First Aid Recognition - The Key to Survival! |
If you are at a large public event or in a large public building, look around to find a steward, security guard, police officer or ambulance member. There may be medical cover on site. If you can't see anybody in your proximity, call the emergency services and be as descriptive as possible about your location. If there is onsite medical cover, the operator will usually have a way of contacting the medical team to make them aware of your situation. The seconds gained in immediately activating the emergency medical services can save a life. Though there are common symptoms with each medical emergency, a casualty may only experience some of them, or indeed may not experience any. Never hesitate if you are suspicious that you or someone else may need medical attention. Mild embarrassment pales in insignificance when compared to loss of life. The drugs and treatments for all life threatening conditions are constantly evolving and the survival rates constantly rise. However, all of this is still dependent on getting medical personnel to the victim quickly - If in doubt, activate the emergency services immediately!! Mini Stroke and Stroke:There are two types of strokes. A mini stroke is when a blood clot or other debris clogs an artery for a short period of time. A stroke is when a blood vessel is permanently blocked or ruptures and bleeds, either of which prevent blood flow to brain tissue. What to watch for1:
Risk Factors3:
There are now drugs that can limit the long term effects of stroke especially if they are administered within the first 3 hours. Time is critical, so if you recognise any of these symptoms, call for an ambulance immediately. Heart Attack:A Heart Attack is caused by the sudden loss or restriction of blood flow to a part of the heart. What to watch for1:
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain Cardiac Arrest:Cardiac arrest is an abrupt cessation of pump function of the heart that with prompt intervention could be reversed, but without it will lead to death2. What to watch for1:
If you are alone with the casualty, always call for an ambulance and get an AED (if you are trained to use one) before commencing CPR. For CPR and AED training, please click here to get information on upcoming courses. References:
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