First Aid Module 3
Care for the person experiencing a heart attack by assisting with aspirin:
Make sure the person is awake, can follow simple commands, and can chew and swallow. Follow the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Give the person two to four 81-milligram low-dose aspirin tablets OR one 325-milligram regular-strength aspirin tablet. Tell the person to chew the aspirin completely. If the person takes a prescribed medication for chest pain, such as nitroglycerin, assist them with it.
What is important to determine before giving sugar by mouth to the person experiencing a diabetic emergency?
Make sure the person is awake. Make sure the person can follow simple commands. Make sure the person can chew and swallow.
Check
the scene for safety and check the person.
Examples of life-threatening sudden illnesses include:
Heart attack Asthma attack Anaphylaxis Diabetic emergency Seizures Shock Opioid overdose Stroke High fever in young children and infants Vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration in young children and infants
K
If the person with a suspected opioid overdose is unresponsive and not breathing (cardiac arrest), immediately begin CPR or compression-only CPR, depending on your training. Then, as soon as possible, assist family members with administering or, if allowed and trained, administer naloxone. You may assist a family member with administering naloxone to temporarily reverse the effects of opioids. Naloxone may be given via the nose using a nasal atomizer or nasal spray or via injection using an auto-injector.
Common causes of shock include:
Life-threatening bleeding Infection Anaphylaxis Any serious injury or illness
What should Coach Kelly do at this point?
Call 9-1-1 and get equipment.
Care for the person in shock:
Give care according to your training for the condition causing the shock. Have them assume a position of comfort or have them lie flat on their back. Maintain body temperature. Don't give them anything to eat or drink. Provide reassurance. Continue to monitor the person's condition.
Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
History of an allergy Signs of an allergic reaction (e.g., hives, nausea, vomiting) Swelling of the face, neck, tongue or lips Trouble breathing Shock A change in responsiveness
Before handing the inhaler to Emily, what two things should Coach Kelly do?
Shake the inhaler. Remove the mouthpiece cover and attach a spacing device if available.
If the person with a suspected opioid overdose is unresponsive and not breathing (cardiac arrest), which care step should you do first?
Immediately begin CPR.
General Care Steps 3
Keep the person from getting cold or overheated and monitor and reassure them until EMS arrives, if you had to call them.
Care for the person with diabetes who is experiencing a diabetic emergency by giving sugar:
Make sure the person is awake, can follow simple commands and can chew and swallow. Follow the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Give the person 15 to 20 grams of sugar. The recommended amount of sugar is 20 grams for adults and 15 grams for children. If possible, give glucose tablets, liquid or gel. Other acceptable forms of sugar include: 7 ounces of orange juice 14 ounces of milk Candy with fructose or sucrose such as 20 to 25 skittles, 2 strips of fruit rolls, or 10 to 20 jelly beans
Which of the following is a sign or symptom of a heart attack?
Persistent chest pain
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
Persistent chest pain, pressure or squeezing Isolated, unexplained discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach Dizziness or light-headedness Trouble breathing, including shortness of breath Pale, gray or bluish skin Nausea or vomiting Extreme fatigue Sweating A feeling of anxiety or impending doom Unresponsiveness
General Care Steps 2
Position the person as appropriate. Unresponsive person who is breathing or a person who responds but is not fully awake: Place the person in a recovery position. Responsive person: Place the person in a position of comfort. A person who is actively seizing: Monitor the person until the seizing has stopped. Turn them onto their side into a recovery position if it is possible to do so without injury. If they become unresponsive, position them in the recovery position.
Examples of medications that you may assist with when the person is experiencing a sudden illness include:
Aspirin for heart attack Quick-relief (rescue) medications for asthma Epinephrine for anaphylaxis Naloxone for an opioid overdose Sugar or glucose tablets, gel or liquid for diabetes
Before assisting Emily with administration of her quick-relief medication, Coach Kelly follows the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Which of the following are three of these steps?
Assemble the medication device. Explain to Emily what she is going to do. Ask Emily to confirm that she has the right medication.
General Care Steps 1
Assist the person with their medication. For some sudden illnesses, you can assist the person with their medications. To assist the person with their medication: Explain to the person or family member what you are going to do. Offer to get their medication. Ask them to confirm that you have the right medication. Assemble the medication device, if necessary. Give them the medication to self-administer. In some cases, you can administer their medications if it is allowed by state laws and regulations and if you are trained and authorized to do so.
You are working at an outdoor cafe on a hot summer day. Suddenly you hear a commotion at a nearby table. You make sure the scene is safe. As you approach the person you notice they appear responsive, but they are having trouble breathing. Which of the following sudden illnesses are you most likely to suspect?
Asthma Anaphylaxis Heart Attack
Vomiting and diarrhea in young children and infants can lead to which of the following?
Dehydration Shock
Which of the following are examples of life-threatening sudden illnesses?
