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How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency - Health - Nairaland

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How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:15pm On Apr 09, 2016
Recognizing an emergency is the first step in responding. An emergency is a situation requiring immediate action. A medical emergency is a sudden illness such as heart attack, which requires immediate medical attention. An injury is a damage to the body, such as broken arm, which results from a violent force. Some injuries can be serious enough to be considered emergencies.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:16pm On Apr 09, 2016
The victim of an emergency can be anyone- a friend, family member, a stranger, or you. An emergency can happen anywhere- on the road, at home, work, or play. Recognizing an emergency may be difficult at times. You may become aware of an emergency because of certain things you observe such as unusual noises, sights, smells, symptoms and signs, or behavior.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:18pm On Apr 09, 2016
UNUSUAL NOISES

Noises are often the first thing you may call your attention to an emergency. Some noises that may indicate emergency are:

1. Noises that indicate someone is in distress, such as screaming, yelling, moaning, crying, and calling for help.
2. Alarming identifiable noises, such as breaking glass, crashing metal or screeching tires.
3. Abrupt or loud noises that aren't identifiable such as collapsing structures or falling ladders.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:18pm On Apr 09, 2016
UNUSUAL SIGHTS

Unusual sights that indicate a possible emergency can go unnoticed by the unaware observer. Some examples of sights that may signal emergencies are:

1. A stalled vehicle.
2. An overturned saucepan on the kitchen floor.
3. A spilled medicine container.
4. A fallen chair.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:19pm On Apr 09, 2016
UNUSUAL SMELL

Many smells are part of our everyday lives, for example, petrol fumes at petrol stations, the smell of chlorine at swimming pools or smoke from a fire.

However, when a smell is stronger than usual, is not easily identifiable or otherwise seems odd, it may indicate an emergency.

You should always put your own safety first if you are in a situation in which there is unusual or very strong smell as many fumes are poisonous.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:20pm On Apr 09, 2016
UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS OF SIGNS OR BEHAVIOR

It may be difficult to tell if someone's appearance or behavior is unusual, particularly when the person is a stranger. However, certain symptoms and signs or behaviors could indicate an emergency. For example, if you see someone collapse to the floor, that person obviously requires your immediate attention. However, you will not know if first aid is needed until you approach the individual, who may have merely slipped and not be in need of any help. On the other hand, the person may be unconscious and need immediate medical assistance.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:21pm On Apr 09, 2016
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:

•Bleeding that will not stop

•Breathing problems (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath)

•Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing)

•Chest pain

•Choking

•Coughing up or vomiting blood

•Fainting or loss of consciousness

•Feeling of committing suicide or murder

•Head or spine injury

•Severe or persistent vomiting

•Sudden injury due to a motor vehicle accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wound, etc.

•Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body

•Sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision

•Swallowing a poisonous substance

•Upper abdominal pain or pressure
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:27pm On Apr 09, 2016
If an emergency occurs, how would you react? Do you know the first steps of first aid?



http://www.m.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/5-emergencies-do-you-know-what-to-do
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:29pm On Apr 09, 2016
Stay calm

We've all heard stories about the Good Samaritan who gets hit by a car while trying to help someone else.

"Creating another accident or another victim complicates things much more -- almost more than not getting involved. If you can't help safely, you shouldn't help," Walters tells WebMD.

"It's important that you stay calm, make sure you're not putting yourself or anyone else in jeopardy, then attempt to help."
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:32pm On Apr 09, 2016
Check alertness:

Ask, "Are you OK?"

If they respond, ask 'Do you know where you are?'

Ask things to determine level of orientation.

If they become unresponsive, check for pulse, check to see if they're breathing. If you're by yourself, you have to find someone to help you.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:33pm On Apr 09, 2016
Check breathing:

Listen for breathing through the nose, watch the chest for rise and fall.

Check pulse

Take a pulse, either at the wrist or neck. If they are breathing and have a pulse, you should stay with them to offer support.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:37pm On Apr 09, 2016
How do you check a pulse?

•Turn your left hand so that your palm is face-up.

•With the index and middle fingers of your right hand, draw a line from the base of your thumb to just below the crease in your wrist.
•Your fingers should nestle just to the left of the large tendon that pops up when you bend your wrist toward you.
•Don’t press too hard, that will make the pulse go away. Use gentle pressure.
•Wait. It can take several seconds—and several micro-adjustments in the placement of your two fingers on your wrist—to find your pulse.
•Just keep moving your fingers down or up your wrist in small increments (and pausing for a few seconds) until you find it.
•Notice whether your pulse is regular (keeps time like a metronome) or irregular (more random, fast-slow, fast-slow). An irregular pulse is a tell-tale sign of AFib or other heart rhythm disturbances.

To take your pulse rate:


•Find a watch with a second hand and place it on your right wrist or on the table next to your left hand.
•After finding your pulse, count the number of beats for 20 seconds.
•Multiply by 3 to get your heart rate, or beats per minute (or just count for 60 seconds for a math-free option).
•Normal, resting heart rate is about 60-100 beats per minute.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5K_HR6hxMY
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:39pm On Apr 09, 2016
Start CPR:


If the patient isn't breathing and does not have a pulse, start CPR.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:40pm On Apr 09, 2016
How do you perform a CPR?

Here's a 5 minute video on how to perform a CPR.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cosVBV96E2g
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:43pm On Apr 09, 2016
Make the patient comfortable:

If this person has been out in the heat, move them to a shady spot. If they're sweating, pour water over their skin.

Elderly people or very young children are more prone to heat-related conditions. If they're awake, give them fluids to drink.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:45pm On Apr 09, 2016
Chest Pain.

