Managing Illness 1
Fainting Caused by a temporary drop in blood pressure thus causing a reduction in oxygen to the brain. Insufficient oxygen causes casualty to black out and fall. Consciousness normally returns once casualty falls allowing for increased blood flow to the brain. Improve recovery by elevating feet above the heart to improve oxygen flow to the brain. 2
Choking If coughing encourage the casualty to cough. If they cannot cough and unable to speak or breath call 000. Give up to 5 back blows with casualty leaning forward if possible checking after each blow to see if obstruction is cleared. If unsuccessful put casualty onto their back and do up to 5 chest thrusts checking after each one. If still unsuccessful commence CPR. 3
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Heart Attack Can be sudden and the casualty may go into cardiac arrest. Often signs of heart problems are ignored until too late. Signs include but are not limited to: Pain in the chest, left shoulder, jaw or arm particularly after exercise or other stress to the body increasing pulse rate and shortness of breath. 5
Heart Attack Normally caused by a blockage or disruption to the blood supply to the heart. Signs may last for days before a serious attack occurs and some heart attacks go unnoticed. Any chest pain, particularly associated with shortness of breath should be checked. Sit casualty up if possible or place them in a position that is comfortable for them. Assist with their medication if available. If normal breathing stops commence CPR. 6
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Stroke (Brain Attack) Strokes are caused by a bleed or blockage in the brain resulting in a restriction of blood flow. They often commence with a severe headache followed by slurred speech, muscle weakness normally on one side of the body and confusion. General muscle weakness begins normally on one side of the body. Reassure the casualty, ideally sit them up if they are able to or place them in a position that is comfortable for them until help arrives. If normal breathing stops commence CPR 8
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Epilepsy Is caused by a sudden increase in electrical activity in the brain. In serious cases casualty collapses and has a seizure with violent shaking of the body. Protect them from danger by removing furniture etc away from them. When the seizure stops, place a pillow under the head to reduce damage from hitting the head on the floor. 10
Epilepsy Do not try to restrain the casualty. Once the seizure has stopped place in the recovery position and check airway and breathing. They will have no memory of the seizure, tell them what happed and reassure them during recovery. They may loose control of their bowels. Cover if necessary to reduce embarrassment. If the seizure persists for more than a few minutes or if several seizures occur consecutively or if they have no history of seizures call for help. Absent seizures are mild seizures with not muscle spasm. Looks more like a day dream. Often seen in children. Protect them from injury. 11
Febrile Convulsion Caused by sudden increases in temperature in children often caused by an infection. Can affect children from six months to six years. Child is often quite, flushed hot skin, eyes roll back, may become stiff or floppy, convulse and can become blue. 12
Remain clam. Febrile Convulsions Put the child in a stable position and allow them to convulse. Remove excessive clothing. Assess breathing after convulsion. Contact ambulance for advice. They may suggest paracetamol to assist in lowering temperature. Do not give unless authorised. 13
Diabetes Caused by insufficient glucose (sugar) or too much glucose in the blood. Too much sugar is called HYPERGLYCAEMIA Not enough sugar is HYPOGLYCAEMIA Hyperglycaemia happens slowly and is only in a small percentage of Diabetic casualties. 14
Diabetes Hypoglycaemia happens quickly and can be fatal. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by diet. In an emergency give sugar preferably in liquid form. If they do not respond call the ambulance. If the patient is unconscious place them in the recovery position and call for help. Do not give them anything to eat or drink! 15
Diabetes Signs & Symptoms Hypoglycaemia Pale Excessive sweating Rapid Pulse Seizures Altered state of consciousness or loss of consciousness May appear to be drunk 16
Asthma Caused by narrowing and swelling of the airways. May be triggered by factors including sport, dust, pollen, animal fur or hair and stress. Asthma casualty has trouble breathing and may hyperventilate. Although asthma can be brought on by sport asthmatics are encouraged to participate in sport to assist in the development of their lung capacity and overall fitness. Sports such as swimming as ideal for asthmatics. Sit them down with elbows on a table, give them medication, try to slow down breathing, and reassure. 17
Asthma Assist them with reliever medication ( blue or grey asthma puffer) such as Ventolin, Bricanyl, Asmol, and Atrovent, preferably via a spacer. Asthma medication may be carried in a first aid kit. The medication does not need to be the same brand normally used by the casualty. Dosage is: One puff every four breaths from spacer. Repeat for a total of four breaths. If no improvement call for help and repeat dose every 4 minutes until help arrives. 18
Puffer & Spacer 19
Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergy. It is life-threatening and the signs and symptoms include: Breathing Difficulty, Hives, nausea or Vomiting, Shock, Swelling Of The Face, Dizziness, Difficulty Thinking, An Intense sense of fear, Tightness In The Chest or diarrhoea. 20
Anaphylaxis Common causes are: Food Allergy e.g. nuts, seeds, fish, cows milk, eggs, wheat and seafood. Medication e.g. antibiotics & some painkillers. Insect Stings e.g. bees, wasps and ants. Exercise in combination with a food allergy. Tick Bites. Latex Allergy e.g. latex based first aid gloves. Herbal Remedies e.g. Echinacea, Royal Jelly. 21
Anaphylaxis The severity of the reaction is affected by the: Severity of the allergy. Amount of food and type of food eaten. If food is on its own or contained in a mix (e.g. eggs or eggs in a cake) Exercise after exposure to an allergy. 22
EpiPen 23
Use of EpiPen An Epi pen is the most common adrenaline auto injector in use for severe allergic reactions Remove the Grey cap from the fatter end of the EpiPen This arms the device. Hold the EpiPen in your fist with fingers clenched around it. Do not push down on top. Press the black tip gently into the skin in the mid thigh until a loud click is heard. Hold in place for 10-15 seconds while the adrenaline is being injected. Remove the needle and place in a sharps container. Massage in the adrenalin. 24
Anaphylaxis A different version of an auto-injector is named the Anapen. Like the EPI pen the Anapen is injected into the casualty s thigh but the method in using the Anapen is different. With the Anapen a black needle shield is removed from the pen. A grey cap is then removed from the red firing pen to arm the device. The needle end is placed against the thigh. The red button is pressed and the pen held in place for around 10 seconds. 25
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Shock There are different types of shock. Shock can occur following an injury or illness and it may occur to witnesses of serious incidents. It can occur when someone is given bad news. Shock can be caused by: A lack of circulating blood (hypovolemic shock) caused by heart failure, blood loss, vomiting and diarrhoea, burns, pain, infections, trauma and allergic reactions. When in shock a casualty has a weak rapid heart beat, pale, cold and clammy skin, feel faint, nausea, feel cold and often hard to reason with. 27
If in shock: Reassure the casualty. Get assistance. Shock If injury permits lie them down and elevate their legs above heart to improve oxygen flow. Cover if they become cold. Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink unless the shock is from dehydration only. 28