Diabetic emergency Anaphylaxis
Care for the person experiencing anaphylaxis by assisting with administering epinephrine via an auto-injector:
First, follow the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Hold the person's leg firmly to limit movement. Encourage them to use the epinephrine auto-injector as directed by their healthcare provider. Massage or have the person massage the injection area for 10 seconds.
Care for the person experiencing an asthma attack by assisting with administering quick-relief medication via an inhaler:
First, follow the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Shake the inhaler. Remove the mouthpiece cover and attach a spacing device if necessary. Give the device to the person. Encourage the person to use it as directed by their healthcare provider.
Which of the following are important aspects of general care for someone experiencing a sudden illness?
Assisting with medications Positioning of the person Monitoring and reassuring the person Keeping the person from getting cold or overheated
Consult a healthcare provider if:
The diarrhea or vomiting persists for more than a few days. The child or infant is not able to keep fluids down. The child has not urinated for more than 6 hours. The infant has not had a wet diaper in 3 or more hours. The diarrhea is bloody or black. The child is unusually sleepy or irritable. The child has associated abdominal pain that is sharp or persistent. The child cries without tears or has a dry mouth. There is a sunken appearance to the child's abdomen, eyes or cheeks (or, in a very young infant, the soft spot at the top of the infant's head). The child's skin remains "tented" if pinched and released.
Consult a healthcare provider if:
The infant is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or greater. The child is younger than 2 years and has a fever of 102.5° F (39.2° C) or greater. The child or infant has a febrile seizure. The fever is associated with change in behavior or activity, neck pain, poor feeding, decreased urination, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, pain with urination or back pain or a rash.
When is it important to consult a healthcare provider if a young child or infant has a fever?
The infant is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or greater. The child or infant has a febrile seizure. The fever is associated with change in behavior or activity.
You obtain consent, call 9-1-1 and continue checking a responsive person who is having trouble breathing. The person's lips are swelling, and they are scratching a bee sting on their arm. You notice a medical alert bracelet and they nod their head when you ask if they have an allergy. What do you suspect is wrong with the person and what care should you give?
The person is experiencing anaphylaxis. Assist them with administering epinephrine via an auto-injector.
Signs and symptoms of a diabetic emergency include:
Trouble breathing Fast and/or deep breathing Feeling weak or different or unresponsive Sweating Fast heartbeat
Signs and symptoms of sudden illness vary widely, depending on the cause of the illness and may include:
Trouble breathing. Pain, such as chest pain, abdominal pain or a headache. Changes in level of responsiveness, such as being confused or unaware of one's surroundings, or becoming unresponsive. Extreme fatigue. Light-headedness or dizziness. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach cramps. A fever. Pale, ashen (gray) or very flushed skin, which may be excessively sweaty or dry, or excessively hot or cold. Problems seeing or speaking (e.g., blurred vision or slurred speech). Numbness, weakness or paralysis. Seizures.
You are caring for a person experiencing an asthma attack. You have helped them administer their quick-relief medication via an inhaler. Ten minutes later, they are still having trouble breathing and EMS has not yet arrived. You should help the person administer a second dose of the medication. True or false?
True
You are caring for a person with life-threatening bleeding. You have applied a tourniquet and are waiting for EMS to arrive. The person becomes confused and irritable. You notice that their skin is very pale and feels moist. They complain that their heart is racing. The person is most likely experiencing shock. True or false?
True
Care
according to the condition found and your level of training.
Call
9-1-1 and get equipment or tell someone to do so if the person is experiencing a life-threatening sudden illness.
Signs and symptoms of shock include:
A rapid, weak heartbeat Rapid breathing Pale (grayish), cool, moist skin Changes in levels of consciousness ranging from unresponsive to confused, restless or irritable Nausea or vomiting Excessive thirst
Which of the following is not a general care step you should take when assisting a person with their medication?
Administer the medication and monitor the person until EMS arrives
Care for the person with stroke:
After calling 9-1-1, note the time when the signs and symptoms first started. Stay with the person and provide reassurance until help arrives. If the person is responsive but not fully awake, drooling or having trouble swallowing put them the person in the recovery position. Monitor the person until EMS arrives and begins their care.
Signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include:
Decreased breathing effort, for example, breathing slowly and perhaps only a few times a minute Unresponsiveness Bluish or greyish colored skin Cardiac arrest
Which of the following are signs and symptoms of stroke?
Facial weakness Arm or grip weakness Speech disturbances
Signs and symptoms of stroke include:
Facial weakness on one side of the body Arm or grip weakness on one side of the body Speech disturbances
If a person is responsive and fully awake, you should place them in a recovery position while you wait for EMS to arrive and begin their care of the person? True or false?
False
Signs and symptoms of an asthma attack include:
Wheezing or coughing Rapid, shallow breathing or trouble breathing Being unable to talk without stopping for a breath in between every few words Anxiety and fear Change in behavior, including being unresponsive Sweating