If someone grabs their chest and says "my chest hurts," assume it's a heart attack. Chest pain is a heart attack until proven otherwise.

A 17-year-old can have a heart attack. Anyone can have a heart attack.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:46pm On Apr 09, 2016
Choking.

You're talking at the dinner table, and someone starts coughing. When does it become an emergency?


When they're coughing, it's OK, because there is air movement, they are breathing. If they're not making any noise whatsoever, you need to do the Heimlich maneuver. At that point, they are not breathing.

If they're coughing, doing the Heimlich can make it worse.

Also, hitting a choking person on the back can make the situation worse -- the food may go back into the windpipe. They need to work it out themselves; leave them alone, until they reach a point where there's no airway noise
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:47pm On Apr 09, 2016
How to give the Helmich maneuver.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CgtIgSyAiU
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:51pm On Apr 09, 2016
Bleeding.

There are nine units of blood in the body. The parts of the body that bleed a lot are the scalp, fingers, and toes. A nosebleed can bleed a lot. A cut in the vaginal area can bleed a lot. But they won't bleed to death.

Nosebleeds can have a serious cause, like high blood pressure, or they can be caused by chronic nose-picking. If someone with high blood pressure has a serious nosebleed, you're looking at potential disaster .
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:52pm On Apr 09, 2016
Don't make a tourniquet:

We don't use tourniquets anymore.

They cause too much damage to tissues. We advise putting direct pressure on the site. Even if it's a partial amputation, put a rag around it, hold it tight.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:54pm On Apr 09, 2016
Seizure.

The symptoms of seizures vary. The person may fall down and/or make erratic movements. Or their head might jerk and eyes flutter. This can happen to children who have a high fever, to someone with epilepsy, or when someone is having a stroke.


Any seizure warrants medical attention. If they fall down, get everyone away from them. Don't get near them; they could hurt you. Don't try to put something in the person's mouth (as used to be advised); it's too dangerous. Also, watch the clock -- how long the seizure lasts.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:56pm On Apr 09, 2016
Remain safe and healthy wink wink
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 10:58pm On Apr 09, 2016
Sources:

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001927.htm

http://firstaidcourse101..com.ng/2010/08/how-to-recognize-emergencies.html?m=1

http://www.livehealthyaustin.com/2011/11/01/how-to-take-your-own-pulse-something-everyone-should-know/

1 Like

Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by prahcetomi(m): 10:04am On Apr 13, 2016
Dr lomaxx!!........I believe slaps also helps in Emergencies...like a person who fainted can be revived with a face-tearing threatning slap.
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by prahcetomi(m): 10:05am On Apr 13, 2016
Lalasticlala mynd44
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 6:22pm On Apr 13, 2016
prahcetomi:
Dr lomaxx!!........I believe slaps also helps in Emergencies...like a person who fainted can be revived with a face-tearing threatning slap.


Lmao.

Your sense of humor is dense I can't almost believe it grin grin
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by prahcetomi(m): 7:05pm On Apr 13, 2016
lomaxx:



Lmao.

Your sense of humor is dense I can't almost believe it grin grin
I'm a fan o......#aspiringmedic#
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by Chartey(m): 8:07pm On Apr 13, 2016
lomaxx:
Don't make a tourniquet:

We don't use tourniquets anymore.

They cause too much damage to tissues. We advise putting direct pressure on the site. Even if it's a partial amputation, put a rag around it, hold it tight.


And for those who don't know what a tourniquet is, read this.

a bandage, strip of cloth, etc., that is tied tightly
around an injured arm or leg to stop or slow the
bleeding from a wound

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tourniquet

Here's a pic of a crude tourniquet below.
Please try not to use anything like it.

Lalasticlala snake olajumoke panamapapers lindaikejivswizkid listoftop10

1 Like

Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by apese: 8:35pm On Apr 13, 2016
lomaxx:
The victim of an emergency can be anyone- a friend, family member, a stranger, or you. An emergency can happen anywhere- on the road, at home, work, or play. Recognizing an emergency may be difficult at times. You may become aware of an emergency because of certain things you observe such as unusual noises, sights, smells, symptoms and signs, or behavior.


Simple and straight forward explaination. Thumps up!!

1 Like

Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by apese: 8:55pm On Apr 13, 2016
lomaxx:
How do you check a pulse?

•Turn your left hand so that your palm is face-up.

•With the index and middle fingers of your right hand, draw a line from the base of your thumb to just below the crease in your wrist.
•Your fingers should nestle just to the left of the large tendon that pops up when you bend your wrist toward you.
•Don’t press too hard, that will make the pulse go away. Use gentle pressure.
•Wait. It can take several seconds—and several micro-adjustments in the placement of your two fingers on your wrist—to find your pulse.
•Just keep moving your fingers down or up your wrist in small increments (and pausing for a few seconds) until you find it.
•Notice whether your pulse is regular (keeps time like a metronome) or irregular (more random, fast-slow, fast-slow). An irregular pulse is a tell-tale sign of AFib or other heart rhythm disturbances.

To take your pulse rate:


•Find a watch with a second hand and place it on your right wrist or on the table next to your left hand.
•After finding your pulse, count the number of beats for 20 seconds.
•Multiply by 3 to get your heart rate, or beats per minute (or just count for 60 seconds for a math-free option).
•Normal, resting heart rate is about 60-100 beats per minute.

Very useful medical or first aid clip! Keep on good work and God bless.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5K_HR6hxMY
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by lomaxx: 9:37pm On Apr 13, 2016
apese:



Simple and straight forward explaination. Thumps up!!

Thanks
Re: How To Recognize and Respond to a Medical Emergency by Onegai(f): 10:28pm On Apr 13, 2016
I have to study this. Well done OP

1 Like

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