Here’s what to do in an emergency
Medical emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. Here's what to do should you need to save a life ...
Emergencies can happen anywhere – in a shopping centre, on the street or in your own home – so it’s important to know how to react if someone suffers a heart attack, stroke, burn wound, is choking, bleeding or has fainted.
According to Clinton Britz, ER24 coastal regional manager, the best thing to do in any medical emergency is to remain calm and call for emergency assistance.
Here’s what you should do in case of an emergency:
1. Chest pains
Chest pains can mean a heart attack or cardiac arrest. If you think someone is having a heart attack, immediate action could save the person’s life.
The symptoms include acute, severe chest pain, central in nature which may radiate to the arm or neck. The patient may also present with nausea, and have a cool, clammy, greyish skin colour.
If you think someone is having a heart attack and is conscious, put the person in a semi-seated position and support the head and shoulders.
• Don’t wait to see if the symptoms subside.
• Don’t let the person walk around.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, causing the victim to suddenly lose consciousness and stop breathing, or stop breathing normally.
Unless immediately treated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), this leads to death within minutes.
“Most people know to do mouth-to-mouth straight away, but you don’t always have to use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,” Clinton said. “Chest-only compressions can be just as effective.”
Steps to carry out hands-only CPR:
1. Position the person’s head with their chin up, on their back, preferably on a hard, flat surface.
2. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest.
3. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
4. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down 5–6cm onto the chest.
5. Try to do 100 to 120 compressions per minute and continue until the ambulance arrives.
2. Choking
“If someone is coughing and talking, it means they are still breathing,” Britz explains.
“If they aren’t making any noise, their face is turning red and have their hands around their throat, it’s an emergency,” Clinton said.
Steps to help someone who is choking:
1. Stand behind the person, wrap your arms around their waist and if it is a child, kneel down behind them.
2. Make a fist with one hand and position it just above the person’s bellybutton.
3.Grab your fist with your other hand and press hard into the abdomen, as if you are trying to lift the person up.
4. Repeat until the obstruction is dislodged.
• Don’t just hit them on the back because this can worsen the situation by forcing the foreign object into the windpipe.
3. Bleeding
Always protect yourself against blood and body fluids of others with a barrier such as gloves.
Steps to stop bleeding:
1. Assess where the blood is coming from, and remove clothing only if necessary and appropriate.
2. Putting direct pressure for at least 3 to 5 minutes is the most effective way to stop bleeding.
• Don’t bind the wound off with a belt, scarf or clothing unless the bleeding is profuse, as binding it off for too long can result in permanent nerve and muscle injury. However, in some cases, it may be the only solution to save a life.
• Don’t remove the foreign object that is causing bleeding but rather apply padding on either side of it.
4. Burns
The first thing you should do in case of burns is to remove hot or burnt clothing as well as jewellery and belts from the victim. If clothing sticks to the skin, don’t try to pull it off.
Then the burned skin should be immersed in cool (not cold) running water for at least 10 minutes.
• Don’t apply ice directly to a burn wound as it could cause more pain and damage.
• Don’t break blisters as this will lead to infection.
• Don’t apply ointment not indicated for the treatment of burns, as this can also lead to infection.
5. Fainting
Fainting means that the person has lost consciousness because their brain has temporarily not received enough blood supply. Position the person on his side until he regains consciousness.
• Don’t let them get up too quickly.
6. Stroke
If you suspect someone has had a stroke, assess it with the FAST acronym:
F – facial drooping
A – arm weakness;
S – slurred speech or difficulty speaking
T – is for time to call the medical professionals
“The sooner a stroke victim gets professional medical help, the more likely paramedics and doctors will be able to restore blood flow to the affected areas and save brain cells. Stay with the patient until help arrives,” Clinton said.
“Keep ER24’s emergency number, 084 124, in your cellphone and on your fridge for easy access.”
When you call for help during an emergency you will need to provide your province and town, street address and nearest intersection and send someone outside to wait for the ambulance.
• Source: ER24
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