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RECOGNIZING AND MANAGING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES FOR

VOLUNTEERS

IntroductionA medical emergency is a condition or

circumstance requiring immediate action

on behalf of someone who has been injured

or suddenly taken ill.

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Categories of emergencies

Emergencies can also be categorized as life-threatening non-life-threatening

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Categories of emergency A life-threatening emergency

is an illness or injury that impairs a victim’s ability to circulate oxygenated blood to all the parts of his or her body.

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Non threatening emergency A non-life-

threatening emergency is a situation that does not have an immediate impact on a victim’s ability to circulate oxygenated blood, but still requires medical attention.

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1

•Personal safety

2

•Recognize immediately life threatening injuries

3

•Do no further harm

4

•Call for medical assistance early

Priorities of Care

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Overcoming Barriers to Action

Reasons people give for not helping are called barriers to action. They include— Presence of bystanders. Uncertainty about the victim. Nature of the injury or illness. Fear of disease transmission. Fear of doing something wrong.

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Personal safety This is your first priority Assess the scene and ensure that it

is safe for you You shall not be helping anyone by

walking into an unsafe site just creating a double problem

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Recognizing Emergencies

Your primary role as a volunteer in an emergency includes— Recognizing that an emergency exists.

Deciding to act. Taking action by alerting the doctor.

Giving care until help arrives.

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Recognizing a Medical Emergency

Symptom Something that the patient tells

you he or she is feeling or experiencing

Sign Something that you observe in a

patient (e.g., a change in skin color, an increase in respiration rate)

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Signs and symptoms Any heart attack warning sign: Left

sided chest pain Any stroke warning sign: Slurred

speech, facial droop Difficulty breathing. Shortness of

breath. Not being able to say 4 or 5 words between breaths.

Fainting. Loss of consciousness.

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Signs and symptoms Change in mental status, such as

unusual behavior or confusion. Sudden or severe pain anywhere in

the body. Bleeding that won’t stop. Severe or persistent vomiting. Coughing up or vomiting blood. Fits

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Checking for Life-Threatening Conditions Conditions that are life threatening

include: Unconsciousness. Not breathing or trouble breathing. No signs of life (normal breathing,

movement or a pulse). Severe bleeding.

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Emergency Action Steps Follow the

emergency action steps: CHECK

The scene and the victim.

CALL Alert the doctor

who is within your vicinity (try to be discreet not to cause panic).

CARE For the victim.

CHECK CALL CARE

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Call As a volunteer, one of your top priorities is to ensure that the victim receives more advanced medical care as soon as possible.

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CALL/ALERT

Alert the doctor who is nearest to you

Make the alert discreet so as not to cause alarm to those in the area

This can lead to panic which is always detrimental in any situation

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Until Dr. Arrives Ask yourself…“In what other

ways can I give help?”: If victim is conscious, reassure the

person – talking and touching the victim helps to reduce the anxiety:

Attempt to learn the victim’s name. Get at the victim’s eye level. Speak slowly and clearly.

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Seizures “Fits” If a victim is fitting or having a seizure

DO NOT PANIC!! Stay calm Prevent injury by ensuring that there is

nothing within reach that could harm the person

Make the person comfortable but do not try to stop the fit by holding them

Keep onlookers away Do not put anything in the persons mouth Do not give anything to eat or drink etc Call for help Be sensitive and supportive and ask others to

do the same

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Conti… After seizure place the person on

the left (Recovery position) so prevent aspiration incase of vomiting

Say with the person until they recover

Responding to the patient experiencing a diabetic emergency.

Signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia Excessive urination Excessive thirst, dry mouth, and dry

skin Acetone breath (fruity smell) Blurred vision and headache Rapid pulse Lower blood pressure Loss of consciousness

Diabetic emergency. Hyperglycemia response steps

1. If the patient is conscious, ask when he or she last ate, whether he or she has taken insulin, and whether he or she brought insulin along.Purpose: If the patient has already eaten but has not taken insulin, the patient needs insulin immediately.

2. Retrieve the patient’s insulin if it is available. If he or she is able, the patient should self-administer the insulin.

