Medical

Emergencies

PinkDetect and SPIE (Society for Promoting Innovation in Education) have teamed up to develop a visual guide that outlines emergent medical situations and how you can contribute to providing care in these critical moments.

Principles in Managing Emergencies

Ensuring Your Own Safety

Managing a Mob

Recognizing an Emergency

ABCDE approach

What Is The ABCDE Approach?

Airway

Ensure the airway is clear, as this is critical for breathing.

Breathing

Check for effective breathing and provide support if necessary.

Circulation

Assess and manage blood flow, pulse, and control of bleeding.

Disability

Evaluate neurological status using tools like the AVPU scale.

Exposure

Fully expose the patient to identify hidden injuries or conditions.

All About Performing CPR

CPR should be performed when someone is unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing normally or there is no pulse, indicating cardiac arrest.

Cardio

Targets the heart; chest compressions is to manually pump the heart.

Pulmonary

Involves the lungs, rescue breaths provide oxygen to the lungs and blood.

Resuscitation

The combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Method for Chest Compressions

Method for Rescue Breaths

Chest Compressions to Rescue Breathe

Ratios

For a provider performing both chest compressions and rescue breaths, the ratio of compressions to breaths is 30:2.

Manage a Bleeding Wound

Look for bleeding wounds on the casualty. You must ensure that blood loss is kept to a minimum.

Clean the Wound

Use safety gloves if available. If clean water is available, wash the wound before placing the cloth.

Apply Pressure

Apply direct pressure to the bleeding wound using a clean cloth for at least 10 minutes.

Cover the Wound

If the wound is deep, pack the wound with a clean cloth and use another cloth to apply direct pressure over the wound.

Elevate the Limb

Elevate the affected limb (if the injury is on the extremities).

What If The Bleeding Doesn't Stop?

Learn to Apply

Apply a tourniquet

Apply the tourniquet 2-3 inches from the wound. It should be between the heart and the wound itself.
Always note the time when the tourniquet was applied.
Don’t be afraid to tighten the tourniquet.

Fainting

A transient loss of consciousness, or fainting, can be caused by many things including:

Hypoglycemia

It occurs because of low sugar and is common in people who engage in physical activity without eating for long periods of time.

Give them something sweet to increase blood sugar and elevate their legs.

Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke

It occurs due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or physical activity in the heat, leading to dehydration and overheating of the body.

Place ice packs or cool, wet towels on the neck, armpits and groin. Also, offer chilled water or a drink with electrolytes.

Postural Hypotension

It happens when blood pressure drops suddenly upon standing up, causing dizziness or fainting due to reduced blood flow to the brain.

Help the person to lie down and elevate their legs to restore blood flow to the brain.

Convulsions

An episode characterized by erratic, usually involuntary physical movements, which may be accompanied by changes in consciousness.

How to manage convulsions?

Don’t put anything in their mouth.

Don’t restrain them.

Cushion the head.

Remove any danger like sharp/pointed objects/toys.

Let the convulsion subside and time it.

Recovery Position for Convulsions

Stay with the person. If you must leave them alone at any point, or if they are unconscious, put them in this position to keep the airway clear and prevent choking.

Fire Safety

Go to a safe place

Always go outside when you hear a smoke alarm.
Always get down when there is a fire and crawl your way out.
Cover your mouth with a damp cloth to minimize smoke inhalation.

Managing Severe Burns

For Causality

Call an ambulance immediately.
Cover the burnt area and try to elevate the limbs to prevent the victim from going into shock.
Make the casualty sit up if the burns are in the neck region to ensure the airway remains patent.

Managing Minor Burns

For Causality

Cool the burn under running tap water for 10 to 20 minutes.
Remove any constricting jewelry trapping the heat to reduce injury from swelling.
A first-aid burn gel may be used instead of water, provided enough to cover the burn.
Apply a sterile dressing after cooling the injured area for up to 20 minutes.

