Responding To Health Emergencies Flashcards
What proportion of people in the UK suffer from allergies?
1 in 4
What are the symptoms of allergies?
- Itchy, red, watery eyes
- Sneezing, blocked/runny nose
- Coughing/wheezing
- Flushed skin
- Red, itchy rash
What is anaphylaxis, and how should you respond?
Anaphylaxis is the most serious type of allergic reaction, causing breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing, dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain or shock.
- Call an ambulance immediately
- Administer an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) to the outer thigh, if the person has theirs
How might you tell if someone has diabetes?
- Medical warning necklace
- Wear a glucose monitoring patch/pump
- Carry glucose tablets
- Carry medication
What are the signs of hypoglycaemia?
It is essential that you know someone is hypo, as the wrong treatment type can be very dangerous
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Pale, cold, sweaty
- Rapid pulse
- Trembling
- Deteriorating response
How should you respond to hypoglycaemia?
- Sit the casualty down, ask them to take their glucose tablets
- Check blood sugar levels after 10-15 mins
- If blood sugar above 4mmols, administer slow-releasing carbohydrate snack
- Call 999 if they lose responsiveness
What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia, and how should you respond?
Critical to know that it is hyper (to high), not hypo - giving more sugar here is very dangerous.
- Dry/warm skin
- Rapid pulse
- Increased thirst
- Drowsiness
- Feeling sick
- Fruity smelling breath
- Immediately call for emergency help on 999
- Monitor casualty for responsiveness and breathing
What is epilepsy, and what are the symptoms?
A term given to a group of conditions affecting the brain and causing seizures
- Strange sensations
- Uncrontrollable shaking
- Becomign stiff with arched back
- Collapse
- Difficult breathing
- Loss of bladder control
How should you respond to a seizure?
- Don’t move or restrain casualty unless in danger
- Move dangerous items away, stand back, record seizure time
- Carefully place a cushion under casualty’s head to protect them
- Loosen tight clothing around neck
- Check airway once seizure over, put in recovery position
- Make physical or notes about the seizure to pass on later
- If they become unresponsive prepare for usual 999 and CPR route
Call 999 if:
- Unresponsive and non-breathing
- Fit lasts longer than 5 mins
- Lots of seizures in a row
- Unresponsive for more than 10 mins
- Head injury sustained in seizure
How should you respond to an asthma attack?
- Remove potential triggers
- Reassure them, sit them upright and tell them to take deep, slow breaths
- Administer inhaler if possible (10 puffs)
- Call 999 for first asthma attack, or if no inhaler, or if condition worsens
- After 15 mins, take 10 more puffs if no medical help arrived
- Place them into recovery position if unresponsive
- Prep for CPR if required
What are the symptoms of an asthma attack?
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing/faster breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty speaking
- Blue lips/fingers
- Fainting, drowsiness, confusion, exhaustion, dizziness
What is angina and what are the symptoms?
Angina is chest pain from narrow arteries
May be a warning of higher risk of heart attack
Not typically life threatening
Symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Pain easing with rest
- Breathlessness
- Sudden tiredness
- Anxiety
How should you respond to angina?
- Call 999 if this is the first time an attack has occurred
- Encourage the casualty to take medication if possible
- Call 999 if medication has no effect in 5 mins, or if pain returns
- Start CPR if needed
How should you respond to a casualty hyperventilating?
- Take them somewhere quiet
- Reassure the casualty, encourage them to take slow, deep breaths
- Stay with the person until they feel better
- Call 111 if no improvement
- Encourage casualty to see doctor about preventing hyperventilation
