Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [22]
Additional risk factors include: alcohol use, cardiovascular disease and certain medications. In heatstroke, the body’s normal mechanisms for cooling itself, such as sweating, are lost. The symptoms of heatstroke include:
• A temperature in excess of 104 F (40 C)
• Cessation of sweating
• Irritability, confusion or unconsciousness
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fainting, which may be the first sign in older adults
• Hot, dry or moist skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid and shallow breathing
• Elevated or lowered blood pressure
Treatment:
1. Heatstroke is potentially life threatening, call 911 immediately.
2. Move the victim out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.
3. Cool the person rapidly by spraying them with cool water, or by covering them with damp sheets or towels, then fan them.
4. If they are able, have the victim drink cool water.
Hypothermia
When the body looses more heat than it can generate, hypothermia occurs. It is usually the result of being exposed to cold temperatures or to a cool, damp environment for a prolonged period, wearing wet or inadequate clothing, or falling into cold water. Even having an uncovered head during cold weather can cause hypothermia.
Symptoms of hypothermia usually develop slowly, so a victim may be unaware that they need emergency medical treatment. Older adults, infants, young children and people who are very lean are at most risk, and others whose judgment may be impaired by mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease or intoxication, the homeless, and stranded motorists are also at risk. Other risk factors include malnutrition, cardiovascular disease and an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Hypothermia is defined as an internal body temperature of less than 95 F (35 C), and its symptoms include:
• Shivering
• Slurred speech
• Abnormally slow breathing
• Cold, pale skin
• Loss of coordination
• Fatigue, lethargy or apathy
• Confusion or memory loss
Treatment:
1. Dial 911 immediately and monitor the victim’s breathing. If breathing stops or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin CPR immediately.
2. If possible, move the person out of the cold; if not possible, protect them from the wind, cover their head, and insulate their body from the cold ground.
3. Remove wet clothing and replace it with a warm, dry covering.
4. Don’t apply direct heat, or use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the victim. Instead, apply warm compresses to the victim’s neck, chest wall and groin.
5.; Do not warm the victim’s arms and legs, this will force cold blood back toward the victim’s heart, lungs and brain, causing their core body temperature to drop, which can be fatal.
6. Never give alcohol, offer warm, nonalcoholic drinks, unless the person is vomiting.
7. Do not rub or massage the person, gentle handling is required because they are at risk of cardiac arrest.
Illness
Contents
Illness
Abdominal Pain
Causes of abdominal pain range from the minor to life threatening. Call 911 when abdominal pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
• Vomiting blood or bloody diarrhea
• Neck, chest, or shoulder pain
• A rigid or tender abdomen
• Inability to have a bowel movement, especially when accompanied by vomiting
• Pain between shoulder blades
• Dizziness, weakness, sweating or confusion
Altitude Sickness
Also known as Acute Mountain Sickness, altitude sickness occurs at at high altitudes, above 8,000 feet or 2,400 meters and can occur as low as 6,500 feet or 2000 meters. If left untreated, it can progress to the life-threatening conditions high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Passengers on aircraft aren’t affected because passenger cabins are pressurized.
Altitude sickness 3usually occurs following a rapid ascent and can be prevented by ascending slowly. Most symptoms are only temporary and abate with time as altitude acclimatization occurs. Symptoms begin within 6 to 10 hours after ascent,