Section 9
Sudden Illness
How can a rescuer recognize when a person
suddenly becomes ill? (Page 151)
Besides the physical symptoms, what might the
rescuer do to determine how a person
suddenly became ill?
Don’t second guess ---call 911
Caring for Sudden Illnesses
(Page 152)
There are 10 bullets that are rules of thumb for
a rescuer caring for a victim of sudden illness.
Let’s take a look
Fainting
The definition of fainting is:
The insufficient supply of blood to the brain for
a short period of time
Signs and Signals that a person is
going to faint
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•
•
•
Weakness
Dizziness
Pale
Cold Clammy skin
How does the rescuer treat a victim
that has fainted?
• Place the victim on their back
• Elevate their feet 8-12 inches if no head, neck
or back injuries are suspected
• Loosen restrictive clothing
• Monitor the A, B, C’s
• Call 911
Chronic Conditions
Conditions you as a rescuer must be aware of
when attempting to treat a victim.
Diabetes: What is it?
The inability of the body to convert sugar from
food into energy via insulin produced in the
pancreas
Types of Diabetes
Type I- called juvenile diabetes and is also called
insulin dependent diabetes
Type II- called adult-onset diabetes and it is
non-insulin dependent diabetes.
Signs and Signals of Diabetic Emergencies
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•
•
•
•
Pale, Cold, Clammy skin
Dizziness and a shakiness
Confusion
Numbness
Change in level of consciousness
Hyperglycemia
A diabetic reaction in which there is too much
sugar in the blood
Treatment depends on the victim’s symptoms
and if they are a known diabetic or not.
Hypoglycemia
A diabetic reaction in which there is too little
sugar in the blood.
Treatment would be to give a sugar source if
fully conscious.
Seizures
Seizures occur when the normal workings of
the brain are disrupted by injury, disease,
infection or electricity. A common disorder
that causes seizures is Epilepsy.
What the victim might experience
before a seizure
• An aura sensation (as of a cold breeze or
bright light) that precedes the onset of certain
disorders such as a migraine attack or
epileptic seizure
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•
•
•
Hallucinations
Strange tastes
Strange sounds
An urgency to get to safety
What the rescuer might see in a seizure victim
• Blank stares
• Unresponsiveness
• Uncontrolled muscle contractions called
”convulsions”
Treatment for a seizure victim
Do’s
Protect the victim from being injured by
moving things away
Protect the victim’s head
Roll them on their side when seizure is over
Treatment for Seizure victims
Do not:
Try to stop the seizure
Hold the person down
Put anything between their teeth
Reasons for calling 911
-
The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
The victim has multiple seizures
The victim is pregnant or diabetic
The seizures follow high rise in body temp
The victim fails to regain consciousness
Stroke
A stroke is called a “brain attack” and is the
third leading cause of death in the U.S.
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain
is cut off, or when bleeding occurs in the brain.
Mini-Strokes
A victim is having signals of a stroke, they go
away in minutes, but they return over and
over again.
Risks Factors of having a Stroke
High Blood pressure
Cigarette Smoking
Obesity
Diet
“Face” Recognition of a Stroke
•F
ace
•A
rm
•S
peech
•T
ime
Care for a Stroke Victim
•
•
•
•
Call 911
Have them stop what they are doing
Monitor A.B.C’s
Make notes of time and symptoms as the
stroke progresses
Did you Know?
• There are drugs used to treat an ongoing
stroke.
• “Clot-Busters”
Objectives continued
• Explain why diabetes is the silent killer. List
the signs and symptoms and treatment of
diabetes.
• Explain what a rescuer might see if someone
was having a seizure. What is the treatment
for a person having a seizure.
Objectives for Section 9
• Explain the signals of sudden illness
• List situations in which you, the rescuer
would not hesitate to call 911.
• Explain the condition of fainting, what causes
fainting and how is it treated.
Objectives continues
• What would a rescuer be seeing if a victim is
having a stroke.
• How would a rescuer treat a stroke victim?
• List the risk factors of a stroke.