Dealing with medical emergencies - A guide

A few years ago at a new year’s eve party where one of my friends suddenly fell onto the floor mid-conversation. No one knew how to respond or how severe the situation was and most of my friends stood helpless and in shock. My friend could have been suffering anything from low blood sugar to a stroke. Once he woke up no one knew what precautions to take or how to respond, luckily he was alright and it was just a case of low blood sugar. I hated this feeling of helplessness and decided to learn some basic first aid in case of another incident like this one.

I decided to share 4 important first aid and emergency skills for others to be aware of in case of emergencies.

Recognising and responding to a stroke:

There are two types of strokes, an ischemic stroke and a hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by the reduced blood supply to the brain caused by the narrowing of arteries or the formation of blood clots. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by the bursting of the arteries supplying blood to the brain, causing a leak in blood. When someone has a stroke the brain is deprived of blood and therefore deprived of oxygen, and the body cannot continue to function normally. A stroke can lead to brain damage, long term disabilities and even death.

Stokes have several symptoms. They are listed below.

• Loss of consciousness

• Slurring speech

• numbness/weakness in limbs

• Dizziness

• Severe headaches

• rapid involuntary eye movement

• Loss of balance

• Paralysis of one side of the body

• blurred/double vision

• Fatigue

In the case of a potential stroke, one should call a hospital immediately, several blood tests and CT scans can confirm the diagnosis and the patient will be treated as soon as possible.

Possible treatments include stents, anticoagulants, clot breaking drugs, coiling and other surgical methods.

Choking:

Choking occurs when a foreign object obstructs an airway (usually the trachea) after being caught in the back of the throat. It is also possible that the object gets stuck in the oesophagus.

It can be caused by eating too quickly, eating while laying down and not chewing food well. It is also common among children who tend to put objects in their mouths. It is also seen in people with neurological illnesses and chronic acid reflux.

If someone is choking it is important to assess if they can talk or make noises to indicate that they are choking- in such cases they can clear out their airway without intervention as an intervention might cause further lodging.

If the person is unable to make noises one should start performing the heimlich maneuver. Use the following steps to perform it accurately.

1. Stand behind the person. Place one foot in front and on behind to gain stability.

2. Wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it above the navel.

3. Hold onto the fist with your other hand. Using this hand press hard into the abdomen and thrust your hands inwards.

4. Perform this motion 6-10 times until the object is dislodged.

You can also perform the manoeuvre on yourself in case you are alone. In such a situation use the steps given below.

1. Place a chair or other stable object (countertop/table) below your navel.

2. Make a fist with one hand and place it above the navel.

3. Hold onto the fist with your other hand.

4. Leaning over the stable object, drive your fist into your body with an upward thrust.

CPR:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can help save a person's life if their breathing or heart stops. When a person's heart stops beating, they are in cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. Without oxygenated blood, organs begin to die.

1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person's chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.

2. Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands.

3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) on their chest.

4. Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow the chest to return to its original position.

5. Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute until an ambulance arrives or you become exhausted.

Excessive bleeding:

1. Remove any clothing or debris on the wound. Don't remove large or deeply embedded objects. Don't probe the wound or attempt to clean it yet. Your first job is to stop the bleeding. Wear disposable protective gloves if available.

2. Stop the bleeding. Place a sterile bandage or clean cloth on the wound. Press the bandage firmly with your palm to control bleeding. Apply constant pressure until the bleeding stops. Maintain pressure by binding the wound with a thick bandage or a piece of clean cloth. Don't put direct pressure on an eye injury or embedded object. Secure the bandage with adhesive tape or continue to maintain pressure with your hands. If possible, raise an injured limb above the level of the heart.

3. Help the injured person lie down. If possible, place the person on a rug or blanket to prevent loss of body heat. Calmly reassure the injured person.

4. Don't remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding seeps through the gauze or other cloth on the wound, add another bandage on top of it. And keep pressing firmly on the area.

5. Tourniquets: A tourniquet is effective in controlling life-threatening bleeding from a limb. Apply a tourniquet if you're trained in how to do so. When emergency help arrives, explain how long the tourniquet has been in place.

6. Immobilize the injured body part as much as possible. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to an emergency room as soon as possible.