10 Sudden Medical Emergencies

Question 1

What are the two causes of digestive illness?

Answer 1

When the gastrointestinal tract becomes irritated or infected.

Question 2

Signs of digestive illness? (6)

Answer 2

Nausea/vomiting.
Abdominal pain (cramping)
Diarrhea.
Constipation.
Headache.
Fever.

Question 3

Care for digestive illness?

Answer 3

Keep person hydrated.

Not resolved after 24 hours, seek medical attention.

Question 4

When is digestive illness a critical emergency?

Answer 4

Constant localized pain.
Hardness in abdomen and pain if pressed.
Signs of internal bleeding.

Question 5

What is a diabetic emergency?

Answer 5

Blood sugar fluctuates outside normal range.

Question 6

6 signs of diabetic emergency?

Answer 6

Changes in LoR
Changes in behaviour (confusion, aggression)
Rapid breathing
Cool, pale sweaty skin
Appearance of intoxication
Seizures

Question 7

Care for a responsive diabetic emergency?

Answer 7

Ingest sugar if possible.
Seek medical attention if no improvement, More sugar.
Suggest eating a full meal to balance sugar in blood.

Question 8

Care for an unresponsive diabetic emergency?

Answer 8

Recovery position.
Rub glucose with gloved finger inside cheek.
Seek medical attention.

Question 9

What is a seizure?

Answer 9

Period of abnormal brain function.

Question 10

Signs of a seizure (4)

Answer 10

Uncontrollable muscle movement
Drooling or foaming
Uncontrollable repetitive motions
Altered LoR

Question 11

Care for a seizure?

Answer 11

Protect person from injury (move things, protect head)
Don’t restrain
Roll into recovery position
>1 seizure, pregnant, diabetic, in water, unknown then seek medical attention

Question 12

4 signs of a mental health crisis?

Answer 12

Inability to think clearly, concentrate or focus.
Hallucinations or delusions.
Depression or sudden mood swings.
Lack of motivation.

Question 13

Care for a mental health crisis?

Answer 13

Contact support system, or 911 if harm may occur to person or others.
Provide reassurance and support.
Self help strategies like breathing exercises.

Question 14

Potential signs of suicide? (3)

Answer 14

Negative comments and thoughts about self.
Expressing intent to die.
Expressing final wishes to someone close by.

Question 15

What is the most immediate threat in a mental health crisis?

Answer 15

Suicide.

It can be traumatic for care givers too.

Question 16

5 signs of labour and childbirth:

Answer 16

Contractions 2 minutes apart or less.
Woman says baby is coming. 
Woman feels the urge to push. 
Woman feels like a bowel movement is coming on. 
Baby is crowning.

Question 17

Care for someone in labour: (3)

Answer 17

Create clean comfortable birthing area with towels etc.
Have mother remove restrictive clothing.
Time the contractions.

Question 18

9 steps to giving birth.

Answer 18

Support baby’s head.
Wipe fluids and mucus from baby’s mouth/nose.
Actively dry baby with clean cloth to stimulate crying and breathing.
Place baby on mother’s chest with covering.
Let placenta and cord drop onto clean cloth.
Tie sterile cloth around cord 10 cm from baby, then drain cord and tie another 15 cm from baby.
Cut umbilical cord between the two knots.
Record time of birth.
Treat any bleeding on mother.

Question 19

What do you do in birthing complications?

Answer 19

Ensure umbilical cord is not around neck.
If not breathing in 30 seconds, massage back.
If still not breathing snap fingers against soles of feet.
If still not, then begin CPR.