Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [18]
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:
• Sudden, sharp chest pain that begins or worsens with a deep breath or a cough
• Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, even without pain
• A cough that produces blood-streaked sputum
• Rapid heartbeat
• Anxiety and excessive perspiration
Treatment:
1. Dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
Diabetic Emergencies
Contents
Diabetic Emergencies
Hyperglycemia - High Blood Sugar
Hyperglycemia occurs when a person has too much sugar in their blood, and can be caused by not taking enough insulin, overeating, inactivity, illness or stress. Untreated, it can lead to diabetic coma. Symptoms of hyperglycemia are:
• Gradual onset
• Drowsiness
• Extreme thirst
• Very frequent urination
• Flushed skin
• Vomiting
• Fruity breath odor
• Heavy breathing
• Eventual unconsciousness
Treatment:
1. If you are unsure whether the person is suffering from hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, administer some food or drink that contains sugar.
2. Wait 15 minutes.
3. If you do not see signs of improvement, seek medical attention immediately.
Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Sugar
Diabetes is a condition in which insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body use the energy in food, is either lacking or ineffective. Insulin allows the body’s cells to convert blood sugar (glucose) into energy. There are two types of diabetes: Type I, also called insulin-dependent, sufferers require external insulin, Type II, also called non-insulin-dependent, suffers can build up very levels of sugar in their blood.
In diabetics, their bodies are continuously balancing sugar and insulin. Too much insulin and not enough sugar leads to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and possibly insulin shock. Too much sugar and not enough insulin leads to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and possibly diabetic coma.
Low blood sugar is sometimes referred to as an insulin reaction. It can be caused by taking too much insulin, delaying eating or eating too little food, exercise, or alcohol. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are:
• Sudden onset
• Staggering, poor coordination
• Anger, bad temper
• Pale color
• Confusion, disorientation
• Sudden hunger
• Excessive sweating
• Trembling
• Eventual unconsciousness
Treatment:
1. Give the victim two large teaspoons or lumps of sugar, or one-half can of regular soda, or 4 oz. Orange juice, or 2 - 5 glucose tablets.
2. Wait 15 minutes.
3. If no improvement, repeat step 1.
4. If still no improvement, seek medical attention immediately.
Ear
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Ear
Foreign Object In Ear
A foreign object in the ear can cause pain and hearing loss. Adults usually you know if an object is stuck in your ear, but small children may not be aware of it.
Treatment:
1. Use gravity by tilting the victim’s head to the affected side.
2. Never use a tool such as a cotton swab or paperclip, to remove a foreign object. You risk pushing the object farther into the ear and damaging the sensitive structures of the middle ear.
3. If the object is visible, try grasping it with tweezers.
4. Seek medical attention if the person experiences extreme pain, bleeding or discharge from the ear. These are symptoms of a perforation of the eardrum.
Insect In Ear
For an insect in the ear:
1. Lay the victim down with the affected ear facing upward.
2. Pour a small amount of mineral oil, olive oil or baby oil into the ear.
3. After several minutes, have the person turn their head so that the affected ear faces download. The insect should have suffocated and will float out with the oil.
4. Do not use oil to remove any object other than an insect.
5. Seek medical attention if the person experiences extreme pain, bleeding or discharge from the ear. These are symptoms of a perforation of the eardrum.
Eye
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Eye
Chemical In Eye
If a chemical splashes into a