Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction)
Symptoms-
Itching, rash, hives, runny nose, wheezing, paleness,
clod sweats, low blood pressure, coma, cardiac
arrest.
Treatment-
If Victim is Unconscious,
Not Breathing:
1. Yell for
help. Don't leave the victim.
2. Begin mouth-to-mouth
recitation immediately.
3. If there is no
heartbeat, give external cardiac massage.
4. Have someone call
911
5. Don't stop CPR
until help arrives
If Victim is Unconscious and Breathing:
1. Call 911
2. If you can't get
help immediately, take patient to the nearest emergency facility.
Bleeding
Symptoms-
Bright red blood pumping from an injured artery, or darker blood if a large vein has been injured. Bleeding caused by any serious injury should be treated in an emergency facility.
Treatment-
1. Cover entire injured
area with a clean cloth, or bare hands if no cloth is available.
2. Apply strong pressure directly on injured
area for 10 minutes while awaiting emergency
assistance.
3. If direct pressure doesn't control brisk
bleeding, use a tourniquet. Make a tourniquet from a
length of cloth or
other material. Wrap and tie the cloth around the extremity above
the
wound. Place
a stick or other rigid object between the cloth and wound. Twist
the rigid
object several times
until tight pressure has been applied and bleeding stops. Note how
long
the tourniquet has
been in place so emergency medical personnel can take appropriate action.
Convulsions
Symptoms-
Unconsciousness; jerking or twitching of the arms, legs or face; loss of bowel or bladder control (sometimes).
Treatment-
1. When the victim begins to fall, soften the
fall by catching his/her body, laying it down gently
and turning the head
to one side.
2. Don't restrain the person. Clear
the area of any objects so the victim won't be injured.
3. Don't try to separate the teeth or insert
objects to keep the victim for biting his/her tongue.
4. Don't throw ice water on the victim.
5. Don't attempt to force water of fluid until
the patient is fully conscious and asks for them.
6. Call for medical help and stay with the
patient.
Fractures, Dislocations or Severe Sprains
Symptoms-
Extreme pain and tenderness
in the injured area; change in appearance of injured part, such as swelling,
protruding bone or blood under the skin. Extremity, such as finger,
arm or leg, may be bent out of normal position.
Treatment-
1. Control and bleeding (see instruction above)
2. Immobilize the injured area and keep movement
to a minimum. To do so for obvious fractures
of the finger, wrist,
arm, leg, ankle or foot, improvise a splint from stiff rolled-up paper,
scrap
wood or metal.
3. Attach the splint firmly to injured extremity
with strips of cloth, twine or tape.
4. Prevent swelling by applying ice and elevating
the splinted part.
5. If leg, back or neck is severely injured
and possibly fractured or dislocated, keep the patient
warm and immobilized
until the ambulance arrives. DON'T move the victim.
6. Watch for signs of shock.
Head, Neck or Back Injury
Symptoms-
Head Injury:
Drowsiness or confusion; vomiting and nausea; blurred vision; pupils of
different size' loss of consciousness; amnesia or memory lapses; irritability;
headache; bleeding of the scalp, if the skin is broken.
Neck of Back Injury: Pain in the
neck or back; paralysis or difficulty in moving.
Treatment-
1. Assume that all injuries
to the head, neck or back may also involve damage to the spinal cord.
2. Call 911 immediately!
3. Avoid moving the patient, if at all possible.
4. If the injured person is unconscious and
lying face-down so he or she cannot breath, obtain
assistance from several
people to carefully support and roll the injured person.
5. Give CPR once help arrives
Heart Attack
Symptoms-
Chest pain that lasts more
than 2 minutes and radiates into the jaw or arm; unexplained
heavy sweating; weakness; nausea; pale skin; irregular pulse.
Treatment-
If Victim is Unconscious,
Not Breathing:
1. Yell for
help. Don't leave the victim.
2. Begin mouth-to-mouth
rececitation immediately.
3. If there is no
heartbeat, give external cardiac massage.
4. Have someone call
911
5. Don't stop CPR
until help arrives
If Victim is Unconscious and Breathing:
1. Call 911
2. If you can't get
help immediately, take patient to the nearest emergency facility
Shock
Symptoms-
Moist, cold, pale skin; fast weak pulse; rapid breathing; disorientation; anxiety with feelings of impending doom; low blood pressure (sometimes so low it cannot be read); unconsciousness (sometimes).
Treatment-
If Victim is Unconscious and Breathing:
1. Call 911
2. If you can't get
help immediately, take patient to the nearest emergency facility