3. Call for emergency assistance if necessary.4. Provide basic life support (CPR) if the

patient loses consciousness

Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia Mood changes Hunger Perspiration Increased anxiety Possible unconsciousness

Diabetic emergency.

Diabetic emergency. Hypoglycemia response steps

1. If the patient is conscious, ask when he or she last ate, whether he or she has taken insulin, and whether he or she brought insulin along.

2. Give a concentrated form of carbohydrate, such as a sugar packet, cake icing, or concentrated orange juice.Purpose: The sugar in these substances are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream.

3. Call for emergency assistance if necessary.4. Provide basic life support if the patient

becomes unconscious.

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Checking for Consciousness

If the victim is conscious and alert, introduce yourself.

If the victim is unconscious, call immediately alert the Dr. in the crowd.

DO NOT PANIC!

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Until Dr. Arrives If unconscious, try and create

space for the attending doctors activities

Do not cause a commotion which leads to anxiety by those around hence panic

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Deciding Whether to Transport the Victim

After doctor reviews then he determines if victim is to be transferred

Do not transport a victim— When the trip may aggravate the injury or

illness or cause additional injury. When the victim has or may develop a life-

threatening condition. If you are unsure of the nature of the injury.

With a life-threatening condition or if there is a possibility of further injury, let the dr. make the decision.

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Moving a Victim

Moving a victim can be done in a variety of ways, some of which are shown here

Remember: Do not make injury worse by moving

victim Do not move a victim with spinal injury Do not leave unconscious victim alone Do not move victim without stabilizing

the injured part

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Safety precautions when lifting Lumbar spine

bears weight of body; 85% of back injuries occur there

Discs between vertebrae may deteriorate, move, or slip out of place

Injuries can result from improper lifting and carrying

Safety Precautions Use leg muscles, not

back muscles Using the back can

damage muscles and discs between vertebrae

Bend at the knees and hips Don’t round the hips

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Safety Precautions Keep weight as close to the body

as possible to maintain balance Do not twist the body Keep feet shoulder-width apart for

stability

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Lifting Call for additional help if

necessary

Use an even number of people to maintain balance

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Lifting Keep weight as close to the body

as possible

Know the weight limitations of equipment

If the lifting situation is unsafe, don’t move the patient

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Improper Lifting: Back bent

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Improper Lifting: Twisting

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Proper Lifting: Squat or power lift

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Squat, bending at the knees

Lifting a stretcher

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Use a power grip

Lifting a Stretcher

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Stand up while locking your back

Lifting a Stretcher

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Guidelines for Lifting Consider the weight of the object

being lifted Know your limitations

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Get help! Work as a team Communicate

with others! (including the patient)

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Recovery Position Unconscious patients who have

not suffered trauma should be placed in a sidelying or recovery position. Helps keep the airway open Allows secretions to drain from the

mouth

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Walking Assists for Ambulatory Patients

One-person walking assist Help the patient

stand. Have the patient

place one arm around your neck and hold the patient’s wrist.

Put your free arm around the patient’s waist and help the patient to walk.

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Walking Assists for Ambulatory Patients

Two-person walking assist Useful if the

patient cannot bear weight

The two rescuers completely support the patient.

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Portable Stretchers Used when the

wheeled stretcher cannot be moved into a small space

Smaller and lighter than a wheeled stretcher

Can be carried in the same ways that a wheeled stretcher is carried

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CROWD CONTROL

As a volunteer one of the activities you are required to perform is to ensure that the crowd is under control

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Principles of crowd control Leave enough open space for

people to maneuver Eliminate areas which

encourage people to squeeze in such as closed-in areas

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Principles of crowd control Protect off-limits areas with

temporary fencing, ropes, or rows of potted plants. Movable screens or walls also work effectively.

Guide crowds with visually appealing pathways.

Lay out rules ahead of time. Be sure to be polite, and make sure all everyone knows what is expected of them.

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Closing In every emergency, follow the

emergency action steps: CHECK—CALL—CARE.

CHECK first for any life-threatening conditions. When possible, the victim should always be

checked in the position in which he or she is found.

ALERT/call the doctor CARE for the conditions you find.

Questions?

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CARE

CALL

CHECK