Chapter 15
Sudden Illness
Types of Sudden Illnesses
1. Fainting
2. Diabetic emergency
3. Seizures
4. Stroke
5. Poisoning
6. Heart attack
7. Shock
Fainting
• One of the most common sudden illnesses
• Definition-partial or complete loss of
consciousness.
• Cause-temporary reduction of blood flow
to the brain due to
1. stressful event
2.disturbing site
3. getting up too quickly
http://www.wimp.com/faintinggoats/
Sign and symptoms
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Loss of consciousness
Light headed/dizzy
Pale/cool skin
Sweating
Vomiting
Distortion of vision
Care for fainting
1. Try to catch the person
2. Position person on their back
3. Elevate the leg 12 inches- to keep blood
to vital organs.
4. Loosen restrictive clothing
5. Check for life-threatening conditions
6. Do not give food or drink
7. Do not slap person or pour water on
them.
Diabetic Emergencies
• Diabetes mellitus-a condition where
the body does not produce enough
insulin or use insulin effectively.
• Insulin is a hormone that allows
sugars to be passed into our cells for
energy.
• A diabetic emergency-is an
imbalance of insulin and sugar in the
bloodstream.
2 types of diabetes
1. Type I (juvenile diabetes)-the body
produces little or no insulin.
2. Type II (adult onset diabetes)-body
produces insulin but the cells do not use
the insulin correctly or not enough insulin
is produced.
Signs of a Diabetic Emergency
• Changes in levels of
consciousness
• Irregular breathing
• Rapid pulse
• Feeling or looking ill
• Fruity breathe
• Irregular behavior- “out of it” or
dazed
Treatment
• Check for life threatening conditions
• Give person sugar fluids or food ie. Candy, fruit
juice or non diet soda.
• If victim doesn’t feel better within 5 minutes call
911
• Insulin shock (hypoglycemia)-too much insulin,
low sugar level
• Diabetic coma (hyperglycemia)High blood sugar level, low insulin.
Seizures
• Irregular loss of body control due to
abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• Signs and Symptoms
1. Aura-unusual sensation or feeling
2. Uncontrollable tremors-grand mal seizure
3. Blank stare-petit seizure
4. Irregular breathing
5. Eyes roll back
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Treatment
Protect the head/prevent further injury
Do not restrain
Move objects away from them
Call 911 if first time or longer than 5
min.
• Do not try to put anything in the
mouth
• Position person on their side
• Speak calmly and reassure them
Febrile Seizure
• Happens to infants who are running a high
fever quickly.
• Additional Treatment: Cool the body
slowly
• Call 911 for first time.
Stroke
2 Kinds
1.Disruption of the blood
flow in the brain
caused by a clot
(thrombus or embolus)
TIA-temporary disruption
of blood flow
2. Bleeding from a
ruptured artery
(aneurysm)
Signs and Symptoms
• F.A.S.T-Face, Arm, Speech, Time
• Numbness and tingling
• Paralysis
• Dizzy
• Vision problems
Treatment
Call 911 immediately
Monitor life threatening conditions
Position so fluids can drain from mouth is
paralyzed.
Hypertension-high blood pressure
• You are 7 times more likely to have a
stroke if you have high blood
pressure.
Things you can do:
• Exercise
• Do not smoke
• Eat healthy
• Get annual physical examinations
General guidelines for treating sudden
illnesses
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Do no further harm
Monitor ABCs and consciousness
Help victim rest comfortably
Keep them from getting chilled or
overheated
• Reassure victim
• **you need to know when 911 is needed
and when it is not.
• *give specific care as needed.