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 9-1-1 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 harm2. Check the scene for safety and then the person3. Care for life threatening conditions first4. Help the person rest comfortably5. Keep the person’s body temperature normal6. Reassure the person7. Watch for changes in consciousness8. 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 Lightheaded or dizzy May show signs of shock Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes Sweating Vomiting 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 9-1-1 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 Febrile seizures are most common in children

younger than 5 years.

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

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 9-1-1 if…1. The seizure lasts more than five minutes2. This is the person’s first seizure3. The person has multiple seizures4. The person appears to be injured5. The cause of the seizure is unknown6. The person is pregnant7. The person is diabetic8. The seizure follows a quick rise in temperature9. The person fails to regain consciousness10. The seizure takes place in water11. The person is elderly and could have suffered a stroke12. 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 mild

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 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 9-1-1 and let the dispatcher know

when the symptoms started

Diabetes Definition – the inability of the body to change

sugar 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 IBegins in childhoodBody produces little to no insulinNo cure

Type IIBody makes insulin but not enough for the

body’s needsGenetic or lifestyle factors

Types of Diabetic

Emergencies Hyperglycemia

Too much sugar in the bloodPerson may have not taken enough insulin or

reacting badly to a meal Hypoglycemia

Too little sugar in the bloodPerson 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 9-1-1Do 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 insectAntibioticsPollenAnimal danderLatexCertain foods

Allergic ReactionsWhat to Look For -

Hives Itching Rash Weakness Nausea Stomach cramps Vomiting Dizziness Trouble breathing

Call 9-1-1 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) involvedThe route of exposureThe 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 fumesAbsorption – 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 9-1-1 or the National Poison Control Center

1-800-222-12227. 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 ashenGet the victim fresh air as soon as possible

ChemicalsWet – flush the area for at least 20 minutesDry – 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.