Are You Ready for an Emergency?

When you arrive on the scene of an accident, you need a clear plan of action. Otherwise, it's easy to panic.

Your first priority is to make sure that you and the injured people will be safe from any other hazards. Check the area for anything that could pose a danger to you or others, such as a downed power line or oncoming traffic, and avoid it.

Next, see if there's anyone on the scene who can help. If so, get them to call 9-1-1 while you do the rest of the steps. Get anyone with first aid training to help you take care of the injured people.

Then, quickly figure out which of the injured people to help first. Check each person briefly to see if they respond to you (ask them if they're OK and try gently tapping them), and whether their injuries are life-threatening. Taking a basic first aid course will help you learn how to assess which injuries should be treated first and how to deal with them. Basically, people with no pulse, those who aren't breathing, or those with severe bleeding should be treated first.

Now take care of the ABCs:

Airway:

• Check to see if the person's airway, the breathing tube from their mouth to their lungs, is open. If they're talking or breathing, the airway is open. If not, the airway could be blocked.
• To open the airway, clear out any objects that may be in the mouth. Then, tilt the head backwards with one hand on the forehead and the other under the chin. Try a rescue breath (see "CPR") and see if the chest inflates. If not, the airway is still blocked, and you may need to do the Heimlich manoeuvre (see "Helping someone who is choking").

Breathing:

• "Look, listen, and feel" to see if the person is breathing. Put your ear near their mouth to listen and feel for the breath, and watch their chest to see if it rises and falls. If not, start CPR if you are trained to do so (see "CPR").

Circulation:

• Check to see if the person's heart is beating. Feel for a pulse on the inside of the wrist or the side of the neck. Check for visible bleeding. If bleeding is present, stop it by applying pressure and elevating the bleeding area so it is above the heart.
• If there is no pulse, start CPR if you are trained to do so (see "CPR").

The ABCs can all be life-threatening if not treated. Learning CPR through an accredited first aid course could help you save a life.

If no one has already done so, call 9-1-1. Be prepared to describe your location, what happened, how many people are injured and how badly, and what you've done so far. Follow their instructions on what to do next. Stay on the phone until they tell you it's okay to hang up.

Safety note: You may be at risk of contracting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C from an injured person's blood. You may wish to use latex gloves and a CPR mask to protect yourself. You may want to purchase these products and keep one in your bag or in the car so you'll be prepared wherever you go.

 
*Please note that this health feature is intended to provide a general overview of what to do at an accident scene. It is not intended as a substitute for proper training through a certified first aid course. If you are interested in providing first aid, please contact your local St. John Ambulance, Life Saving Society, or Red Cross to enroll in a first aid course.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Are-You-Ready-for-an-Emergency

How can you help someone who's choking?

First, determine whether they're really choking. Signs of choking include:

• being unable to breathe, cough, or talk
• clutching the throat
• collapsing
• skin turning blue
• suddenly getting up unexpectedly and leaving the table without saying anything

Ask the person if they are choking. A person may not need help if they can still cough, breathe, or talk. In this case, they can try to cough up the object themselves. Otherwise, call 9-1-1 and perform the Heimlich manoeuvre if you are trained to do so.

The Heimlich manoeuvre

If someone is choking, this simple procedure can save their life. It's described below, but the best way to learn is by taking an accredited first aid course. Please note that this technique is not recommended for infants under the age of 1 year.

If the person is standing up:

1. Explain what you're going to do so the person doesn't panic.
2. Approach the person from behind and put your arms around their waist.
3. Make a fist with one hand with the thumb pointing in. Place your fist along the middle of their abdomen, at the bottom of the sternum, between their belly button and their breastbone.
4. Put your other hand on top of your fist.
5. Firmly thrust your hands inwards and upwards.
6. Repeat steadily until the person coughs up the object they're choking on.

If the person is lying down:

1. Open the airway by tilting their head up and back (See "Before help arrives – what you can do" for more information).
2. Remove any objects from the mouth.
3. Pinch their nose, seal your mouth over theirs, and give 2 rescue breaths (see "CPR" for more information).
4. After giving the first 2 breaths, check to see if the chest moves up and down. If not, kneel over the person and place the heel of one hand along the middle of their abdomen midway between the belly button and the breastbone. Place your other hand on top of your first hand.
5. Firmly thrust your hands inward and upward up to 5 times.
6. Try two rescue breaths again. If the chest does not rise, repeat the thrusts and try again. Repeat until the airway clears.

If the person becomes unconscious, open their airway and begin giving artificial respiration (see "CPR" for more information).

After the person recovers, recommend that they see a doctor to make sure they have not been injured by the Heimlich manoeuvre.

If the person choking is a baby less than one year of age, there is a different procedure to follow. If the baby cannot breathe, cough, or make any sounds, begin by placing them facedown on your forearm so the baby's head is lower than their chest. Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Be careful not to cover the baby's mouth or twist their neck. Use the heel of your other hand and give up to 5 gentle slaps between the baby's shoulder blades.

If the object does not dislodge, supporting the baby's head, turn them face up on your thigh, again keeping their head lower than their body. Position 2 fingers just below the nipples on the baby's breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts. Repeat this procedure until the object comes out or the baby loses consciousness. If the baby loses consciousness, call 9-1-1 if you have not done so already. Do not perform any more back slaps, but start CPR (see below). Continue to do so until the baby wakes up or help arrives.

Safety note: You may be at risk of contracting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C if you come in contact with the choking person's blood (for example, if there are sores, blood, or broken skin in either person's mouth). You may wish to use a CPR mask to protect yourself. You may want to purchase a mask and keep it in your bag or in the car so you'll be prepared wherever you go.

