COMMON MEDICAL EMERGENCIES – HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Presenter: Laura Magan, M.D., Baptist Hospital, Internal Medicine
FIVE COMMON EMERGENCIES YOU MAY FACE
HEART ATTACK!
Signs/symptoms:
- STROKE!
Signs/symptoms:
CHOKING!
Signs/symptoms:
SEIZURE!
Signs/symptoms:
HYPOGLYCEMIA!
Signs/symptoms:
SUMMARY
Common themes:
Presenter: Laura Magan, M.D., Baptist Hospital, Internal Medicine
FIVE COMMON EMERGENCIES YOU MAY FACE
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Choking
- Seizure
- Hypoglycemia
- Classes for the public available
- Heartsaver First Aid CPR – 2 year certification for $8O
- www.carepointresources.com
HEART ATTACK!
Signs/symptoms:
- Clutching chest/Pain in chest, may radiate down left arm or to jaw
- Sweating
- Short of breath
- Collapse
- May refer to indigestion/burping
- Call 911
- Give aspirin if you have it & if patient is awake/alert (chewable preferable)
- STROKE!
Signs/symptoms:
- One side weak
- Slurred speech
- Facial droop
- Collapse
- Can’t speak at all
- Call 911
- DO NOT try to give medications
CHOKING!
Signs/symptoms:
- Clutching throat, pointing to throat
- Unable to speak/gasping
- Collapse
- Call 911
- Heimlich maneuver
SEIZURE!
Signs/symptoms:
- Shaking of all 4 extremities or one sided
- Eyes rolled back into head
- Collapse
- Call 911
- DO NOT put anything in mouth
- Roll to left or right side if no evidence of neck injury
HYPOGLYCEMIA!
Signs/symptoms:
- Altered mental status, confused, delirious
- Sweating
- May look like a stroke with weakness, collapse
- Call 911
- If known history of diabetes, may try to give some juice/crackers/food if patient is awake and alert
SUMMARY
Common themes:
- 911
- Time is a factor because with stroke and heart attack, there is a time window for best treatment – 3 hours is magic but the sooner the better
- Time is a factor because EMS/ER personnel can alter course of disease/event - if not seen quickly, can lead to death
