Health Emergencies: Overview Flashcards & Quiz

Health Emergencies Overview

Anaphylactic shock
- A severe allergic reaction that can result in death within minutes if untreated.
- Can occur through ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, or injection of allergens.
Diabetes
- One of the most common chronic health conditions in schools.
- Ranked as the sixth leading cause of death by disease in North America.
Asthma Management
- Staff should not discourage deep coughing during asthma episodes; instead, they should encourage it to help clear mucus.
- Suggest belly breathing techniques to help calm the student.
Hypoglycemic Reactions
- Three recognized levels of hypoglycemic reactions:
  - Conscious and able to swallow.
  - Conscious but uncooperative or disoriented.
  - Unconscious or experiencing a seizure.
Asthma Episodes
- Key components are bronchospasm, inflammation, and increased mucus production; abdominal distress is not included.
Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI) Use
- After use, the EAI should be placed back in its container until emergency help arrives; it is not immediately disposable.
Calling for Help During Asthma
- Assistance is needed if the student has difficulty walking or talking, if breathing issues persist post-medication, or if there are blue fingernails or lips, or a significant peak flow drop.
Epinephrine Auto-Injector Function
- Provides temporary relief by opening the airway for about 15 minutes, necessitating a call to emergency services during an anaphylactic reaction.
Latex Sensitivity
- Common classroom items that may contain latex include gloves, toys, pencil erasers, balloons, adhesive tape, and bandages, but desks do not.
Asthma Symptoms
- Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, fatigue, dry mouth, itchy chin, clipped speech, and headaches.
Asthma Classification
- Asthma is classified as an obstructive lung disease that can be controlled but is not curable, triggered by environmental factors.
Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy
- Allergies to peanuts (legumes) do not necessarily imply allergies to tree nuts, allowing for different allergic reactions between the two.
Hyperglycemia Symptoms
- Symptoms include extreme thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, but exclude loss of appetite.
Seizures
- Complex partial seizures lead to loss of awareness for a duration, distinguishing them from generalized seizures.
Diabetes Types
- Two main types affecting students:
  - Type 1 (insulin-dependent)
  - Type 2 (insulin-resistant)
Seizure Types
- Seizures are categorized as partial or generalized, clarifying misconceptions that all seizures are the same.
Diabetes Misconception
- Diabetes is not solely caused by excessive sugar intake; it results from a combination of factors requiring insulin, diet, and exercise management.