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Specific Illnesses/conditions
Illness/condition
Description
Signs and symptoms
First Aid
Acute
Coronary Syndrome (Heart Attack)
Acute coronary syndrome is a term
used to cover a number of symptoms that occur when the heart
does not get enough oxygenated blood flow.
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Can have a wide range of signs and
symptoms, from slight to severe.
Chest pain or a dull discomfort behind breast bone that may
or may not spread to the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath
Weakness, nausea, dizzy
Heavy sweating
Fear of impending doom (feeling like something extremely bad
is going to happen but not sure what)
Denial-the victim often refuses to accept or believe he or
she may be having a heart attack. This can delay treatment,
and increase risk of death.
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the ABCs
Have the victim sit down and rest quietly,
Loosen any tight clothing
If the victim has a known heart condition, help them take
their medication. Usually, this is nitroglycerine, placed
or sprayed under their tongue.
If chest discomfort/pain is unimproved or worsens five minutes
after one dose has been taken, call 9-1-1 immediately.
If the victim does not have a history or aspirin allergy,
the 9-1-1 operator may recommend the victim chew an aspirin
while awaiting arrival of EMS providers.
If an aspirin is recommended, help the victim take it. Usual
dose is a half or a whole adult aspirin tablet (162 to 325
mg) chewed and swallowed
If it’s available and you are properly trained, give
emergency oxygen.
Comfort, calm, and reassure the victim until EMS arrives
If the victim becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally,
start CPR.
Compression
Only CPR
If an adult or child suddenly collapses and is unresponsive
and not breathing normally and you are not trained in CPR
or you are - reluctant to do rescue breathing, you can stall
provide lifesaving first aid. Get the victim onto their back
on the ground. Place one hand on |top of the other, and place
the heel of the bottom hand on the center of the victim's
chest. Lock your elbows and began forceful chest compressions
at a rate of about 100 per minute. Push hard, fast and deep
until help arrives or until you are too worn out to continue.
Take turns lf you have a partner.
Illness / condition
Description
Signs and symptoms
First Aid
Asthma/Reactive
Airway disease
A disease in which the air passage
in the lungs becomes narrower from swelling and extra mucus.
This limits airflow into and out of the lungs and causes wheezing
and/or shortness of breath.
Symptoms vary. They can be very mild
to life-threatening.
Constant coughing, especially worse at night and early morning.
Anxiety
Sudden onset of wheezing
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
Extreme difficulty breathing
Bluish color to lips and face
Pounding heart
Sweating
Altered mental status.
If the victim is unable to administer their prescribed medication
(metered-dose inhaler or nebulizer) without assistance, the
first aid provider should help administer it.
Alert EMS
if the victim has any of the following
No improvement 15-20 minutes after initial treatment with
medication.
Constant coughing
Difficulty breathing with chest and neck pulled in
Stooped body posture
Struggling or gasping
Trouble walking or talking
Child stops playing and can’t start activity again
Lips or fingernails are grey or blue
Comfort, calm and reassure while awaiting
EMS.
State laws, regulations
and occupational licensing requirements may prescribe specific
practices, rules, standards and other conditions for assisting
with prescribed medications.
Nebulizer:
A device that turns liquid medicine into a mist for inhaling.
Place air compressor on a sturdy
surface
Put the medicine into the nebulizer cup
Assemble the nebulizer cup and mouthpiece
Connect the tubing to the air compressor and nebulizer cup
Turn on the air compressor
Take slow, deep breaths
If possible, hold each breath for 2-3 seconds to help the
medicine get into the lungs
Continue until the nebulizer cup is empty (about 10 minutes)
Metered
Dose Inhaler:
A device used to inhale a specific dose of medication as a
fine spray or powder.
Remove the cap and shake the Inhaler
Hold the Inhaler upright Tilt the head back slightly and breathe
out
Press down on the Inhaler to release the medicine, start to
breathe in slowly for 3 to 5 seconds
Hold each breath for 10 seconds to allow the medicine to go
deeply into the lungs
Repeat as directed
Note: There are different
types and brands of Inhalers that require different techniques
(Ie , spacers, dry powder Inhaler, etc ). Assist the victim
with their medication as prescribed.
Illness/condition
Description
Signs and symptoms
First Aid
Severe Allergic Reactlon
Anaphylaxis
A sudden severe allergic reaction that involves the whole
body. Swelling of the lips, eyelids, throat, and tongue can
block airway. Anaphylaxis is fatal without prompt treatment!
