Chapter 15: Sudden Illness
Responding to a Medical Emergency
 General signs of sudden illness:
 Change in a person’s level of consciousness
 Feeling lightheaded, dizzy or weak
 Nausea or vomiting
 Changes in breathing, circulation, skin temperature, color or
moisture
 General care for sudden illnesses include—
 Do no further harm.
 Monitor breathing and consciousness.
 Help the victim rest in the most comfortable position.
 Keep the victim from getting chilled or overheated.
 Reassure the victim.
 Give any specific care needed.
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Sudden Illness
 Sudden illness can be—
 Acute.
 Chronic.
 Common sudden illnesses include—
 Fainting.
 Diabetic emergencies.
 Seizures.
 Stroke.
 Poisoning.
 Heart attack.
 Shock.
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Fainting
 Partial or complete loss of consciousness caused by a temporary
reduction of blood flow to the brain.
 The victim will commonly display shock-like signals, such as—
 Cool, pale, moist skin.
 Nausea.
 Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes.
 Additional signals that may precede fainting include—
 Sweating.
 Vomiting.
 Distortion or dimming of vision.
 Head or abdominal pain.
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Care for Fainting
 General care for sudden illness:
 Position the victim on the back on a flat surface. Elevate the
legs about 12 inches.
 Loosen any restrictive clothing.
 Check for any other life-threatening and non-life-threatening
conditions.
 Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink.
 Do not splash the victim with water or slap his or her face.
 As long as the fainting victim recovers quickly and has not
lasting signals, you may or may not need to call 9-1-1 or the
local emergency number.
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Diabetes Mellitus
 A condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does
not use insulin effectively is called diabetes mellitus.
 Type I
 Type II
 Hyperglycemia
 Hypoglycemia
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Signs of Diabetic Emergency
 Changes in consciousness, including dizziness, drowsiness and
confusion.
 Irregular breathing.
 Abnormal pulse (rapid or weak).
 Feeling or looking ill.
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Care for a Diabetic Emergency
 Check and care for any life-threatening conditions.
 If conscious:
 Check for non-life-threatening conditions.
 Look for a medical alert tag or ask the victim if he or she has
diabetes.
 give sugar in the form of fruit juice, candy or a non-diet soft drink.
 If unconscious:
 Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately.
 Do not give the victim anything by mouth.
 Monitor signs of circulation and breathing.
 Keep him or her from getting overheated or chilled.
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Seizures
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Caused by an acute or chronic condition.
Before a seizure occurs, the victim may experience an aura
Seizures can range from mild blackouts to sudden, uncontrolled muscular contractions that
can last several minutes.
Febrile seizures
 Common in children under 5 and can be triggered by ear, throat, or digestive system
infections or a fever of over 102°F (38.9°).
 Signs:
 A sudden rise in body temperature
 A change in the level of consciousness
 Rhythmic jerking of the head and limbs
 Urinating or defecating
 Confusion
 Drowsiness
 Crying out
 Becoming rigid
 Holding the breath
 Upward rolling of the eyes
AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION
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Care for a Seizure
 Do not try to hold or restrain the victim.
 Protect the victim from injury and maintain an open airway.
 Remove nearby objects that could cause injury.
 After the seizure, position him or her on one side so that fluid can
drain from the mouth.
 Check for life-threatening conditions.
 Stay with the victim until he or she is fully conscious and aware of
his or her surroundings.
 Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number, if necessary.
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Stroke
 A disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, resulting in
permanent damage to brain tissue.
 Caused by a blood clot, aneurysm or atherosclerosis.
 A transient ischemic attack (TIA) -
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Reducing Risk of Stroke and Other
Cardiovascular Diseases
 Control blood pressure
 Not smoking
 Eat a healthy diet
 Exercise regularly
 Control diabetes
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Signs of Stroke
 Appearing or feeling ill, or displaying abnormal behavior
 Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, often on only
one side of the body
 Difficulty speaking or being understood
 Blurred or dimmed vision
 Pupils of unequal size
 Sudden severe headache
 Dizziness
 Confusion
 Change in mood
 Ringing in the ears
 Loss of consciousness
 Loss of bowel or bladder control
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Care for a Stroke
 Care for life-threatening conditions.
 Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately.
 Position him or her on one side (affected or paralyzed side down)
to allow fluids to drain.
 Stay with the victim and check his or her breathing and signs of
circulation.
 If the victim is conscious—
 Check for non-life-threatening conditions.
 Offer comfort and reassurance.
 Have the victim rest in a comfortable position.
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