Transcript m5zn_36afe6df88ba936

Introduction
 Some illnesses develop over time (chronic), whereas
others can strike without a moment’s notice (acute).
 By knowing the signals of sudden illness and paying
careful attention to details at the emergency scene, you
can determine how best to help a victim of sudden
illness.
 You do not need to know the exact cause of the illness
to give appropriate care. No Diagnosis needed!
 Always follow the emergency action steps:
CHECK—CALL—CARE.
Fainting
 Fainting or syncope is a common sudden illness
characterized by a partial or complete loss of
consciousness.
 Fainting is caused by a temporary reduction of blood
flow to the brain.
 The victim will commonly display shock-like signals,
such as—
 Cool, pale, moist skin.
 Nausea.
 Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes.
Fainting
(continued)
 Additional
signals that precede fainting
include—
 Sweating.
 Vomiting.
 Distortion or dimming of vision.
 Head or abdominal pain.
Care for Fainting
 General care for sudden illness:
 - Position the victim on the back on a flat surface. Elevate the
legs about 12 inches.
 - Loosen any restrictive clothing.
 - Check for any other life-threatening and non-lifethreatening conditions.
 - Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink.
 - Do not splash the victim with water or slap his or her face.
 - As long as the fainting victim recovers quickly and has not
lasting signals, you may or may not need to call 9-7-7 or the
local emergency number.
Post Fainting Management
 Get up slowly.
 Check vital signs.
 Ask about specific medications or management
related to chronic disease , if present.
 Offer juice. If not contra indicated.
 Keep in clinic for a half hour or longer
 Avoid driving.
 Leave with an adult to continue to observe
Post Fainting Management
 Advise client to contact doctor if head injury or
seizure activity.
 Document incident
 Follow-up with client later if seizure activity, injury
or prolonged fainting episode.
Fainting Prevention
 - limit standing and waiting.
 Watch for people who look anxious, pale, sweaty,
trembling or complain of dizziness, numbness or
tingling .
 - Activate Stress free Clinics System.
Diabetic Emergency:
 Diabetes is a medical condition in which there is
little or no insulin production in the pancreas. The
result is an inability to process carbohydrates, fats
and proteins correctly.
Diabetic Emergencies
 A situation in which a victim becomes ill because of an
imbalance of insulin and sugar in the bloodstream is
called a diabetic emergency.
 There are two types of diabetic emergencies:
 Hyperglycemia: the insulin level in the body is too low
 Hypoglycemia: the insulin level in the body is too high
 Most patients with diabetes manage their
condition
well
with
diet
and/or
self-
administered insulin. Sometimes sugar levels
may drop and the patient needs urgent first
aid. This condition is called hypoglycaemia.
Symptoms and signs
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are different
conditions, but their primary signals are similar.
 Symptoms and signs – Not all may be present
 extreme tiredness and loss of concentration
 severe thirst
 abdominal pain nausea or vomiting
 dizziness and loss of coordination
 erratic or argumentative behaviour
 rapid loss of consciousness if not treated promptly
 persistent headache
 pale or sweaty skin
Care for a Diabetic Emergency
 1.
If conscious:
 give the patient some sugar.
 If the patient is still fully conscious and able to
swallow, give a sweetened drink, chocolate or glucose
sweets to suck – an improvement usually occurs
within minutes.
 When the patient is more alert, offer a more
substantial carbohydrate meal of a sandwich or
several sweet biscuits.
Care for a Diabetic Emergency
(continued)
 2.
If unconscious:
 It is common for these patients to be unconscious. If so,
 - Check and care for any life-threatening conditions.
 support the patient on their side and call 997 for an
ambulance. In this situation, DO NOT give the patient
anything to eat or drink.
 Give frequent reassurance during recovery because
the patient may be confused until fully recovered.
 Obtain medical advice:
 If the patient has improved with the intake of
carbohydrate, medical advice is still necessary
because a further deterioration may occur at
any time. The patient should see a doctor.
 If the patient does not improve after swallowing
the
sweet
food
or
drink,
or
if
further deterioration occurs and swallowing
becomes difficult – call 977 for an ambulance.
 DO NOT try to give the patient a dose of insulin because
this can be dangerous unless a medical assessment has
been carried out and the patient’s blood sugar level tested.
Seizures
Seizures:
 Seizures may be caused by an acute or chronic
condition.
 The chronic form of seizure is known as epilepsy.
 Before a seizure occurs, the victim may experience an
aura- “zone out” .
 Seizures can range from mild blackouts to sudden,
uncontrolled muscular contractions that can last several
minutes.
Seizures
(continued)
 Febrile
seizures are most common in
children under the age of 5 and can be
triggered by infections of the ear, throat or
digestive system or when an infant or child
runs a fever of over (39°).
signals of Seizures
 A febrile seizure may have some or all of the
following signals:
 - A sudden rise in body temperature
 - A change in the level of consciousness
 - Rhythmic jerking of the head and limbs
 - Urinating or defecating
 - Confusion
 - Drowsiness
 - Crying out
 - Becoming rigid
 - Holding the breath
 - Upward rolling of the eyes
Care for a Seizure
 Do not try to hold or restrain the victim.
 Protect the victim from injury and maintain an open
airway.
 Remove nearby objects that could cause injury.
 After the seizure, position him or her on one side so
that fluid can drain from the mouth.
 Check for life-threatening conditions.
 Stay with the victim until he or she is fully conscious
and aware of his or her surroundings.
 Call 9-7-7 or the local emergency number, if
necessary.
12 April 2016
Growth & Development