Special Situations and Circumstances Chapter 12

Communicating with an Ill or Injured child  People tend to react more strongly and emotionally to children who are in pain  You will need to imagine how the child might feel Children are afraid of the unknown, Children are afraid of the unknown,  Try to reduce the child’s anxiety and gain the child’s trust and cooperation by moving in slowly moving in slowly Get down to there level Get down to there level Smile Smile Ask their name and use their name when speaking to them Ask their name and use their name when speaking to them Ask questions the child will be able to answer Ask questions the child will be able to answer Reassure to the child that you are there to help Reassure to the child that you are there to help

Special Challenges  Injury Number one cause of death in Children in America Number one cause of death in Children in America  Illness Usually are not life threatening, but if not treated they can be Usually are not life threatening, but if not treated they can be Reye’s Syndrome – when child has consumed to much aspirin, developing the liver and brain to become enlarged Reye’s Syndrome – when child has consumed to much aspirin, developing the liver and brain to become enlarged  Poisoning 5 th leading cause of unintentional injury in the U.S. for people age 1 to 24 5 th leading cause of unintentional injury in the U.S. for people age 1 to 24  Child Abuse Physical, psychological, or sexual assault of a child resulting in injury Physical, psychological, or sexual assault of a child resulting in injury

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome  SIDS a disorder that causes seemingly healthy infants to stop breathing while they are sleeping a disorder that causes seemingly healthy infants to stop breathing while they are sleeping Leading cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year old. Leading cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year old. If you encounter an infant in this situation, call immediately and begin CPR If you encounter an infant in this situation, call immediately and begin CPR

Checking an Older Adult  Falls 6 th leading cause of deaths for people over 65 6 th leading cause of deaths for people over 65  Head Injuries  Confusion Alzheimer's Disease- affects the brain, resulting in impaired memory and thinking and altered behavior Alzheimer's Disease- affects the brain, resulting in impaired memory and thinking and altered behavior Confusion can be a signal of medical emergency Confusion can be a signal of medical emergency  Problems with Heat and cold More susceptible to extreme temperatures More susceptible to extreme temperatures

Emergency Childbirth  Follow these steps to help effectively assist in the birth process, when needed: Call or local emergency number Call or local emergency number Give the EMS call taker Give the EMS call taker Talk with the woman to help her remain calm Talk with the woman to help her remain calm Place layers of newspaper covered with layers of liens, towels or blankets under her Place layers of newspaper covered with layers of liens, towels or blankets under her Control the scene so that the woman has privacy Control the scene so that the woman has privacy

Emergency Childbirth Keep woman on her back with feet flat on ground knees bent and legs spread wide. Keep woman on her back with feet flat on ground knees bent and legs spread wide. Let the baby come out naturally, be patient Let the baby come out naturally, be patient Avoid dropping the baby, keep the baby warm Avoid dropping the baby, keep the baby warmCautions Do not let the woman get up to leave to go to the bathroom Do not let the woman get up to leave to go to the bathroom Do not hold her knees together this will slow down the birth process Do not hold her knees together this will slow down the birth process Do not place you fingers in the vigina for any reason Do not place you fingers in the vigina for any reason Do not pull on the baby Do not pull on the baby

People with Disabilities  Physical  Hearing Loss  Vision Impairment  Motor Impairment  Mental Impairment

Physical Disability  Considered physically disabled if you r ability to move (motor function) is impaired  If sensory functions do not work (smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste)  When helping a physically disabled person consider the following Speak to them before touching Speak to them before touching Ask for assistance and information from the person who has the disability Ask for assistance and information from the person who has the disability Do not remove any braces, canes or other physical supports Do not remove any braces, canes or other physical supports Look for a medical ID tag Look for a medical ID tag If they have animal assistants be aware the animal might be very protective of that person. You may need to calm the animal and have someone help with restraining Allow the animal to stay with the person. If they have animal assistants be aware the animal might be very protective of that person. You may need to calm the animal and have someone help with restraining Allow the animal to stay with the person.

Hearing Loss  Partial or total loss of hearing  Some are born with it, some get it due to injury or illness affecting the ear and the nerves leading to the brain from the ear.  When person injured or ill, communication can be hardest so try these techniques: Use of sign language Use of sign language Lip reading Lip reading Writing Writing Use of a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)) Use of a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD))

Vision Loss  Can be partial or total  Understand that vision loss just mean they might not be able to see. They can still hear you and usually understand you.  Caring with a person with vision loss: Help assure them by explaining what is going on and what you are doing Help assure them by explaining what is going on and what you are doing Remember if the person has seeing eye dog keep them together Remember if the person has seeing eye dog keep them together

Motor Impairment  Unable to move normally  May be missing a body part or have a problem with the bones and muscles or nerves that control movement.  Causes of motor impairment Stroke, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, or loss of limb Stroke, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, or loss of limb When caring for and ill or injured person When caring for and ill or injured person Be aware that the person may view accepting help as a failureBe aware that the person may view accepting help as a failure May refuse your help to prove that they do not need itMay refuse your help to prove that they do not need it

Mental Impairment  Mental or cognitive functions such as processing information will be impaired  Some emergencies you will not be able to determine if the person has a mental impairment  They misinterpret your actions as being hostile or might be experiencing a different type of reality and may not understand you When caring for this individual you might need to act as if you are part of their reality or back off, call When caring for this individual you might need to act as if you are part of their reality or back off, call 9-1-1

Language Barriers  Not all individuals will speak the same language as you.  do your best to communicate with the individual by using Hand gestures or facial expressions Hand gestures or facial expressions  If the person is in pain they will probably be anxious to let you know where the pain is.  When speaking to the victim speak slowly and in normal tone  If this victim is in a life threaten condition, consent is implied, by law

Crime Scenes and Hostile Situations  You need to use extreme caution  Call immediately, you may want to help but call first and stay away at a safe distance  If it is suicide call 9-1-1, if they are still there keep talking to them until someone arrives  Do not enter any crime scene call  Hostile situations, try not to get involved call and stay till help arrives