Cold Emergencies, Seizure, Stroke and Diabetic Emergencies

Cold Emergencies

Hypothermia: Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of this dangerous condition which can become life-threatening are: shivering, dizziness, numbness, confusion, weakness, impaired judgment, impaired vision and drowsiness.

Hypothermia victims pass through 5 stages, with each stage more serious and leading to death!

1.     Shivering

2.     Apathy

3.     Loss of Consciousness

4.     Decreasing Pulse and Breathing Rate

5.     Death

FIRST AID

Seek professional help. Get victim out of the cold and into dry clothing. Warm the body SLOWLY! Give nothing to eat or drink unless victim is FULLY CONSCIOUS!

If trained, monitor airway, breathing & circulation.

Seizure

SEIZURES are fairly common occurances, but are very misunderstood! Seizures, per se, are not a specific condition. Rather, they may be caused by many different types of conditions such as insulin shock, high fevers, viral infections of the brain, head injuries or drug reactions.

When seizures recur with no identifiable cause, the person is said to have epilepsy.

Signs and Symptoms

Many individuals have a warning AURA (or sensation) before the onset of a seizure. Many times, a person about to have a seizure will physically move themselves from danger (as from the edge of a train platform) before the seizure begins.

Seizures can range from mild to severe. Mild seizures may take place and end in a matter of seconds.

Severe seizures may involve uncontrollable muscle spasms, rigidity, loss of consciousness, loss of bladder and bowel control, and in some cases, breathing that stops temporarily. Many epileptics carry cards or bracelets which identify their condition.

First Aid

Summon professional help. Prevent the person from injuring themselves by moving furniture or equipment.

Stroke

Stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted long enough to cause damage.

This may be caused by a clot formed in an artery in the brain or carried to the brain in the bloodstream, a ruptured artery in the brain or by compression of an artery in the brain, as found with brain tumors.

First aid consists primarily of recognizing signs and symptoms and seeking professional attention.

Signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

• Weakness and numbness of the face, arm or leg, often on one side of the body only.
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears
• A change of mood
• Difficulty speaking
• Unconsciousness
• Pupils of uneven size
• Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
• Loss of bowel and bladder control
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IF YOU SUSPECT A PERSON IS HAVING A STROKE, HAVE THEM STOP WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING AND REST.

PROMPTLY OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL HELP. Reassure the victim and keep them comfortable. Do not give anything by mouth. If the victim vomits, allow for fluids to drain from the mouth. Observe carefully while awaiting professional help and, if trained to do so, monitor the airway, breathing and circulation and BE PREPARED TO ADMINISTER RESCUE BREATHING OR CPR, IF REQUIRED!

Diabetic Emergencies

Sugar is required in the body for nourishment. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use the sugar. When the body does not produce enough Insulin, body cells do not get the needed nourishment and diabetes results.

People with this condition take Insulin to keep their diabetes under control.

Diabetics are subject to two very different types of emergencies:

Insulin Reaction (or Insulin Shock)

This condition occurs when there is TOO MUCH INSULIN in the body. This condition rapidly reduces the level of sugar in the blood and brain cells suffer.

Insulin reaction can be caused by taking too much medication, by failing to eat, by heavy exercise and by emotional factors.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: Fast breathing, fast pulse, dizziness, weakness, change in the level of consciousness, vision difficulties, sweating, headache, numb hands or feet, and hunger.

Diabetic Coma

This condition occurs when there is TOO MUCH SUGAR and too little INSULIN in the blood and body cells do not get enough nourishment.

Diabetic coma can be caused by eating too much sugar, by not taking prescribed medications, by stress and by infection.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Diabetic coma develops more slowly than Insulin shock, sometimes over a period of days. Signs and symptoms include drowsiness, confusion,deep and fast breathing, thirst, dehydration, fever, a change in the level of consciousness and a peculiar sweet or fruity-smelling breath.

First Aid for Insulin Reaction and Diabetic Coma

Looking for the signs and symptoms listed above will help to distinguish the two diabetic emergencies. In addition, if the patient is conscious, you can ask two very important questions which will help determine the nature of the problem:

• ASK "HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?"
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Someone who has eaten, but has not taken prescribed medication may be in a diabetic coma.

• ASK "HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR MEDICATION TODAY?"
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Someone who has not eaten, but did take their medication, may be having an Insulin reaction.

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES OF DIABETIC EMERGENCIES CAN BE DIFFICULT.

(Always look for an identifying bracelet which may reveal a person's condition)

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OF THE TWO CONDITIONS, INSULIN SHOCK IS A TRUE EMERGENCY WHICH REQUIRES PROMPT ACTION!

A PERSON IN INSULIN SHOCK NEEDS SUGAR, QUICKLY! IF THE PERSON IS CONSCIOUS, GIVE SUGAR IN ANY FORM: CANDY, FRUIT JUICE OR A SOFT DRINK!

SUGAR GIVEN TO A PERSON IN INSULIN SHOCK CAN BE LIFE-SAVING! IF THE PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM DIABETIC COMA, THE SUGAR IS NOT REQUIRED BUT WILL NOT CAUSE THEM FURTHER HARM.