Responding to common medical conditions

Question 1

Which parts of the body are associated with the following conditions:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy

Answer 1

Asthma is a medical condition that impacts the lungs and can cause difficulty breathing for those who suffer from it.

Diabetes is a condition in which the blood-sugar levels are unregulated due to an inability to make insulin (Type I) or making faulty or insufficient amounts of insulin (Type II).

Epilepsy is caused by abnormal brain activity that leads to seizures.

Question 2

What symptoms would you observe if someone has asthma?

Answer 2

• Shortness of breath
• Coughing, especially during exercise
• Tightness of the chest
• Wheezing
• Squeaking sound when inhaling

Question 3

How are Type I and Type II diabetes different? What are the dangers that come along with:

a) A diet that has a lot of sugar
b) Excessive exercise

Answer 3

Type I diabetes is when a person is unable to make their own insulin and must inject themselves.

Type II diabetes is when a person makes faulty or insufficient amounts of insulin.

a) Too much sugar can cause hyperglycaemia, something that can increase the risk of infections, lose weight and cause serious damage to internal organs such as the heart and kidneys.
b) This can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels, causing hypoglycaemia. Symptoms can range from dizziness and sickness up to falling unconscious.

Question 4

Epilepsy triggers seizures, of which there are two types. What are the different seizures and how are they different?

Answer 4

Focal - These are ‘partial’ seizures in which sufferers become unaware of their surrounding and of their actions.

Tonic-clonic - These are what most people think of when they imagine a seizure. There are convulsions, loss of consciousness and stiffness of the entire body.

Question 5

What are the 6 steps taken for successfully putting someone in the recovery position?

Answer 5

1. Open airways but lifting chin with finger and gently tilting the head backwards.
2. Straighten limbs of casualty.
3. Put their nearest arm at right angle to their body with the palm of their hand facing up.
4. Place the hand furthest away from you on the cheek of their face that is closest to you. Make sure that the back of their hand is touching their cheek.
5. Lift the leg furthest away from you up so that the foot is flat on the floor and the knee is bent,
6. Roll the casualty towards you using their knee as leverage. Ensure that the hand remains on the cheek for support.

Question 6

If a participant has a medical condition, what must they do before participating in sed activity?

Answer 6

Notify organisers of sporting event of your medical condition so that they are aware and can respond properly if needed. It is also important that the performer with the medical condition is fully aware of them suffering an attack during a performance.

Question 7

How would you respond if a performer was having a diabetic episode?

Answer 7

Type I:
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemic), give sweet food or drink such as sweets or juice.
High blood sugar (hyperglycaemic), inject themselves with insulin.

Type II:
This type is controlled with medication so if a person is having a diabetic episode here, you need to help them locate their medicine.

Question 8

How would you respond if a performer is having an asthma attack?

Answer 8

• Keep them calm and ask them to control their breathing as much as possible.
• Locate their suitable inhaler and ask them to use it.
• If it is a serious case, notify the emergency services.

Question 9

How would you respond if a performer is having an epileptic seizure?

Answer 9

Focal seizure:

• Keep them calm
• Take them to a safe space away from any danger
• Call emergency services if this is their first seizure and/or it lasts longer than 5 minutes.

Tonic-clonic seizure:

• Put them in the recovery position
• Make a note of how long convulsions last
• Keep them calm and talk to them
• Call emergency services if it lasts longer than 5 minutes and/or it is their first seizure and/or they have a second tonic-clonic seizure without regaining consciousness.

Question 10

In what situations would you call up professionals and how would you notify them?

Answer 10

• Loss of consciousness
• Recurring injury
• Performer struggling to breath
• Performer is in a lot of pain that can’t be managed by first aid
• Obvious or suspected fractures
• If person in charge is not suitable qualified to deal with situation.

Call emergency professionals on 999 or take them to the hospital if that would be quicker.