First aid - Choking, epilepsy, anaphylaxis, heat stroke

2024-06-28

<h1>First aid - Choking, epilepsy, anaphylaxis, heat stroke</h1><p> </p><p>If you see someone fainting in the street from overheating, or notice a child choking on a morsel of food, will you be able to help? In such situations, you can be a hero who is able to save someone's life with simple skills, by having the knowledge of first aid.</p><p>First aid is the basic skills and steps that anyone can learn and apply in emergency situations to provide assistance to the injured before specialized medical help arrives.</p><p>Learn about first aid for choking, epilepsy, anaphylaxis, and heat stroke.</p><h2>1. First aid for choking (Heimlich maneuver)</h2><p>The Heimlich maneuver is necessary to save someone who is choking by removing an object that is blocking the airway.</p><p><strong>Aid an adult or child:</strong></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/frI81cUATEQ?si=rxgdZSqz6HYOzkh3" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/frI81cUATEQ?si=rxgdZSqz6HYOzkh3</a><br></p><ol><li><strong>Stand behind the person:</strong> Wrap your arms around their waist and lean forward slightly.</li><li><strong>Stabilize your hand:</strong> Grab a fist and place it just below the rib cage, just above the navel, and hold it with your other hand.</li><li><strong>Press up:</strong> Press 5 times firmly, quickly, and repeatedly on the person's abdomen upward toward the rib cage. If the stuck object does not come out, repeat 5 more times.</li><li><strong>Hit the back:</strong> If the object does not come out, hit the choker five times on the back with the heel of your hand in the area between the shoulder blades.</li><li><strong>Call an ambulance:</strong> If the object does not come out, seek immediate medical attention.</li></ol><h3>Infant ambulance:</h3><p><a href="https://youtu.be/z_xyLrehIC4?si=g5YXWIM5vWHKWv9p" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/z_xyLrehIC4?si=g5YXWIM5vWHKWv9p</a><br></p><ol><li><strong>Sit in a chair:</strong> Place the infant on your forearm, face down, and rest your forearm on your thigh.</li><li><strong>Support the head:</strong> Grasp the infant's chin and jaw to support the head. Make sure the infant's head is lower than their torso.</li><li><strong>Squeeze the back:</strong> Give five firm strokes on the infant's back between the shoulder blades using the bottom of your palm, but don't hit so hard that you hurt the infant.</li><li><strong>Check the mouth:</strong> After every five strokes, look into the infant's mouth to remove any foreign object.</li><li><strong>Press on the belly:</strong> If the object still hasn't come out, perform abdominal compressions on the infant. Make a fist with your hand and hold it with your thumb on the opposite side of the baby's abdomen, just below the diaphragm. Press firmly and abruptly on the baby's abdomen upward toward the diaphragm. Repeat the compressions until the foreign body comes out or the baby starts coughing or breathing.</li><li><strong>Repeat if necessary:</strong> Keep alternating between back blows and abdominal compressions until the foreign object comes out.</li></ol><h3>Help yourself if you are alone and choking:</h3><ol><li><strong>Make a fist:</strong> Place your fist below your rib cage and above your navel, and hold it with your other hand.</li><li><strong>Press up:</strong> Press 5 times with sudden, forceful pressure on your abdomen upward toward your rib cage. Repeat the pressure until the foreign body comes out.</li><li><strong>Use a chair:</strong> If you can't get the foreign object out, lean forward over a chair and press on your upper abdomen using the back of the chair. Repeat the pressure until the foreign object comes out.</li></ol><h3>Important notes:</h3><ul><li><strong>Do not try to remove the foreign object with your finger:</strong> This may push the foreign object further inward.</li><li><strong>Seek medical help:</strong> Even if you manage to remove the foreign object, to make sure there are no other injuries.</li></ul><h2>2. First aid for seizures (epilepsy)</h2><p><a href="https://youtu.be/TvTfm09UlQM?si=RNUJktlik2fLeFhG" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/TvTfm09UlQM?si=RNUJktlik2fLeFhG</a><br></p><ul><li>Look at your watch at the onset of a seizure to gauge its duration.</li><li>Protect the person by clearing the surrounding area of hard or sharp objects, such as glasses and furniture.</li><li>Let the seizure run its natural course; do not restrict the person's movement or try to apply pressure.</li><li>Don't put anything in the person's mouth.</li><li>Place a pillow under their head.</li><li>Loosen the clothes around their neck if you can.