Emergencies
Emergencies
Emergencies
aid
➢ Diabetic emergencies
➢ Stroke
➢ Seizures
➢ Febrile convulsions
Diabetic emergencies
• There are two main forms of diabetes: type I and type II.
• People with type I diabetes must take exogenous insulin for survival to prevent the
development of ketoacidosis.
• Its frequency is low relative to type II diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of cases
globally.
• Type II diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and/or abnormal insulin
secretion, either of which may predominate.
• People with type II diabetes are not dependent on exogenous insulin, but may
require it for control of blood glucose levels if this is not achieved with diet
alone or with oral hypoglycemic agents or in conditions such as pregnancy,
surgical operations and infections.
• Some diabetic casualties can regulate their condition through diet alone, while
others take regular medication or get insulin injections.
•
• In an emergency, it can be difficult or impossible for the first aider to diagnose
whether a diabetic has too much or too little blood sugar.
• Too little sugar is life threatening and casualties respond almost immediately when you
give sugar or a sugary food (or drink) to a responsive casualty.
• Too much sugar tends to build up slowly, and does not normally present as an emergency.
❑ Giving sugar to a casualty with too much sugar does not alter their condition dramatically,
whereas giving sugar to a casualty with low sugar levels can be a life-saving treatment.
• Sweating
• Hot dry skin
• Pale skin
• Intense Thirst
• Hungry
• Weakness • Frequent urination
• Confused • Smell of acetone on breath (fruity
• tremors odor)
• Aggressive
• A - Arm - does one arm drift down when both at equal positions.
• If any one of the three tests shows abnormal findings, the patient may be having a
stroke and should be transported to a hospital as soon as possible.
• The CPSS was derived from the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale developed
in 1997 at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for pre-hospital use.
Method:
• Facial droop: Have the person smile or show his or her teeth. If one side
doesn't move as well as the other so it seems to droop, that could be a sign of
a stroke.
• Normal: Both sides of face move equally.
• Abnormal: One side of face does not move as well as the other (or at all).
• Arm drift: Have the person close his or her eyes and hold his or her arms
straight out in front with palms facing up for about 10 seconds. If one arm
does not move, or one arm winds up drifting down more than the other, that
could be a sign of a stroke.
• Normal: Both arms move equally or not at all.
• Abnormal: One arm does not move, or one arm drifts down compared with
the other side.
• Speech: Have the person say, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," or
some other simple, familiar saying. If the person slurs the words, gets some
words wrong, or is unable to speak, that could be a sign of a stroke.
• Seizures occur when parts of the brain are affected by sudden, uncontrolled activity
(irregular electrical activity).
• They are usually short-lasting and can appear in different ways. The most common is
when the entire body of the casualty has uncontrolled jerking movements in the head,
the arms, and the legs.
• Most people who suffer from seizures take medication on a daily basis to control the
condition.
• Seizures are normally brief (less than 10 minutes) and will result in little injury to the
casualty. A seizure that is prolonged or recurring is a serious medical emergency and, if
untreated, can result in death.
A seizure may occur:
• As a result of almost any condition affecting the brain, such as head injury, stroke,
meningitis, brain tumor.
a febrile convulsion.
Signs and symptoms:
A casualty experiencing a seizure may display one or more of the following signs and
symptoms:
• Aura, which is an unusual sensation preceding a seizure.
(Auras may come in many forms, such as a strange taste in the mouth, tingling in the limbs,
or the visual disturbance of "flashing lights"; often if the person is epileptic, they may be
aware that a seizure is imminent and may tell others or sit or lie down to prevent injury.)
• The casualty may go quiet and stare.
• Loss of bladder control.
• Jerking movements of the head, arms, and legs.
• Unusual breathing sounds.
• Clenched jaw.
• The skin may be warm to the touch in infants and children.
• Unconsciousness.
• The casualty may be wearing a Medic Alert bracelet.
Management:
The objective is to stop the person hurting themselves.
• Never attempt to hold the casualty in any way to stop their seizure - the victim is
unaware that it is occurring and is unable to control it.
Attempting to restrain an individual having a seizure may result in injuries to both
you and the victim.
• Also, do not attempt to stick anything into the victim's mouth - sticking something
in their mouth can cause further injury or death. The tongue may obstruct the airway
during the seizure, but this is normal.
• Seek medical attention (call123).
• Protect the casualty from injury, for example, move furniture away.
• Gently support the victim's head to prevent it from hitting the ground (such as
placing rolled up clothing underneath it).
• If possible, use SAMPLE questioning to obtain the casualty’s history from
family and/or bystanders.
• Request that all bystanders move away (persons having a seizure are often
embarrassed after their seizure).
• When the seizure stops, check airway and breathing and be prepared for CPR
and AED.
• If unresponsive and breathing is adequate, place the casualty in the recovery
position but only if you do not suspect a spinal injury.
• Deal with any injuries if present.
• After the seizure, the victim will slowly "awaken." Ensure that bystanders are
away and offer reassurance for the victim as they may be confused once the
seizure stops. The victim will be very tired after his seizure. Continue to
reassure the victim until he is fully aware of the surroundings or until medical
help arrives.
Febrile convulsions
• High body temperatures in infants and children (usually greater than 38°C)
can cause seizures, which is usually caused by infections.
• The body raises its temperature to assist with creating a fever, combating
infection, but this can result in seizure if their temperature becomes too high.
• Reduce temperature by sponging with a cool, wet towel or bathing with cool water
(beware of over cooling).
Tepid sponging
Important tips to remember:
• Protect the casualty from injury by moving furniture or sharp objects that
may inflict harm and put thin padding under their head e.g. a folded jacket.
• Do not restrain the casualty or try to stop the seizure. Allow the seizure to
run its course.
• Do not put your fingers or any other objects in the casualty’s mouth.
Thank you