First Aid of Medical Emergency PDF

Prepared by Dr. Asmaa Ramadan Biochemistry Lecturer First aid of medical emergency (The human body, assessing the victim) Seizures............................................................ 1 Meningitis....................................................... 3 Shock...................

Prepared by Dr. Asmaa Ramadan Biochemistry Lecturer First aid of medical emergency (The human body, assessing the victim) Seizures............................................................ 1 Meningitis....................................................... 3 Shock.............................................................. 5 Vomiting and diarrhea.................................. 7 DRATES BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE  Seizures Seizure (also called a convulsion): consists of involuntary contractions of many of the muscles in the body. The condition is due to a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain. Seizures usually result in the person becoming unresponsive or his response is impaired. The most common cause is epilepsy. Other causes include head injury, some brain damaging diseases, shortage of oxygen or glucose in the brain and the intake of certain poisons, including alcohol or drugs. Recognition: Seizures often follow a pattern: Sudden loss of responsiveness. Rigidity and arching of the back. Breathing may be noisy and become difficult. The lips may show a grey-blue tinge (cyanosis). Convulsive movements begin. Saliva (bloodstained if he has bitten his lip or tongue) may appear at the mouth. Possible loss of bladder or bowel control. Muscles relax and breathing becomes normal again. After the seizure the casualty may be dazed and unaware of what has happened. Casualty may fall into a deep sleep. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 1  What To do: 1- Make space around the casualty; ask bystanders to move away. Remove potentially dangerous items, such as hot drinks and sharp objects. Note the time that the seizure started. 2- Protect the casualty’s head from objects nearby; place soft padding such as rolled towels underneath or around his neck if possible. 3- When the convulsive movements have stopped, open the casualty’s airway and check breathing. If he is breathing, place him in the recovery position. 4- Monitor and record vital signs (breathing, pulse and level of response) until he recovers. Make a note of how long the seizure lasted. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 2  Meningitis Meningitis: is a condition in which the linings that surround the brain and the spinal cord become inflamed. It can be caused by bacteria or a virus and can affect any age group. Meningitis is potentially a very serious illness, and the casualty may deteriorate very quickly. If you suspect meningitis, you must seek urgent medical assistance as prompt treatment in hospital is vital. For this reason, it is important that you are able to recognize the symptoms of meningitis, which may include a high temperature, headache and a distinctive rash. With early diagnosis and treatment most people make a full recovery. Recognition: Flu-like illness with a high temperature. Cold hands and feet. Joint and limb pain. Mottled skin. As the infection develops: Severe headache Neck stiffness (the casualty will not be able to touch her chest with her chin) Vomiting Eyes become very sensitive to any light – daylight, electric light or even the television Drowsiness A distinctive rash of red or purple spots that do not fade when pressed. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 3  What To Do? 1. Seek urgent medical advice if you notice any of the signs of meningitis; for example, shielding eyes from the light. Do not wait for all the symptoms and signs to appear because they may not all develop. 2. Treat the fever. 3. Check the casualty for signs of a rash. 4. While waiting for help to arrive, reassure the casualty and keep her cool. Monitor and record vital signs – breathing, pulse and level of response. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 4  Shock Shock: is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the circulatory system (which distributes oxygen to the body tissues and removes waste products) fails and, as a result, vital organs such as the heart and brain are deprived of oxygen. Shock can be made worse by fear and pain. Minimize the risk of shock developing by reassuring the casualty and making him comfortable. The most common cause of shock is severe blood loss. If blood loss exceeds 1.2 liters, which is about one-fifth of the normal blood volume, shock will develop. Other conditions that can cause severe fluid loss include diarrhea, vomiting and serious burns. In addition, shock may occur when there is sufficient blood volume but the heart is unable to pump the blood around the body. This problem can be due to severe heart disease, heart attack or acute heart failure (cardiogenic shock). Other causes of shock include overwhelming infection (septic shock), severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) and spinal cord injury (neurogenic shock). Recognition: Initially: there may be: A rapid pulse Pale and cold skin Sweating. As shock develops: Rapid breathing A weak pulse. When the pulse at the wrist disappears, about half of the blood volume will have been lost. Grey-blue skin (cyanosis), especially inside the lips. A fingernail if pressed, it will not regain its color immediately Weakness and dizziness Nausea, and possibly vomiting Thirst. As the brain’s oxygen supply weakens: Casualty becomes unresponsive Finally: the heart will stop. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 5  What To Do? 1.Treat any possible cause of shock that you can detect, such as severe bleeding or serious burns. 2. Help the casualty to lie down – on a blanket if there is one, as this will protect him from the cold. Raise and support his legs above the level of his heart to improve blood supply to the vital organs. 3. Tell the ambulance control that you suspect shock. 4. Loosen tight clothing to reduce constriction at the neck, chest and waist. 5.Keep the casualty warm by covering his body and legs with coats or blankets. 6. Monitor and record vital signs – breathing, pulse and level of response while waiting for help to arrive. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 6  Vomiting And Diarrhea These problems are usually due to irritation of the digestive system. Diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by a number of different organisms, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. They usually result from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Cleanliness and good hand hygiene help prevent the spread of infectious diarrhea. Vomiting and diarrhea may occur either separately or together. Both conditions can cause the body to lose vital fluids and salts, resulting in dehydration. When they occur together, the risk of dehydration is increased and can be serious, especially in infants, young children and elderly people. The aim of treatment is to prevent dehydration by giving frequent sips of water or unsweetened fruit juice, even if the casualty is vomiting. Rehydration powder, which is added to water, provides the correct balance of water and salt to replace those lost through the vomiting and diarrhea. Recognition: There may be: Nausea Vomiting and later diarrhea Stomach pains Fever. What To Do? 1-Reassure the casualty if she is vomiting and give her a warm damp cloth to wipe her face. 2-Help her to sit down and, when the vomiting stops, give her water or unsweetened fruit juice to sip slowly. 3-When the casualty is hungry again, advise her to eat easily digested foods such as pasta, bread or potatoes for the first 24 hours. Dr. Asmaa Ramadan ǀ First Aid 7