U2C4L3: Severe Emergencies Flashcards
Stroke
A medical emergency where the blood flow to your brain stops.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Procedure that is used when someone is unconscious, due to a heart attack, stroke, or some other medical emergency.
Automatic External Defibrillator
Device that analyzes the heart and determines if an electric shock is needed.
Cardiac Arrest
Heart attack; the heart stops beating.
Circulatory System
In the body, the network responsible for the flow of blood, nutrients, hormones, oxygen, and other gases to and from cells.
What is choking and what are the signs?
When an object or piece of food blocks the airway (4,600 people die).
- Unable to talk.
- Problems breathing or noisy breathing.
- Unable to cough forcefully.
- Blue or darkened skin, lips, and fingernails.
- Loss of consciousness.
Describe the ways one can help somebody who is choking.
- back blows: stand at the person’s side while they bend forward, strike them with heel of your hand 5 times. (do abdominal thrusts if you can’t)
- abdominal thrusts (AKA Heimlich Maneuver): stand behind other person with one hand in a fist, use other hand to find navel, place thumb against the abdomen above the navel, grab fist and press hard upward five times. (if a child over 1 is choking, use abdominal thrusts only; not back blows)
What are the four steps to stopping severe bleeding?
- Call for emergency help or have someone else do it.
- Remove obvious dirt from wound, but don’t remove objects embedded.
- Stop bleeding by placing lots of pressure.
- Help them lie down on rug if they can to conserve heat.
What is CPR and what are the 3 steps?
It is when someone is unconscious due to heart attack or stroke, should only be done by professional (if not professional, do hands-only CPR)
- Compressions: restore blood circulation with chest compressions
- Airway: clear the airway
- Breathing: breathe for the person
Describe hands-only CPR for adults.
- Place heel of one hand on breastbone (between nipples)
- Place other hand on top of first hand
- Position body over your hands
- Give 30 chest compressions that are fast/hard (2 inches into chest); 100 compressions in one minute
- Give compressions until victim revives or medical assistance arrives
What should you do before CPR or hands-only CPR?
Tap them and ask them loudly, no shaking.
- 2 people: one calls 911 and the other does CPR
- 1 person: call 911 and then start CPR unless they were unresponsive from suffocation, then do CPR and call 911 after
What is an AED?
It’s an automated external defibrillator for a heart attack (cardiac arrest) that senses heart rhythm with a chip and 3 buttons: on/off, analyze, shock.
What is a heart attack (cardiac arrest) and the signs?
When the coronary artery is blocked and reduces/stops blood flow to the heart by obstruction or spasm. It needs CPR, chest compressions, or an AED.
- Pain/pressure in chest.
- Pain in arms, neck, jaw, or back.
- Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, or abdominal pain.
- Lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, or shortness of breath.
What is shock and what are the signs?
When tissues/organs don’t get blood or oxygen from a severe injury, like infections or blood loss.
- Pale, clammy, or cool skin.
- Weak/rapid pulse.
- Slow, shallow breathing.
- Weak, faint, confused, or anxious.
What are the things you can do to help somebody in shock before the ambulance arrives?
- Call for help first.
- Have person lie down with feet above head if it won’t cause further injury.
- Loosen tight clothing.
- Keep person warm with anything you have.
- Make sure person doesn’t drink anything.
- Roll them on side if they vomit or bleed from mouth to prevent choking if they don’t have head/neck injury.
- Begin CPR if person shows no signs of life, like breathing, coughing, or movement.
