American Red Cross - Module 5 - Sudden Illness

Will more than one dose of epinephrine be needed to stop anaphylaxis?

Help the person administer a second dose of the medication if they are still having signs and symptoms 5 to 10 minutes after administering the first dose and EMS has not arrived.

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? Select 3 answers.

If a person appears responsive but they are having trouble breathing you might suspect asthma, anaphylaxis or heart attack. If you do suspect any one of these conditions, immediately call 9-1-1 and get the equipment or tell someone to do so. Then, give general care and continue to check the person to find out more information and determine what additional care is needed.

Opioid Overdose (Basic Care)

If the person with a suspected opioid overdose is unresponsive and not breathing (cardiac arrest), immediately begin CPR! 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.

Shock (Common Causes)

Common causes of shock include: - Life-threatening bleeding, - Infection, - Anaphylaxis, - Any serious injury or illness

What is considered worrying vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration in young children and infants?

In all people, but more so in children and especially younger children and infants, vomiting, diarrhea or both can lead to dehydration (too little fluid in the body) and shock. Young children and infants are at especially high risk for dehydration because they tend to lose more fluid, and at a faster rate, than adults do and often do not have the ability to obtain fluids themselves.

Epinephrine

Medication administered via an auto injector to combat anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock.

Naloxone (Narcan)

Opiate antagonist, reverses opioid induced respiratory depression.

How can you care for a young child or infant that is suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration?

Priority care is to give fluid. Examples include: - Oral rehydration solutions designed specifically for children and infants, - Water, - Popsicles

If the person with a suspected opioid overdose is unresponsive and not breathing (cardiac arrest), which care step should you do first?

If the person with a suspected opioid overdose is unresponsive and not breathing (cardiac arrest), immediately begin CPR! 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.

If sugar is administered for a diabetic emergency, what steps should be taken next?

If the person's symptoms don't improve after giving sugar, then you need to call 9-1-1. If you are unsure, the safest approach is always to call 9-1-1 and then get equipment and give care.

What should you do if you are unsure whether a person's blood glucose is too high or too low?

If too low: - Sugar can be life saving. If too high: - It is still best to give some sugar as negative impacts will be minimal.

Vomiting and diarrhea in young children and infants can lead to which of the following? Select 2 answers.

In children, especially younger children and infants, vomiting, diarrhea or both can lead to dehydration (too little fluid in the body) and shock.

When is it important to consult a healthcare provider if a young child or infant has a fever? Select 3 answers.

It is important to consult a healthcare provider if a young child or infant has a fever if: (1) The infant is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or greater; (2) The child is younger than 2 years and has a fever of 102.5° F (39.2° C) or greater; (3) The child or infant has a febrile seizure; (4) The fever is associated with change in behavior or activity, neck pain, poor feeding, decreased urination, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, pain with urination, back pain or a rash.

Albuterol

Medication used to quickly open airways and allow easier air passage.

Will more than one dose of albuterol be needed to stop an asthma attack?

More than one dose of medication may be needed to stop the asthma attack. The medication may be safely repeated after 10 to 15 minutes.

What are other acceptable forms of sugar to give someone who is experiencing a diabetic emergency?

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

Diabetic Emergency (Signs & Symptoms)

Signs and symptoms of a diabetic emergency include: - Trouble breathing, - Fast and/or deep breathing, - Feeling weak or different or unresponsive, - Sweating, - Fast heartbeat

Which of the following is a sign or symptom of a heart attack?

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; and more general signs and symptoms such as dizziness or light-headedness; trouble breathing including shortness of breath; pale, gray, or bluish skin; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; extreme fatigue; sweating; a feeling of anxiety or impending doom; and unresponsiveness.

Heart Attack (Signs & Symptoms)

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

Asthma Attack (Signs & Symptoms)

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

Opioid Overdose (Signs & Symptoms)

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

Anaphylaxis (Signs & Symptoms)

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

Shock (Signs & Symptoms)

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.

