First Aid
Chapter 12
Sudden Illness
Heart Attack
Blood supply to
heart is reduced or
stopped
Coronary artery is
blocked by
obstruction or
spasm
Heart Attack: What to Look For
Possible S&S:
 Uncomfortable pain, pressure,
fullness or squeezing the chest
 Pain spreading to shoulders,
neck or arms
 Chest discomfort with
lightheadedness, fainting,
sweating, nausea or SOB
Heart Attack: What to Look For
Warning signs may
be difficult to
detect.
If suspect, do not
delay
SMA
Medical care crucial
to survival
Heart Attack: What to Do
Call EMS
Monitor ABCs
Keep sitting up
Loosen tight
clothing
Be calm and
reassuring
Heart Attack: What to Do
Nitroglycerin?
Dilates coronary
vessels, increasing
blood flow to heart,
decreases B/P
May repeat up to 3
doses in 10 minutes
Angina
Chest pain
Brought on by
physical exertion,
stress,
Rarely lasts longer
than 10 minutes
Relieved by
nitroglycerin
Stroke
CVA
Blood vessels
that deliver O2 to
the brain rupture
or become
obstructed
Nerve (brain)
cells die
Effects often are
permanent
Stroke: TIA
Transient Ischemic
Attack
Symptoms similar
to CVA but last only
5 minutes to
several hours
“Mini Strokes”
Warning
sign of
possible
stroke
Stroke: What to Look For
Weakness,numbness,
paralysis of face, arm, leg or
one side of body
Blurred or decreased vision
Dizziness or loss of balance
Sudden, severe, unexplained
HA
No PEARL
Stroke: What to Do
Check ABCs
Call EMS
Conscious: Lay down
with head and
shoulders elevated
Unconscious:
Recovery position
Asthma
Coughing
Cyanosis
Unable to
speak w/o
pausing for
breath
Wheezing
Asthma: What to Do
Check ABCs
Keep upright
Medication?
SMA as needed
Hyperventilation
Fast, deep
breathing
May be due to
stress
Hyperventilation
May have:
Dizziness
Tingling of hands
and feet
SOB
Breathing rate
faster than 40/min
Hyperventilation
What to do:
Calm & reassure
Inhale thru nose,
exhale thru lips
Don’t use paper
bag
Fainting
Associated with decreased blood
flow to brain. May be due to:
Low blood sugar
Anxiety
Fatigue
Dehydration
Anemia
Fright
Drugs
Arrhythmia
Heat exhaustion
Bleeding
Fainting
May also be
due to:
Sitting or
standing in one
place for long
period of time.
Fainting:What to Look For
Dizziness
Weakness
Seeing spots or
floaters
Blurred vision
Ringing in the ears
Nausea
Pale skin
Sweating
Fainting:What to Do
Prevent from falling
Lay down and elevate
legs
Loosen tight clothing
Provide fresh air and
cool wash cloth for face
Provide a cool, sweet
drink when able to
swallow
Do Not:
Splash water
on face
Slap face
Use smelling
salts
Fainting
Usually not serious
SMA only if:
 Over 40 y/o
 Repeated attacks
 Does not waken in 4-5
minutes
 LOC while sitting or
lying down
Seizures
Abnormal stimulation of brain cells
Causes:
Epilepsy
Heat stroke
Poisoning
Electric shock
Hypoglycemia
High fever
Brain injury, stroke
Drug w/drawal, abuse or overdose
Seizures: What to Do
Cushion and protect
head
Loosen tight clothing
Look for medical
alert tag
Turn to side when
seizure ends
Do NOT:
Hold down
Put anything
in the mouth
Seizures: What to Do
SMA only if:
No hx of seizures
Lasts more than 5
minutes
Difficulty breathing
after
Pregnant
Signs of injury
Diabetic Emergency
Insulin is lacking or
ineffective
Insulin:
 Hormone produced by
pancreas
 Helps body use energy
in food
 Regulates sugar in
blood stream
Diabetes: 2 Types
Type I:
Juvenile onset or insulin
dependent:
Requires insulin injection
Type II:
Adult onset or non-insulin
dependent.
Overweight. Diet controlled.
Low Blood Sugar
Hypoglycemia
Too much
insulin
Too little food
45
Low Blood Sugar: S&S
Sudden onset
Staggering, Trembling
Anger, bad temper
Pale color
Confusion
Hunger
Eventual LOC
Low Blood Sugar: What to Do
Give sugar such
as candy or
fruit juice
SMA if no
improvement in
15 minutes
High Blood Sugar
Hyperglycemia
Too much
sugar in blood
Not enough
insulin
245
High Blood Sugar: S&S
Gradual onset
Drowsiness
Thirst
Frequent urination
Flushed skin
Vomiting
Fruity breath odor
Eventual LOC
High Blood Sugar: What to Do
If not sure if high
or low blood
sugar:
Give sugar such as
candy or fruit juice
SMA if no
improvement in 15
minutes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
1. Heart attack victims
experience least amount of
pain when laying down.
No
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
2. Sit or lay down to take
nitroglycerin tablets.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
3. Elevate head for stroke.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
4. Most asthma victims have
inhaler.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
4. Hyperventilation: encourage to
breath slow, hold inhaled air for
several seconds, exhale slow.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
6. Splash water on person who
has fainted.
No
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
7. Fainting: use ammonia or
smelling salts.
No
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
8. Place stick in mouth of
seizure victim.
No
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
9. Seizure victim always
requires medical attention.
No
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
10. If in doubt about high or low
blood sugar, give sugar.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Sudden Illness
11. Diabetic emergency with no
improvement in 15 minutes:
SMA.
Yes
Learning Activities 12
Scenerio: C/O chest pain. Started 1 hour
ago. Feels silly complaining.
Nauseated. Pressure in chest.
What to do?
Call EMS
Monitor ABCs
Sit up
Nitroglycerin if available
Learning Activities 12
Scenario: Coworker suddenly collapses.
Confused, numbness, paralysis on one side.
C/O severe HA earlier. What to do?
Check ABCs
Call EMS
Lay down with head elevated
Learning Activities 12
Scenario:
Watching bloody video. Falls
to floor. Breathing, has pulse, unresponsive.
No other injuries from fall. What to do?
Elevate legs 8-12 inches
Loosen tight clothing
Wet, cold cloth to head
SMA only if does not regain
consciousness
Learning Activities 12
Scenario:
See co-worker holding down
another employee on floor. Trying to force
pencil btw teeth. Victim unresponsive with
muscle jerks. . What to do?
No object btw teeth!!
Cushion head
Loosen tight clothing. Turn to side after
SMA only if: No hx of seizures,
Lasts more than 5 minutes
Difficulty breathing after, Pregnant
Learning Activities 12
Scenario:
Car pool driver driving fast
and erratically, stops to let rider out,
confused, slumps over steering wheel. Skin
cold and sweaty. You know she is diabetic .
What to do?
Give something sweet ot eat.
SMA if no improvement in 15
minutes
First Aid Kits
Item
Piece of candy
Quantity
1
Something easy to eat (not hard
candy and not chocolate because it
will melt)