First Aid and Safety: Shock and Sudden Illness

A bicyclist was struck by a car. You find her lying on the ground on her back. She is semi-responsive and appears to have a suspected head and cervical spine injury. She is also showing signs of shock. How should you re-position this person while you wait for EMS to arrive? a) On their left side in the HAINES position b) In a half-sitting position with the head elevated c) With the feet elevated above 12 inches d) Keep the person lying on her back and do not re-position

Keep the person lying on her back and do not re-position

fainting

Sudden brief loss of responsiveness not associated with a head injury

Convulsive Seizures: What to Look For

Sudden falling to the floor or ground Stiffening of arm and legs followed by jerky movement Foaming at the mouth, grinding of teeth Blue-gray face and lips Eyes rolling upward Loss of bladder and bowel control

anaphalaxis: what to look for

shortness of breath swelling of mouth, tongue, nose intense itching flushed skin tightness in throat and chest history of severe allergic reactions id tag

The chest discomfort of a heart attack is commonly accompanied by which of the following: a) shortness of breath and sweating b) sweating and blood in the urine c) seizures and hot, dry skin d) fruity smelling breath and cyanosis

shortness of breath and sweating

fainting: decreased blood flow could be caused by

slow heart rate heart rhythm disturbances dehydration, heat exhaustion anemia bleeding sitting or standing for a long time

shock occurs when

occurs when cardiovascular system can no longer provide adequate perfusion of nutrients and O2 to vital tissues.

fainting: what to look for

pale skin, lips clammy, sweaty skin dizziness nausea

asthma attack: what to do

place in upright sitting position breathe slowly and deeply call 911 if person is struggling to breathe, talk, stay awake, blue, has no medicine, asks for ambulance help use inhaler if no improvement, call 911

how to use epi pen

remove safety cap push against outer mid thigh hold for 10 seconds pull out straight rub area for 10 seconds

fainting: seek medical care if

repeated episodes faints for no apparent reason does not regain responsiveness quickly has diabetes, seizures, pregnant, loss of bladder/bowel control older than 50

shock and unresponsive: what to do

roll onto one side prevent heat loss call 911 do not give anything to eat or drink

low blood glucose

too much insulin too little food intake exercise alcohol

shock: what to do

treat injuries keep person flat on back if no sign of injury, elevate feet

A person who is breathing fast (hyperventilation) should be encouraged to breathe slowly by holding inhaled air for several seconds and then exhaling slowly.

true

A responsive person having a stroke should lie down with his or her head slightly raised.

true

If in doubt about the type of diabetic emergency a person is experiencing, give sugar to a responsive person who can swallow.

true

Nitroglycerin can relieve chest pain associated with angina.

true

People having a heart attack can experience chest pain.

true

Place all people with severe injuries in the recovery position.

true

You can help the person with chest pain take his or her nitroglycerin.

true

stroke: what to do

-Call 9-1-1 immediately. -Monitor breathing. -Position person on his or her back. -Loosen tight or constricting clothing. -Be prepared to turn person onto his or her side.

When assisting a person with an epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-Pen) you should hold the medication in place for how long? a) 5 seconds b) 10 seconds c) 1 minute d) 2 minutes

10 seconds

damage to the brain without oxygen takes

4-6 minutes

stroke

A sudden attack of weakness or paralysis that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted

perfusion

Adequate blood and oxygen are provided to all cells in the body.

A 37 year old man is experiencing shortness of breath that gets worse when he gets up and tries to walk around. He also has numbness into his left arm and chest tightness that comes and goes every 2-3 minutes. What should you do? a) Tell him to take an aspirin and relax in a seated position b) Give him a cool drink, remove unnecessary clothing, and have him rest on the floor c) Call EMS, give him aspirin, and keep him seated in a reclining position d) Wait until he looses consciousness and then call EMS

Call EMS, give him aspirin, and keep him seated in a reclining position

heart attack: what to look for

Chest pain Sweating or cold sweats Light-headedness or dizziness Nausea or vomiting Numbness, aching, tingling in the arm Shortness of breath Weakness or fatigue

angina: what to look for

Chest pain described as crushing or squeezing Can spread to jaw, arms, and midback Lasts from 3 to 10 minutes Relieved by nitroglycerin

angina

Chest pain that can result when blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted, but not completely blocked.

asthma

Chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways

type 2 diabetes

Diabetes of a form that develops especially in adults and most often obese individuals and that is characterized by high blood glucose resulting from impaired insulin utilization coupled with the body's inability to compensate with increased insulin production.

type 1 diabetes

Diabetes of a form that usually develops during childhood or adolescence and is characterized by a severe deficiency of insulin, leading to high blood glucose levels.

stroke: what to look for

FAST

asthma attack: what to look for

Frequent coughing, wheezing Chest tightness, shortness of breath Sitting in the tripod position Inability to speak in complete sentences Nostrils flaring Fast breath and heart rates Blue lips or fingernails

rule of 15

Have person eat 15 grams of sugar. Wait 15 minutes. Recheck blood glucose level. If still low or no testing is available, give 15 more grams of sugar.