If someone is running out of a burning building and their clothes are on fire, what do you tell them to do?

Manage Choking

Choking occurs when a foreign object lodges in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air.

1

If you suspect mild choking, ask the casualty to cough.

2

If there is severe choking or progression of choking, give abdominal thrusts using the Heimlich maneuver.

3

If this does not resolve the choking, call an ambulance and repeat until the object is expelled or the victim becomes unresponsive.

4

If victim becomes unresponsive and unconsciousness, begin CPR. Each time you open the mouth for breaths, open the mouth wide and look for the object.

Choking: How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver

If someone is choking and cannot cough, speak, or breathe, you can perform the Heimlich Maneuver to help dislodge the obstruction.

Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
Make a fist with one hand and place it just above their navel.
Grasp your fist with the other hand and deliver quick, upward thrusts until the object is expelled.
For children or yourself, adjust the technique appropriately.

Watch Now

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

A heart attack occurs when a blockage forms or there is a severe spasm in a blood vessel that restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

01

Alert emergency services and call an ambulance. Meanwhile, have the victim sit and remain calm.

02

Encourage alert adults who are experiencing chest pain to chew and swallow aspirin (300mg).

03

If the victim becomes unresponsive and is not breathing or is only gasping, start CPR.

3 Signs of Heart Attack

Chest Discomfort

Pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest.

Shortness of Breath

Difficulty breathing, with or without chest discomfort.

Associated Symptoms

Sweating, nausea, light-headedness, or discomfort in the upper body.

Fractures

A fracture refers to any break in the continuity of the cortex of the bone. These are some ways to manage a fracture:

Immobilize the fracture: use splints, slings, or anything available to prevent movement.
Comfort the person: ensure they are seated or lying down.
Apply ice: to reduce swelling (wrap ice in cloth; don’t apply directly on the skin).
Elevate the limb (if possible).
Take the patient to the hospital.

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Recognize a Fracture - The 3S's

Story

Assess the history of the injury, such as falls, impacts, or twisting, and any sounds like a snap or crack.

Signs

Look for swelling, bruising, deformity, or limited movement in the affected area.

Symptoms

Check for pain, tenderness, and sensations like grating or bone friction.

Considerations for Handling Fractures

Do Not Realign the Bone: Avoid trying to straighten or reposition a fractured bone.

Minimize Movement: Keep the injured area stable and avoid unnecessary movement to prevent further damage.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately: First aid is not enough; consult a healthcare professional promptly.

Special Care for Open Fractures: Never push a bone back into place; cover the wound with a clean cloth and seek urgent care.

Managing a Sprain

Rest

Ice

Compression

Elevation

Anaphylaxis and Allergies

Allergy

A damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially a particular food, pollen, fur, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs rapidly and affects multiple body systems, requiring immediate medical attention.

Common Triggers (Allergy)

Mold

Medication

Grass/pollen

Dust

Food

Fragrances

Animals (fur)

Insect bites

Allergy Symptoms

Touble Breathing

Hives or Rashes

Watery Eyes

Itching

Runny Nose

Sneezing

Management of Allergy

Seek Help: Call for medical assistance if the reaction seems severe or life-threatening.

Remove the Allergen: Move the person away from the allergen or wash the affected skin area to prevent further exposure.

Check Allergy History: Ask if the individual has a known history of allergies or previous reactions.

Administer Antihistamines: If appropriate, give an oral antihistamine like Zyrtec or Telfast to alleviate symptoms.

Anaphylaxis
(Severe Allergy)

Signs for anaphylaxis are similar to a mild allergic reaction but in much greater severity. The casualty may also be experiencing trouble breathing, and have abnormal breathing sounds (such as wheezing).

Epinephrine Autoinjector

A self-injectable device called an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen), can temporarily relieve life-threatening allergic reactions and is recommended for those prone to severe allergies to carry at all times.