Sudden Illnesses

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Sudden Illnesses
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Fainting (syncope)

• A partial or complete loss of consciousness
  caused by a temporary reduction of blood flow to
  the brain
• Can be triggered by
• Blood pooling
• Stretching
• Stress
• Overexerting
• pain

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Care

• Elevate legs about 12 inches
• Loosen any restrictive clothing
• Dont hit, shake, or throw water on the victim
• Call EMS if
• If the person is out for more than 5minutes
• Reoccurring fainting spells

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Diabetic Emergencies

• Type I (insulin dependant)- the body produces
  little or no insulin- develops in children
• Type II (adult onset)-the body produces insulin,
  but either the cells dont use the insulin
  effectively or not enough insulin is produced

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Insulin

• A hormone produced in the pancreas, it is needed
  for sugar to pass freely from the blood into the
  body cells.

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Signs and Symptoms of a Diabetic Emergency

• Change in level of consciousness
• Irregular breathing
• Abnormal pulse
• Looking or feeling ill

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Care for a Diabetic Emergency

• Ask the victim if they are a diabetic
• Look for medical alert bracelet
• Give the person fruit juice or candy
• NO diet soda
• If this does not help the victim call 911

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Seizures

• The brains electrical activity becomes irregular
  causing a loss of control of the body
• The person might experience
• Visual hallucinations
• Strange taste or smell
• Urgent need to get to safety

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Care

• Do not try to stop the seizure
• Protect the victim
• Protect the head
• Loosen any restrictive clothing
• DO NOT put anything in the victims mouth
• Do not bring attention to the victim

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Poisonings
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How does poison enter the body?

• Ingested
• Inhaled
• Absorbed
• Injected

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CARE FOR POISONING

• Check the scene for safety and clues
• Remove the victim from the source of poison
• Check for life threatening condition
• If conscious ask questions
• Look for clues / bring any pill bottles with you
• Call PCC
• Give care according to operator

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Deer tick Wood tick
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TICKS cont.

• May-July the highest risk
• Symptoms of Lymes disease
• Bulls eye rash
• Fever and chills
• Weakness or fatigue

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Heat and Cold Emergencies
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Heat cramps-painful spasm of the skeletal muscle
due to lose of fluids

• CARE
• Have the person rest in a cool area
• Lightly stretch cramping muscles
• Give them a cool drink

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Heat Exhaustion- typically occurs after long
periods of strenuous work outdoors in a hot
environment.

• The bodies temperature regulating system is being
  over worked
• CARE
• Rest in a cool place
• Give the person cool water
• If the condition worsens call EMS

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Heat Stroke-Most severe heat illness the body is
overwhelmed by its high temperature so it fails
to function

• SIGNS SYMPTOMS
• The body stops sweating
• Red hot skin, dry
• Change in consciousness
• Rapid weak pulse
• Shallow breathing

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CARE

• Call EMS
• Cool the body down slowly
• Ice pack on pressure points

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Hypothermia

• This is the general cooling of the entire body

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Care

• Check for life threatening conditions
• Call EMS
• Remove wet clothing
• Place the victim in dry blanket or cloths
• Move victim to a warm place
• Apply hot water bottles or heat packs over the
  blanket or towel

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Care

• Give a conscious victim warm liquids to drink

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Frostbite

• The actual freezing of body tissues. Body cells
  are damaged or destroyed when fluid in and
  between the cells freezes and swells
• Two types
• Superficial
• Deep

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Signs and symptoms

• Skin cold to the touch
• Discolored skin (yellow, white, or blue
• Skin appears waxy
• Lack of feeling in the area

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Care

• Handle the affected area carefully
• Do not rub the area
• Warm the affected area in water that is about 100
  degrees F to 105 degrees F
• Do not let the affected part touch the bottom or
  sides of the container holding the water

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care

• Once the affected area feels warm and appears
  red, remove from water and bandage loosely
• If the affected area is the hands or toes place
  sterile pads between the fingers of toes
• Seek medical attention