Heart attack vs cardiac arrest

Heart Attack - Blood supply is blocked Cardiac Arrest - Heart suddenly stops beating

non-convulsive seizures: what to look for

Last only a few seconds Staring, confusion, or inattentiveness Frequent eye blinking Involuntary movements

seizures: what to do

Move nearby objects to avoid injury. Place something soft under head. Time seizure from start to finish. Keep bystanders away.

hemorragic stroke

Occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in or near the brain

high blood glucose

Occurs when a diabetic has too much glucose in the blood, caused by: Insufficient insulin Overeating Illness Inactivity Stress Combination of these factors

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Occurs when a part of the brain is deprived of oxygen-rich blood long enough to cause symptoms but not long enough to cause permanent damage

ischemic stroke

Occurs when blood vessels become narrowed or clogged with plaque

A person with diabetes is experiencing low blood sugar because they did not eat breakfast or lunch. What should you do? a) Call EMS immediately and give aspirin b) Provide 4 oz of fruit juice or 4 teaspoons of sugar and wait 15 minutes to see if they feel better c) Call EMS immediately and do not give them anything to eat or drink d) Assist them with taking an additional shot of insulin

Provide 4 oz of fruit juice or 4 teaspoons of sugar and wait 15 minutes to see if they feel better

hypoperfusion

a deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part

status epilepticus

a prolonged seizure or situation when a person suffers two or more convulsive seizures without regaining full consciousness

Shortness of breath, chest tightness and changes in heart rate (pulse) can be signs and symptoms for which condition(s): a) Heart Attack b) Asthma Attack c) Severe allergic reaction d) All of the above e) Heart Attack and Asthma Attack only

all of the above

low blood glucose: what to do

allow person to check blood glucose use the rule of 15 if testing is not possible, testing shows low blood glucose, person has profuse sweating or shaking

shock: what to look for

altered mental status pale, cold, clammy skin pale lips and/or nails nausea/vomiting rapid breathing and heart rate unresponsiveness when shock is severe

Swelling of the tongue and mouth, flushed skin or swollen face, and dizziness are all common signs of a) Seizures b) Strokes c) Anaphylaxis d) Hypergylcemia

anaphylaxis

When should you call EMS for a person having a severe allergic reaction? a) Right before you help administer an epi-pen b) Right after you help administer an epi-pen c) As soon as you identify the person is having a severe reaction d) Only if the epi-pen injection does not eliminate the victim's symptoms

as soon as you identify the person is having a severe reaction

anaphalaxis: what to do

call 911 monitor breathing help with epipen if the person can swallow, give antihistamine

When caring for a person who is in the process of having a seizure you should a) place a spoon in the person's mouth to prevent them from swallowing their tongue b) provide them sips of cool water c) hold the person down firmly so they do not swing their arms and legs d) clear nearby space by removing surrounding objects

clear nearby space by removing surrounding objects

Most fainting episodes are associated with

decreased blood flow

triggers of asthma

environmental drugs/chemicals conditions/events

The most effective treatment for severe anaphylaxis is a) antihistamine b) epinephrine c) nitroglycerin d) sugar

epinephrine

FAST

face, arm, speech, time

The signals that a person has had a stroke include which of the following? a) loss of function of both legs, rapid pulse and breathing b) ecchymosis, swelling of the face and decreased blood pressure c) decreased level of consciousness, glass stare and muscle twitches d) facial paralysis, loss of one arm and/or leg function, slurred speech

facial paralysis, loss of one arm and/or leg function, slurred speech

A person having seizures always requires medical attention.

false

Hyperglycemia occurs when a person with diabetes takes too much insulin

false

Taking nitroglycerin eliminates the need to call EMS for a person having a heart attack

false

angina: what to do

have person sit down let person use prescribed nitroglycerin call 911 if discomfort does not improve within 5 minutes

heart attack: what to do

have person sit with knees raised and lean against stable support call 911 loosen tight clothing help them take heart medication help them take aspirin monitor breathing

perfusion triangle

heart, blood vessels, blood

insulin

hormone produced by the pancreas that assists the body in using energy from food.

Which of the following symptoms are NOT associated with a person who is going into hypovolemic shock? a) weak, rapid pulse b) slow, shallow breathing c) decreased level of responsiveness d) hot, dry skin

hot, dry skin

Loss of blood due to severe external bleeding results in which form of shock? a) Anaphylactic b) Psychogenic c) Hypovolemic d) Neurogenic e) None of the above

hypovolemic

Fainting is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness caused by: a) interruption of blood flow to the brain b) reduced blood supply to the heart c) abnormal stimulation of the brain cells d) blood vessels to the brain rupturing or clotting

interruption of blood flow to the brain