What are common symptoms of life-threatening sudden illnesses?

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.

Which of the following are signs and symptoms of stroke? Select 3 answers.

The FAST mnemonic can help you easily recognize the common signs of stroke and give EMS professionals crucial life-saving information. Signs that indicate possible stroke include: - Facial weakness on one side of the body. - Arm weakness or grip weakness on one side of the body. - Speech disturbance. In addition, it is important to note the Time that signs and symptoms of stroke started in a person.

Stroke (Basic Care)

- 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.

When should a health care provider be contacted for high fever in young children and infants?

- 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.

What is considered a high fever in young children and infants?

Fever is defined as an elevated body temperature above the normal range of 100.4° F (38° C). - With the onset of a fever, children and infants can have something called a febrile seizure, which is due to a sudden rise in temperature.

Heart Attack

A condition in which blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing heart cells to die.

Stroke (Signs & Symptoms)

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or by bleeding from a vessel, resulting in the death of brain cells. Effects throughout the body can include: - Paralysis, - Loss or disturbances in speech, - Problems with memory and trouble with thinking, - Facial weakness on one side of the body, - Arm or grip weakness on one side of the body

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?

This person is likely experiencing anaphylaxis. Care for anaphylaxis includes assisting with administration of epinephrine via an auto-injector: First, follow the general care steps for assisting with medication administration. Then, hold the person's leg firmly to limit movement. Encourage them to use the epinephrine auto-injector as directed by their healthcare provider. Finally, massage or have the person massage the injection area for 10 seconds. You can administer a second dose of epinephrine if the person is still having signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis 5 to 10 minutes after administering the first dose and EMS has not arrived.

How can you look for changes in skin color?

To look for changes in skin color, it can be helpful to look at less pigmented areas of the skin, such as lips or mucous membranes. In addition, a person with a sudden illness will just not "look right" and will have other signs and symptoms of sudden illness, such as sweating, trouble breathing, nausea, and so on.

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 More than one dose of medication may be needed to stop the asthma attack. The medication may be repeated after 10 to 15 minutes.

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. This person is likely experiencing shock, which is commonly caused by life-threatening bleeding. After calling 9-1-1, care for shock includes giving care according to your training for the condition causing the shock; having the person assume a position of comfort or having them lie flat on their back; maintaining body temperature; not giving them anything to eat or drink; providing reassurance; and continuing to monitor the person's condition.

What are examples of life-threatening sudden illnesses?

- 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

When should a health care provider be contacted for vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration in young children and infants?

- 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.

General Care Steps for Sudden Illness

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 a 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. 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. 3. Keep the person from getting cold or overheated and monitor and reassure them until EMS arrives, if you had to call them.

Diabetes

A condition that makes it difficult for the body to process glucose, commonly known as sugar. There are two types of emergencies: 1. When the person's blood glucose is too high, 2. When the person's blood glucose is too low.

What is important to determine before giving sugar by mouth to the person experiencing a diabetic emergency? Select 3 answers.

Before giving sugar to a person experiencing a diabetic emergency make sure the person is awake, can follow simple commands and can chew and swallow.

Heart Attack (Basic Care)

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.

Asthma Attack (Basic Care)

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.

Anaphylaxis (Basic Care)

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 (the thigh is the most common location). - Massage or have the person massage the injection area for 10 seconds.

Shock (Basic Care)

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.

Diabetic Emergency (Basic Care)

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.

Can you assist a person with medications?

Yes. Assisting with medications is always allowed. - Do not administer medications unless it is allowable by state laws and regulations and you are trained and authorized to do so.

Can the symptoms of heart attack differ in men and women?

Yes. Women may experience the signs and symptoms of heart attack differently than men. For example, in women, the classic signs of a heart attack, like chest pain or pressure may be milder or accompanied by more of the general signs and symptoms, like dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and so on.