It is critical for anyone w1th a history of
Anaphylaxis to keep epinephrine auto-injectors on hand at
all times
Waiting for paramedics may significantly
increase risk of death.
Rapid onset of
Anxiety
Hives / itching
Sensation of heart pounding
Nausea/vomiting
Abdominal pain/cramping diarrhea
Swelling of lips, eyelids, throat, and tongue
Extreme difficulty breathing
Coughing/wheezing
Altered mental status
Blueness of skin/lips/nail beds
Complete airway obstruction
Assess, alert and attend to the
ABCs
If the victim carries a life saving epinephrine auto injector
prescribed by a physician, help them use it.
If the victim is unable, the first aid provider should administer
it.
Beneficial effect is relatively short
Victim requires immediate medical assistance
Comfort, calm and reassure while awaiting EMS.
Do NOT put your thumb,
fingers or hand over the black tip
Do NOT remove the gray safety
release until ready to use
Do NOT use if the solution
is discolored or a red flag appears in the clear window.
Epinephrine
Auto Injector
Directions for Use
Unscrew yellow or green cap of Epipen
or Epipen Jr.carrying case and remove auto-injector from storage
tube.
Grasp unit with black tip pointing downward.
With your other hand, pull off the gray safety release.
Hold black tip near outer thigh.
Swing and jab firmly into outer thigh until it clicks so that
unit is at a 90 Degree angle to thigh. (Auto-injector is designed
to work through clothing.)
Hold firmly against thigh for approximately 10 seconds. (The
injection is now complete. Window on auto-injector will show
red.
Remove unit from thigh and massage injection area for 10 seconds.
Call 9-1-1 and seek immediate medical attention.
Carefully place used auto-injector * (without bending the
needle), needle-end first, into storage tube of carrying case.
Then screw cap of storage tube back on completely and take
it with you to emergency room.
Immediately After Use
Go immediately to nearest hospital
emergency room or call 911.
You may need further medical attention. Take your used auto-
injector with you.
Tell the doctor that you have received an injection of epinephrine
in your thigh.
Give your used auto-injector to doctor for inspection and
proper disposal.
Note. Most of the liquid (about
90%) stays in the auto-injector and cannot be reused However,
the correct dose of the medication has been delivered lf the
red flag appears in window
Illness/condition
Description
Signs and Symptoms
First Aid
Diabetes
Chronic disease that leads to imbalance of blood sugar and
insulin
A medical emergency occurs when blood
sugar becomes very high or very low. Proper fist aid can be
lifesaving.
Type 1 Diabetes
Usually diagnosed in children and
young adults. Body does not produce insulin, a hormone that
controls the level of sugar glucose in the blood. Cells cannot
use glucose without insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most common form. Body does not produce
enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Very Low Blood Sugar
Altered mental status
Pale/sweaty
Anxiety/trembling
Pounding heart
Victim may appear drunk
Hungry/weak
Fainting
Seizure
Unconsciousness
Very High Blood sugar
Altered mental status
Nausea/vomiting
Flushed, hot, dry skin
A strong fruity breath odor
Drowsiness/difficulty waking up
Rapid, deep breathing
Unconsciousness
Assess, Alert and Attend the ABCs.
Responsive
(awake, able to swallow) If the person is a known diabetic:
Attempt to raise blood sugar level
as quickly as possible
Give about 6 ounces of fruit juice
If the person does not behave normally within about 15 minutes,
call 911 or activate your emergency action plan.
Comfort, calm and reassure while awaiting
EMS.
Do not give anything by mouth if the victim is unresponsive
or semi-conscious and unable to swallow.
Seizures
A sudden attack, usually related to
excessive electrical activity in the brain.
Seizures can be caused by:
Epilepsy
Head Injury
Brain tumor
Meningitis
Stroke
Very low blood sugar
Simple=No loss of consciousness
Staring spells
Confusion
Wandering aimlessly
Strange behavior
Simple
Do Not
restrain
Guide victim away from dangerous situations
Comfort, calm and stay with victim until fully recovered
Complex
Stay calm/note time.
Withoiut a medical device called a
blood glucose meter, it can be diffiloodcult to tell whether
the person's blood sugar is very high or very low. When the
first aid provider is uncertain, it is best to give sugar.
The immediate effects of low blood sugar can be more harmfull
than those of high blood sugar. If very low blood sugar is
the problem, recovery will usually occur in 10 - 15 minutes.
if not, the problem may be very high blood sugar. prompt medical
treatment is required.
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