responding to medical emergencies

Question 1

cardiac arrest

Answer 1

• Unresponsive, not breathing normally.
  
  • Start CPR immediately: 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths.
    Use AED if available and call 999.

Question 2

unconscious but breathing

Answer 2

• Check for danger, place in recovery position.
  
  • Monitor breathing, call 999 if needed.

Question 3

choking

Answer 3

• Encourage to cough first.
  
  • If ineffective: give 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts.
  • Call 999 if blockage doesn’t clear.

Question 4

heart attack or angina

Answer 4

• Symptoms: chest pain, breathlessness, nausea.
  
  • Sit patient down, give GTN spray if prescribed.
    Call 999 and consider giving aspirin 300 mg (if not allergic).

Question 5

anaphylaxis

Answer 5

• Sudden swelling, rash, breathing difficulty.
  
  • Administer adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. Epipen).
    Call 999 immediately, lie patient flat, monitor.

Question 6

acute asthma attack

Answer 6

• patient will have signs of breathlessness and tightness of chest. inability to catch breath
• Use salbutamol inhaler (blue) – up to 10 puffs via spacer. Repeat every 10-20 mins
  
  • Sit upright, stay calm.
    Call 999 if no improvement.

Question 7

seizure

Answer 7

• Protect from injury, do not restrain or put anything in mouth.
  
  • Time the seizure.
  • Call 999 if >5 minutes or first seizure.
    Lasts longer than 5 mins = rectal diazepam solution

Question 8

major and minor bleed

Answer 8

• Minor: clean, apply pressure, cover with sterile dressing.
  Major: apply direct pressure, raise limb if possible, call 999.
• does the patient have an anticoagulant alert card

Question 9

nose bleed

Answer 9

• Sit forward, pinch soft part of nose for 10-15 mins.
  
  • Do not tilt head back.
    Seek medical advice if >30 minutes.
• does the patient have an anticoagulant alert card

Question 10

fainting

Answer 10

• Lay flat, raise legs.
  
  • Loosen tight clothing, reassure when they recover.
    If unresponsive: treat as unconscious.

Question 11

burn

Answer 11

• Cool with cold running water for 20 mins.
  
  • Cover with sterile, non-fluffy dressing.
  • Do not apply creams. Seek help if severe.

Question 12

fractures and soft tissue injury

Answer 12

• Immobilise the area, do not move limb unnecessarily.
  
  • Use ice pack wrapped in cloth for soft tissue injuries.
    Call 999 or refer to A&E if serious.