Tag Archives: First Aid

Straight, No Chaser: Seizure First Aid Do’s and Don’ts

General Health and Wellness, Neurology, , , , , ,

seizure do_you_know_postage-p172384792627544588z7oz3_380

I enjoy empowering you to act. There are many examples of emergency situations in which your actions can be beneficial, including the presence of active seizures. We previously discussed the various causes and symptoms of seizures. Even without understanding all of that, it’s important for you to be aware of some basic first aid maneuvers in the event that you come across someone having a seizure. However, you can’t act irresponsibly; seizures have a high enough incidence of associated injuries that your correct actions can make a world of difference, and the wrong actions can be harmful.
Let’s review the do’s, don’ts and warning signs regarding actions in those early moments when many are inclined to panic.

Seizure First-Aid-Banner_1

The Do’s

  • The first thing I want you to do is to collect yourself. You can’t help anyone unless you’re composed.
  • Many of the bad things that will happen relate to injuries that can occur during the thrashing around that occurs during a seizure. You want to protect the person from any possible harm. Be mindful not to hurt yourself in the process.
  • If the person is standing, cushion the body (especially the head) and/or prevent a fall. Try to lower the person onto a soft surface so no head banging happens with any additional seizure activity.
  • You want to protect the person’s airway and the ability to breath. The best way for you to do this is to turn the person on the side. This will prevent any vomiting or drooling from going into the lungs.
  • You also want to make sure to loosen constricting clothing, especially around the neck.
  • Do not leave until professional help arrives.

Seizure-recovery-position

The Don’ts

  • Do not try to hold down someone in the midst of an active seizure.
  • Do not place your fingers or anything else inside someone’s mouth during a seizure, even if you think they’re choking. Wait until the person is completely awake, alert and talking before you attempt to place anything in the mouth.
  • Do not move a seizing individual unless s/he is in danger or near something hazardous. Even then, you must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of acting.
  • Do not grab the head or neck of someone seizing in an effort to make it stop. Seizures just don’t work that way, and the person has no control over the seizure.
  • Do not start CPR in someone actively seizing.
  • Do not place a child in a cold bath, even if you think the child’s seizure have been described as being due to fevers in the past.

Seizures First Aid

When to See a Physician
Call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room if:

  • This is the person’s first seizure.
  • The person does not fully regain consciousness and normal behavior after a seizure.
  • Another seizure starts soon after a seizure ends.
  • The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
  • The seizure occurred in water (e.g. bath tub)
  • The seizure occurred in someone who is pregnant or has diabetes.
  • The seizure caused an injury.
  • There is anything different about this seizure.
  • The person has not been taking seizure medication as prescribed.

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Seizure First Aid Do’s and Don’ts

Neurology, , , , , ,

seizure do_you_know_postage-p172384792627544588z7oz3_380

I enjoy empowering you to act. There are many examples of emergency situations in which your actions can be beneficial, including the presence of active seizures. We previously discussed the various causes and symptoms of seizures. Even without understanding all of that, it’s important for you to be aware of some basic first aid maneuvers in the event that you come across someone having a seizure. However, you can’t act irresponsibly; seizures have a high enough incidence of associated injuries that your correct actions can make a world of difference, and the wrong actions can be harmful.
Let’s review the do’s, don’ts and warning signs regarding actions in those early moments when many are inclined to panic.

Seizure First-Aid-Banner_1

The Do’s

  • The first thing I want you to do is to collect yourself. You can’t help anyone unless you’re composed.
  • Many of the bad things that will happen relate to injuries that can occur during the thrashing around that occurs during a seizure. You want to protect the person from any possible harm. Be mindful not to hurt yourself in the process.
  • If the person is standing, cushion the body (especially the head) and/or prevent a fall. Try to lower the person onto a soft surface so no head banging happens with any additional seizure activity.
  • You want to protect the person’s airway and the ability to breath. The best way for you to do this is to turn the person on the side. This will prevent any vomiting or drooling from going into the lungs.
  • You also want to make sure to loosen constricting clothing, especially around the neck.
  • Do not leave until professional help arrives.

Seizure-recovery-position

The Don’ts

  • Do not try to hold down someone in the midst of an active seizure.
  • Do not place your fingers or anything else inside someone’s mouth during a seizure, even if you think they’re choking. Wait until the person is completely awake, alert and talking before you attempt to place anything in the mouth.
  • Do not move a seizing individual unless s/he is in danger or near something hazardous. Even then, you must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of acting.
  • Do not grab the head or neck of someone seizing in an effort to make it stop. Seizures just don’t work that way, and the person has no control over the seizure.
  • Do not start CPR in someone actively seizing.
  • Do not place a child in a cold bath, even if you think the child’s seizure have been described as being due to fevers in the past.

Seizures First Aid

When to See a Physician
Call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room if:

  • This is the person’s first seizure.
  • The person does not fully regain consciousness and normal behavior after a seizure.
  • Another seizure starts soon after a seizure ends.
  • The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
  • The seizure occurred in water (e.g. bath tub)
  • The seizure occurred in someone who is pregnant or has diabetes.
  • The seizure caused an injury.
  • There is anything different about this seizure.
  • The person has not been taking seizure medication as prescribed.

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Straight, No Chaser: Seizure First Aid Do's and Don'ts

Neurology, , , , ,

seizure do_you_know_postage-p172384792627544588z7oz3_380

I enjoy empowering you to act. There are many examples of emergency situations in which your actions can be beneficial, including the presence of active seizures. We previously discussed the various causes and symptoms of seizures. Even without understanding all of that, it’s important for you to be aware of some basic first aid maneuvers in the event that you come across someone having a seizure. However, you can’t act irresponsibly; seizures have a high enough incidence of associated injuries that your correct actions can make a world of difference, and the wrong actions can be harmful.
Let’s review the do’s, don’ts and warning signs regarding actions in those early moments when many are inclined to panic.