</li><li>After the jerking stops, gently lay the person on their side with their head tilted back, to help keep their airway open.</li><li>Don't leave the person alone until they are fully conscious and can respond normally when you speak to them.</li></ul><h3>Call 911 in the following cases:</h3><ul><li>If it is the child's first seizure.</li><li>If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.</li><li>If a new seizure begins shortly after the first seizure.</li><li>If the person doesn't regain consciousness after the seizures stop.</li><li>If the person was injured during the seizure.</li><li>If the person has another medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes, call your doctor.</li></ul><h2>3. First aid for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)</h2><p><a href="https://youtu.be/gNnfYhGFvm0?si=VsltBjozHXH96Bd-" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/gNnfYhGFvm0?si=VsltBjozHXH96Bd-</a><br></p><ul><li><strong>Call 911 immediately</strong> if you have had severe/severe anaphylactic reactions in the past, <strong>or have any of these symptoms:</strong><ul><li>Difficulty breathing or wheezing.</li><li>Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing.</li><li>Hoarseness or difficulty speaking.</li><li>Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat.</li><li>Nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting.</li><li>Rapid heartbeat.</li><li>Anxiety or dizziness.</li><li>loss of consciousness.</li></ul></li><li>If the person is severely allergic, they should keep an epinephrine syringe with them at all times, for immediate injection into the groin if they experience any sign of anaphylaxis.</li><li>Observe the person's breathing and responsiveness after placing them in a supine position on the floor with their legs elevated. If he or she is having trouble breathing, sit him or her down.</li><li>Repeated doses of epinephrine can be given every five minutes if there is no improvement or symptoms recur.</li><li>Observation in the hospital for several hours is usually necessary.</li></ul><h2>4. First aid for heatstroke</h2><p><a href="https://youtu.be/25mFV0SeKKY?si=0ONPAmUXIvqsy-Qp" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/25mFV0SeKKY?si=0ONPAmUXIvqsy-Qp</a><br></p><ul><li>Symptoms of <strong>heat stroke include</strong>:<ul><li>Fever of 40 degrees Celsius or higher.</li><li>Changes in mental status or behavior, such as confusion, agitation, or slurred speech.</li><li>Hot or dry skin, or excessive sweating.</li><li>Nausea and vomiting.</li><li>Redness of the skin.</li><li>Increased heart rate.</li><li>Rapid breathing.</li><li>Headache.</li><li>Fainting.</li><li>Convulsive seizure.</li><li>Coma.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Call 911 if you suspect heatstroke.</strong></li><li>Move the person to a cool place, out of direct sunlight.</li><li>Remove unnecessary clothing, then lay the person on their side to expose as much of the skin's surface to air as possible.</li><li>Try to cool the person's body by any means available, such as placing them under a cold shower, running a fan over them, and applying cold compresses to the neck, groin, back, and armpits.</li><li>If the victim is conscious, have them drink ice-cold liquids while sitting up.</li><li>Start CPR if the person loses consciousness with loss of breathing or pulse (30 chest compressions, then two breaths, and try again).</li></ul><p><strong>With iHospital, you get exceptional healthcare that meets your individual needs and puts your health first, with an extensive network of experienced physicians and flexible appointments that suit your needs. <a href="https://www.ihospitalapp.com/ar/doctor-profile/1154_%D8%A3%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A2%D9%8A-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%84-Specialist-Doctors-Home-Visit">Contact us now</a> and get the care you need.</strong></p><hr><h2>References</h2><ol><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/learn-first-aid/choking">Choking first aid advice</a>, British Red Cross</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637">Choking: First aid</a>, Mayo Clinic</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/first-aid-seizures">First Aid for Epilepsy Seizures</a>, WebMD</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/severe-allergic-reaction/">Severe Allergic Reaction - Symptoms & Treatment</a>, St John Ambulance</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-heatstroke/basics/art-20056655">Heatstroke: First aid</a>, Mayo Clinic</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/illnesses-conditions/heart-health-and-stroke/emergency-first-aid-heatstroke">Emergency First Aid for Heatstroke</a>, HealthLink BC</li></ol>