 
*Please note that this health feature is intended to provide a general overview of how to help someone who is choking. It is not intended as a substitute for proper training through a certified first aid course. If you are interested in providing first aid, please contact your local St. John Ambulance, Life Saving Society, or Red Cross to enroll in a first aid course.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Are-You-Ready-for-an-Emergency

If someone's breathing and heartbeat have stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save their life. But you must act quickly – a person can die or suffer irreversible brain damage after only 4 minutes without breathing.

CPR is described below, but the best way to learn is by taking an accredited CPR course.

First, make sure the person really needs CPR. Ask "Are you OK?" If they don't respond, look, listen, and feel to see if they are breathing and have a pulse (see "Before help arrives – what you can do").

If there is no breathing or no pulse, call 9-1-1 and check to see if there's an automated external defibrillator (AED – a computerized device that can restart the heart beating) nearby. If so, get it, or ask someone to bring it to you.

Start CPR:

1. Place the person on their back on a firm surface.
2. Open the person's airway by tilting the head back with one hand on the forehead and the other under the chin. Sometimes this is enough to fix the problem. Look, listen, and feel for breathing.
3. If the person is still not breathing, seal your mouth over their mouth, pinch their nose (so air doesn't escape), and give them 2 rescue breaths. Each rescue breath should last about 1 second. Don't take a deep breath before starting a rescue breath – just breathe in normally. Give one breath every 5 seconds. Watch the chest to make sure it rises and falls during the rescue breaths.
4. Next, give chest compressions: Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone between the nipples. Place the other hand on top and push down hard on the chest (30 compressions should take you about 20 seconds). Allow the chest to come back up again between compressions. Give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
5. Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths until the AED is available.
6. When the AED is available, use it by following the instructions on the package. The AED will tell you whether the person is shockable (i.e., whether giving a shock with the AED could help restart their heart). If so, give one shock, then start CPR again for 5 cycles (one cycle is 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths). If the person is not shockable, start CPR again and recheck them every 5 cycles to see if they have become shockable.
7. Repeat until the person starts to move, or until medical help arrives.

Note: CPR techniques are similar for adults and children over 1 year of age, except that children may need smaller rescue breaths. Give breaths that are just large enough to make the chest rise.

For information about CPR on children under 1 year of age or any other questions, talk to your doctor or contact your local St. John's Ambulance or Red Cross to enrol in a first aid course.

Safety note: You may be at risk of contracting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C if you come in contact with the affected person's blood (for example, if there are sores, blood, or broken skin in either person's mouth). You may wish to use a CPR mask to protect yourself. You may want to purchase a mask and keep it in your bag or in the car so you'll be prepared wherever you go.

 
*Please note that this health feature is intended to provide a general overview of CPR. It is not intended as a substitute for proper training through a certified first aid course. If you are interested in providing first aid, please contact your local St. John Ambulance, Life Saving Society, or Red Cross to enroll in a first aid course.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Are-You-Ready-for-an-Emergency

You're babysitting a 4-year-old when you discover he's swallowed more than half a bottle of his parents' pills. What should you do?

First, remain calm. Most cases of child poisoning are mild and manageable if the right steps are taken. However, some substances are more toxic to children and may be lethal to a child even in very small doses, including:

Chemicals:

• alcohols (e.g., alcoholic beverages such as vodka; antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid)
• cleaning agents
• industrial chemicals
• nail products
• paint thinners
• pesticides (e.g., lindane)

Medications:

• antidepressants
• diabetes medications
• heart medications
• illegal drugs
• iron pills
• opioid medications (e.g., oxycodone, methadone)
• salicylates (e.g., ASA, mesalamine)
• seizure medications

Note that this is not an exhaustive list. Any medication or chemical ingested by a child can have the potential to cause serious harm. These substances should be kept out of sight and out of reach from children. In the case of a poisoning, do not attempt to induce vomiting unless advised otherwise.

If the child is unconscious, has stopped breathing, or has no pulse, call 9-1-1 and start CPR if you are trained to do so, if needed. For more information, see "CPR." CPR techniques are similar for adults and children over 1 year of age, except that children may need smaller rescue breaths. Give breaths that are just large enough to make the chest rise.

You should also call 9-1-1 if the child is:

• having trouble breathing
• having seizures (convulsions)
• having trouble swallowing

Otherwise, call your local poison information centre. These professionals will give you instructions on what to do next. Be prepared to provide:

• the child's age and approximate weight
• a description of what the child swallowed (for example, what's on the label of the pill bottle or what the pills look like)
• how the child is feeling and whether you've noticed any physical changes

Follow these steps to prevent child poisonings:

• Don't count on child-resistant containers to keep children safe. They are designed to make containers harder, but not impossible, for a child to open. Children are often able to open them.
• Never put household cleaners or other poisonous substances in cups, glasses, drinking bottles, or anything else that a child may pick up and drink. Keep them in their original containers.
• Store all household cleaners and medications in a locked cabinet. Don't rely on keeping them on a high shelf "out of reach." Many children are able to climb up to reach even the highest shelves.
• Children learn by watching adults. Don't take medication in front of children or call it "candy."

 
*Please note that this health feature is intended to provide a general overview of first aid for poisoning. It is not intended as a substitute for proper training through a certified first aid course. If you are interested in providing first aid, please contact your local St. John Ambulance, Life Saving Society, or Red Cross to enroll in a first aid course.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Are-You-Ready-for-an-Emergency