Seizure First-Aid-Banner_1

The Do’s

  • The first thing I want you to do is to collect yourself. You can’t help anyone unless you’re composed.
  • Many of the bad things that will happen relate to injuries that can occur during the thrashing around that occurs during a seizure. You want to protect the person from any possible harm. Be mindful not to hurt yourself in the process.
  • If the person is standing, cushion the body (especially the head) and/or prevent a fall. Try to lower the person onto a soft surface so no head banging happens with any additional seizure activity.
  • You want to protect the person’s airway and the ability to breath. The best way for you to do this is to turn the person on the side. This will prevent any vomiting or drooling from going into the lungs.
  • You also want to make sure to loosen constricting clothing, especially around the neck.
  • Do not leave until professional help arrives.

Seizure-recovery-position

The Don’ts

  • Do not try to hold down someone in the midst of an active seizure.
  • Do not place your fingers or anything else inside someone’s mouth during a seizure, even if you think they’re choking. Wait until the person is completely awake, alert and talking before you attempt to place anything in the mouth.
  • Do not move a seizing individual unless s/he is in danger or near something hazardous. Even then, you must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of acting.
  • Do not grab the head or neck of someone seizing in an effort to make it stop. Seizures just don’t work that way, and the person has no control over the seizure.
  • Do not start CPR in someone actively seizing.
  • Do not place a child in a cold bath, even if you think the child’s seizure have been described as being due to fevers in the past.

Seizures First Aid

When to See a Physician
Call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room if:

  • This is the person’s first seizure.
  • The person does not fully regain consciousness and normal behavior after a seizure.
  • Another seizure starts soon after a seizure ends.
  • The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
  • The seizure occurred in water (e.g. bath tub)
  • The seizure occurred in someone who is pregnant or has diabetes.
  • The seizure caused an injury.
  • There is anything different about this seizure.
  • The person has not been taking seizure medication as prescribed.

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offer. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress.

Straight, No Chaser: The Do's and Don't of Treating Frostbite

Environmental, , , , , , , , , ,

Alpha-Phi-Alpha-Ice-Cold-shirthypotherm1

There’s a cold front coming. You can’t avoid the exposure. Some of you will end up cold as ice (and twice as nice?). Would you really know what to do if you caught frostbite? I thought not, and the bad news is some of your instinctive tendencies are exactly what you ought not to do in this situation. Here are some do’s and don’ts if you ever find yourself or a loved one in this particularly precarious position.
The Do’s
A lot of this depends on the circumstances.

  • Give warm fluids if possible.
  • If the person is wet, remove wet clothing.
  • If s/he is wearing tight clothing, remove whatever’s constricting.
  • Move to as warm of a climate as feasible; if not possible, then shelter the person from the cold. Avoid movement of the frostbitten parts to the extent possible.
  • Gently separate affected fingers and toes, and if you can, wrap them loosely in sterile dressing.
  • If you have transportation, get to an emergency room as soon as possible.
  • If immediate care or transportation is not available, soak the affected areas in warm (preferably circulating and never hot) water. Alternatively, place warm coverings to affected areas for up to 30 minutes at a time. If skin is soft and feeling returns, you’ve done a good job.
    • Be mindful that burning pain and swelling will occur during rewarming.
  • Apply dry, loose and preferably sterile dressings to the frostbitten areas. Keep frostbitten fingers or toes separated with dressings.
  • Delay rewarming if you are not in an area safe from the risk of refreezing. Refreezing of thawed extremities is even more dangerous than the initial freeze.  

DO NOT

  • Rub or massage the frostbitten area.
  • Peel or pop any blisters that may be present.
  • Use dry heat, such as from a hair dryer, a radiation, heating pad, electric blanket or campfire. These heat source may be ok to keep the rest of you warm (particularly your core), but this type of direct heat can further damage frostbitten tissue.
  • Rewarm until you can be sure it can stay thawed.
  • Smoke or drink alcohol during recovery. These activities can interfere with blood circulation and cause additional problems.

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Quick Tips for the Drowning Victim

Trauma, Health Prevention, Medical Treatment, , , , , , ,

Drowning_safety_children_CPSC

  1. If the victim is still conscious, attempt to hand him something that can be used to pull him from the water. If you’re out of handing distance, throw either a floatable object or something he can hold onto and with which he can be pulled to safety.
  2. If the victim has fallen into solid ice, and you have enough individuals, consider forming a human rope, with each individual interconnected and at least two individuals safely connected back on firm land.
  3. The victim should be removed from the water at the earliest opportunity. Forego inclination to perform chest compressions or rescue breathing in the water.
  4. If possible, remove the victim from the water as flat (horizontal) as possible. You want to make every effort to avoid damage to the neck throughout this entire process (This actually would be additional injury to the neck; there’s a fair chance such an injury has already occurred.).
  5. Once victims are out of the water, NEVER assume death unless you’re a qualified medical professional. Begin CPR, as described in yesterday’s post (Click here to review.).
  6. If the victim has an altered mental status, check the airway for foreign material and vomitus. Use your fingers to sweep away any material visible between the mouth and throat.
  7. The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusting) is not effective in removing swallowed water. Don’t waste valuable time with it.
  8. If you’ve successfully saved a drowning victim, don’t bother taking off wet clothes. It’s not worth the possible agitation to the neck, and recent medical thought suggests that cooling after certain likely types of cardiac arrest is especially beneficial in reducing brain injury and death. This consideration is much more important than any benefit to be gained from warming the patient. Sounds weird, but it’s the truth.

Regarding the lead picture, yes it’s true that one can drown in inches of water. Infant safety means keeping them at arm’s length while they’re in the water.