First Aid: Sudden Illness and Unconsciousness

Sudden Illness and Unconsciousness

• Sudden illness can be life-threatening, especially if associated with heart attack or massive internal hemorrhage, and prompt medical care is essential.

Heart Attack

• A heart attack usually involves a clot in one of the blood vessels that supply the heart.
• It may or may not be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Persistent chest pain under the sternum
  • Gasping and shortness of breath
  • Extreme pallor or bluish discoloration of the lips, skin, and fingernails
  • Extreme prostration
  • Shock
  • Swelling of the ankles (may indicate heart disease)
• First aid measures:
  • Place the victim in a comfortable position (sitting)
  • Provide ventilation and guard against drafts and cold
  • Begin artificial respiration if not breathing
  • Call for an ambulance
  • Do not give liquids to an unconscious victim

Stroke

• A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function due to disruption of blood supply to the brain.
• It usually involves a spontaneous rupture of a blood vessel in the brain or formation of a clot that interferes with circulation.
• Major stroke:
  • Signs and symptoms:
    • Unconsciousness
    • Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body
    • Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
    • Loss of bladder and bowel control
    • Unequal size of pupils
    • Lack of ability to talk or slurring of speech
  • First aid measures:
    • Provide moderate covering
    • Maintain an open airway
    • Give artificial respiration if indicated
    • Position the victim on his side to drain secretion
    • Do not give fluids unless fully conscious
    • Transport the patient to the hospital immediately
• Minor stroke:
  • Signs and symptoms:
    • Headache
    • Confusion
    • Slight dizziness and ringing in the ears
    • Other mild complaints
  • First aid measures:
    • Protect the victim against accident or physical exertion
    • Suggest medical attention

Fainting

• Fainting is a partial or complete loss of consciousness due to reduced blood supply to the brain.
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Extreme paleness
  • Sweating
  • Coldness of the skin
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
  • Nausea
  • Possible disturbance of vision
• First aid measures:
  • Leave the victim lying down
  • Loosen tight clothing and keep crowds away
  • Turn the head to the side
  • Maintain an open airway
  • Do not pour water over the victim's face; instead, gently bathe the face with cool water
  • Do not give any liquid unless the victim has revived
  • Seek medical assistance if recovery is not prompt

Convulsion

• A convulsion is an attack of unconsciousness, usually of violent onset.
• Common causes of convulsion:
  • Severe dehydration
  • Febrile illnesses (e.g., meningitis, malaria, tetanus)
  • Epilepsy
  • Toxemia of pregnancy
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Rigidity of body muscles followed by jerking movement
  • Bluish discoloration of the face and lips
  • Foaming at the mouth or drooling
  • Gradual subsidence (improvement)
• First aid measures:
  • Prevent the victim from hurting himself
  • Give artificial respiration if indicated
  • Do not place a blunt object between the victim's teeth
  • Do not restrain the victim
  • Do not pour any liquid into the victim's mouth
  • Avoid overcrowding
  • Reassure and advise to seek medical attention

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a chronic disease characterized by repeated convulsions.
• First aid measures for epilepsy are the same as for other convulsions, including:
  • Keep the airway open
  • Give artificial respiration if breathing stops
  • Push away nearby objects
  • Do not force a blunt object between the victim's teeth
  • Loosen clothing around the neck
  • Keep the victim lying down
  • Allow the victim to sleep and rest after the seizure

Emergency Rescue and Short Distance Transfer

• Emergency rescue is the process of moving a victim from a dangerous location to a place of safety.
• Indications for immediate rescue include:
  • Fire, danger of fire, or explosion
  • Danger of asphyxia due to lack of oxygen or gas poisoning
  • Serious traffic hazards
  • Risk of drowning
  • Exposure to cold or intense heat or intense weather conditions
  • Possibility of injury from collapsing walls
  • Electrical injury or potential injury
  • Pinning by machinery
• Methods of transfer:
  • Pulling the victim: pull in the direction of the long axis of the body, preferably from the shoulders
  • Lifting the victim: use proper lifting techniques
  • Supporting the victim: provide support and stability
  • Blanket techniques: use a blanket to lift and carry the victim a short distance
  • Three-man or four-man lift: use multiple people to lift and carry the victim
  • Six-man lift and carry: use multiple people to lift and carry the victim

Sudden Illness and Unconsciousness

• Heart attack:
  • Definition: a clot in one of the blood vessels that supply the heart
  • Signs and symptoms:
    • Persistent chest pain
    • Gasping and shortness of breath
    • Extreme pallor or bluish discoloration
    • Extreme prostration
    • Shock
  • First aid measures:
    • Place the victim in a comfortable position
    • Provide ventilation and guard against drafts and cold
    • Begin artificial respiration if necessary
    • Call for an ambulance
    • Do not give liquids to an unconscious victim

Stroke

• Definition: a sudden loss of brain function resulting from disruption of the blood supply to the brain
• Major stroke:
  • Signs and symptoms:
    • Unconsciousness
    • Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body
    • Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
    • Loss of bladder and bowel control
    • Unequal size of pupils
    • Lack of ability to talk or slurring of speech
  • First aid measures:
    • Provide moderate covering
    • Maintain an open airway
    • Give artificial respiration if indicated
    • Position the victim on their side to drain secretions
    • Do not give fluids unless the victim is fully conscious
    • Transport the patient to the hospital immediately
• Minor stroke:
  • Signs and symptoms:
    • Headache
    • Confusion
    • Slight dizziness and ringing in the ears
    • Other mild complaints
  • First aid measures:
    • Protect the victim against accident or physical exertion
    • Suggest medical attention

Fainting

• Definition: a partial or complete loss of consciousness due to a reduced supply of blood to the brain
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Extreme paleness
  • Sweating
  • Coldness of the skin
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
  • Nausea
  • Possible disturbance of vision
• First aid measures:
  • Leave the victim lying down
  • Loosen any tight clothing and keep crowds away
  • Turn the head to the side
  • Maintain an open airway
  • Do not pour water over the victim's face
  • Do not give any liquid unless the victim has revived

Convulsion

• Definition: an attack of unconsciousness usually of violent onset
• Common causes of convulsion:
  • Severe dehydration
  • Febrile illnesses (e.g. meningitis, malaria, tetanus)
  • Epilepsy
  • Toxemia of pregnancy
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Rigidity of body muscles
  • Bluish discoloration of the face and lips
  • Foaming at the mouth or drooling
  • Gradual subsidence
• First aid measures:
  • Prevent the victim from hurting themselves
  • Give artificial respiration, if indicated
  • Do not place a blunt object between the victim's teeth
  • Do not restrain them
  • Do not pour any liquid into their mouth
  • Do not place a child in a tub of water
  • Avoid overcrowding
  • Reassure and advise to seek medical attention

Epilepsy

• Definition: a chronic disease characterized by repeated convulsions
• First aid measures:
  • Keep the airway open
  • Give artificial respiration, if breathing stops
  • Push away nearby objects
  • Do not force a blunt object between the victim's teeth
  • When jerking is over, loosen the clothing around their neck
  • Keep them lying down
  • After the seizure, allow the victim to sleep and rest