Medical Emergencies
Condition
Hyperventilation
Asthma Attack
Syncope
Stroke (Cerebrovascular
Accident)
Signs/Symptoms
Procedure
- lightheadedness, giddiness
- terminate procedure and ensure there
will be no more treatment
- anxiety, confusion
- remove objects from mouth and
- dizziness
position upright
- overbreathing, deep breaths
- loosen tight collar
- feeling of suffocation
- paper bag (unless hyperglycemia)
- tingling in extremities
- difficulty breathing wheezing (may
- position upright with arms up
be silence -difficulty breathing
- assist with personal bronchodialater
wheezing (may be silence » no
- oxygen
air exchange
- epinephrine if patient decompensates
- cyanosis, dilate pupils
- basic life support
- confusion
- Call EMS
- chest pressure
- sweating
- pale, anxiety
- position supine
- dilated pupils
- open airway
- weakness, giddiness, dizziness,
- loosen tight collar
faintness, nausea
- give cold towel
- sweat
- crush ammonia vaporole, give oxygen
- drop in blood pressure
- monitor vitals
- loss of consciousness
- reassure
- dizziness, vertigo
- Call EMS
- transient paralysis or weakness
- Turn on paralyzed side semi-upright
- transient speech defects
- Loosen clothing around throat
- headache, chills
- Reassure
- labored breathing
- Monitor vitals
- paralysis in one side of body
- Oxygen
- convulsions, nausea, vomiting
- Clear airway
- loss of consciousness
- If unconscious- supine, BLS
Medical Emergencies
-
crushing, paroxysmal pain in
substernal area
radiate to shoulder, neck, arms
pale, faint
shallow breathing
anxiety
-
Myocardial Infarction
-
sudden pain » angina but longer
pale, cold, clammy
cyanosis, difficulty breathing
nausea, weakness, anxiety, fear
possible loss of consciousness
-
Call EMS
Position with head up
Symptoms not relieved with nitro
Monitor vitals give oxygen
Alleviate anxiety » reassure
Hypoglycemia
-
sudden onset
pale, cold, moist skin
confused, nervous, anxiety
bonding pulse
salivation
normal to shallow breathing
convulsions (late)
-
administer oral sugar » observe 1hr
schedule appointments following food
intake
if unconscious » call EMS » BLS
Position supine, maintain airway
Oxygen, monitor vitals
Intramuscular glucagon or intravenous
glucose
Hyperglycemia
-
slow onset
flush, dry skin, fruity breath
dry mouth, thirst
low blood pressure, weak, rapid
pulse, Kussmaul breathing
-
Call EMS
Keep warm
Oxygen
Is unconscious »BLS
Position supine
Epileptic Seizure
-
coma
anxiety or depression
pale, may become cyanotic
muscular contractions
-
Call EMS
Position supine
Move away movable equipment
Take objects out of hands and mouth
Open airway, oxygen, monitor vitals
Allow to sleep after convulsions
Angina Pectoria
-
-
-
position as patient requests
assist with nitroglycerin is patient has
available
oxygen, reassure
if no prompt recovery with nitro » call
EMS and treat as myo. infarct