Unconsciousness Flashcards
5 steps of a primary survey
DR ABC
- Danger
- Response (Tap shoulders. “Are you alright?”)
- Airway (tilt head + lift chin)
- Breathing (no breathing? 999 + ask for defibrilator + CPR)
- Circulation (severe bleeding, heart attack)
CPR chest compressions
[5 things to remember]
- 30 chest compressions, 2 rescue breaths, repeat
- Use heel of hand, bottom of breastbone
- To the beat of “Stayin’ Alive”
- Only stop to recheck casualty IF regaining consciousness AND start breathing normally
- Change rescuer every 1-2 mins (if poss.)
3 ways to check breathing
LOOK for chest movements
LISTEN at the mouth for breathing sounds
FEEL for air on your cheek
agonal gasps
- when casualty is barely breathing or taking short infrequent gasps
- do NOT confuse with normal breathing
CPR rescue breaths
[6 things to remember]
- head tilt with hand on chin
- nip soft part of casualty’s nose
- blow steadily into mouth for one second
- watch for chest rising
- only stop to recheck casualty IF regaining consciousness AND start breathing normally
- change rescuer every 1-2 mins (if poss.)
CPR changeover of rescuer
[2 things to remember]
- every 1-2 minutes
- DO NOT interrupt chest compressions
safest way to remove casualty from a bed (CPR is better on hard, flat surface)
use sheets to slide casualty off bed (ideally with 2 people)
adapting resuscitation for babies / child over one year
[4 things to remember]
- begin with 5 rescue breaths
- compress chest to one third of its depth
- use two fingers for babies
- use one or two hands (as needed) for children
How do you know a collapsed casualty has vomited? What do you do?
[3 things to remember]
- after rescue breath, air comes back out with gurgling sound
- turn casualty onto their side, tilt head back, allow vomit to flow out
- use protective barrier for future rescue breaths (if poss.)
hygiene during rescue breaths
[5 things to remember]
- wipe the lips clean
- use protective barrier (esp. if you suspect infectious diseases)
- makeshift barriers include: plastic with hole in, handkerchief
- if in doubt, use chest compression only
- wear gloves + wash hands after
10 causes of unconsciousness
[acronym]
FISH SHAPED
Fainting
Imbalance of heat
Shock
Head injury
Stroke Heart attack Asphyxia Poisoning Epilepsy Diabetes
scale of consciousness
[4 stages, acronym]
Alert
Voice
Pain
Unresponsive
Secondary Survey
- 3 initial steps / considerations
History: what happened? medical history?
Signs: look for e.g. swelling, deformity, pale skin - use all your senses
Secondary Survey
- head to toe examination
[5 checks]
- head and neck
- shoulders and chest
- abdomen and pelvis
- legs and arms
- pockets and clues
Secondary Survey: head to toe examination
- head + neck
[5 checks]
- breathing (slow, shallow, difficult)
- pulse (slow, weak, irregular)
- size of pupils
- whole head + face (bruising, bleeding, deformity)
- neck (could accident have injured neck?)
Secondary Survey: head to toe examination
- shoulders + chest
[4 checks]
- compare opposite shoulders / collar bone (fracture?)
- ask conscious casualty for deep breath (equal movement? pain?)
- feel ribcage + compare sides (fracture?)
- other injuries (stab wounds, bleeding)
Secondary Survey: head to toe examination
- abdomen + pelvis
[2 checks, 1 warning]
- feel abdomen (abnormality? pain response?)
- incontinence or bleeding
- DO NOT squeeze or rock pelvis
Secondary Survey: head to toe examination
- legs + arms
[2 checks]
- signs of fracture / deformity
- ask conscious casualty to move all joints (difficulty? pain?)
Secondary Survey: head to toe examination
- pockets + clues
[3 checks, 2 warnings]
- check pockets for clues
- look elsewhere on body (medical bracelet, needle marks, medication)
- loosen tight clothing
- ENSURE reliable witness when removing items from pockets
- BEWARE sharp objects (e.g. needles)
important things to ask conscious casulaty
[6 things, acronym]
SAMPLE
Sign + symptoms (how do you feel?) Allergies Medication Past medical history Last meal Event history (what happened?)
important step if you suspect neck injury
get another person to keep head in line with body at all times
recovery position
[9 steps]
- remove glasses
- straighten both legs
- move arm nearest you outwards, elbow bent with palm facing upwards
- bring far arm across chest + hold back of hand against cheek
- grab far knee with other hand, pull up keeping knee on the ground
- keep casualty’s hand on their cheek, pull far leg towards you to roll onto their side
- adjust upper leg, so hip and knee and bent at right angles
- tilt head back to keep airway open
what to do after recovery position
[3 things]
- call emergency services
- check casulaty’s breathing regularly, start CPR if breathing abnormal
- switch sides every 30 minutes if in recovery position for lengthy period
what side should pregnant women be put into recovery position on?
left (to help circulation)
2 DON’Ts for recovery position
- DON’T place pillow under casualty’s head when they’re lying on their back
- DON’T put anything in unconscious casualty’s mouth
HYPOXIA
(lack of oxygen)
- 11 signs + symptoms
- pale, clammy skin (for dark skin, look at colour of skin inside lips)
- blue tinges to skin/lips (cyanosis)
- increasing pulse rate
- weakened pulse
- nausea or vomiting
- increased breathing rate (oxygen deficiency)
- lowered breathing rate (control centre causes)
- distressed breathing / gasping
- confusion or dizziness
- lowering level of consciousness
- clues from the cause (e.g. bleeding, injury, chest pain)
treatment of hypoxia
[2 considerations]
- need to treat cause of hypoxia (could be airway, breathing or circulation problems)
- DON’T allow casualty to eat, drink or smoke
