if a person recovers, make sure they seek medical treatment/assistance.

Brain Emergencies

Seizures

Some signs that a person might be going through a epilepsy attack are:

• Temporary confusion

• A staring spell

• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

• Loss of consciousness

What should you do to help?:

Stay with the person and call 911. Check for medical ID. Time the seizures. Move the person from any dangerous objects and clear some space around the person.Make the person comfortable, loosen any tight clothing. Stay with them through and after the seizure.

What should you not do?:

-Do not put anything into their mouth

-Do not restrain them

Stroke

Some symptoms:

• Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg (especially on one side)

• Confusion

• Trouble seeing

• Trouble walking and imbalance

• A severe sudden headache

Treatment:

• Some treatments can only be used if the person reaches the hospital within 3 hours

• Call 911 immediately and get them to the hospital.

• Use the acronym F.A.S.T to see if they are having a stroke.

What does F.A.S.T mean?  Explain what each is.

F-face (ask for them to smile, check for dropping)

A-Arms (raise both arms and see if one drops downwards)

S-Speech (ask them to repeat a short phrase, see if they slur)

T-Time (get the person to a hospital quickly if any signs are present)

General Emergencies

Emergency 

How to identify?  What type of symptoms were displayed by the victim?

Treatments (how to help?)  

Asthma

The symptoms of a acute asthma attack include:

• difficulty talking 

• difficulty walking

•  shortness of breath 

•  lips or fingernails turning blue.

• Call 911

• Follow the person’s asthma plan if you know it or find it

• If no plan:

  • Sit them upright and loosen clothing

  • If they have an inhaler, help them in using it

  • If they don’t have an inhaler, use one from a first aid kit

• Use an inhaler with a spacer if possible. If no spacer, use inhaler like normal

• Monitor person until help arrives

Low Blood Sugar

Some symptoms are:

• Shakiness

• Being nervous or anxious

• Sweating, chills and clamminess

• Irritability

• Confusion

• Fast heartbeat

• Feeling lightheaded 

• Hunger

• You want to raise the person’s blood sugar level

• Call 911 if:

  • A person has a low blood sugar and doesn’t have diabetes and loses consciousness.

What are some types of food/drinks that will not help someone with low blood sugar?

• Anything that doesn't have a sugar content or has very low amounts of sugar or won’t help with glucose production won’t really help like water

Fainting (Shock)

What causes shock?:

It is normally caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain. Fainting is most commonly caused by a temporary malfunction in the autonomic nervous system. An external trigger can cause this to happen.

Symptoms:

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Sweating

• Blurred Vision

• Headaches

• Nausea

Place the person on their back, if the person is breathing raise legs up to heart level to help breathing, loosen all tight clothing.  If they are unconscious for more than 1 minute put them in a rest position and call 911. Stay with them and if they regain consciousness don’t let them get up and stay calm.

General Emergencies

Emergency 

How to identify?  What type of symptoms were displayed by the victim?

Treatments (how to help?)  

Choking

The universal sign is holding neck if not given look for these symptoms:

• Inability to talk

• Difficulty breathing

• Wheezing

• Cough

• Skin, lips and nails turning blue

• Loss of consciousness

American Red Cross Method:

They recommend the five-five method which is:

• 5 back blows

• 5 abdominal thrusts

• Alternate between 5 blows and 5 thrusts

American Heart Association Method:

• Do only the abdominal thrusts

• Known as the Heimlich maneuver:

• They say it’s okay to use back blows if you haven’t learned the maneuver.

What do you do if the choking individual passes out?

• perform CPR with chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Heart Attack

Heart Attack symptoms:

• Uncomfortable pressure or fullness in the center of chest.

• Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest 

• Shortness of breath

• Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

• Sweating

• Nausea

Cardiac Arrest symptoms (watch video):

• A person can pass out

• Breathing stops

• No Pulse found

For a heart attack:

• Call 911

• Have them chew or swallow and aspirin

• If a nitroglycerin is prescribed give them that

• Start CPR if the person is unconscious. Use an AED as needed

For Cardiac Arrest:

• Call 911

• Start CPR

• Ask someone to get an AED and restart heart