1. Providing First Aid for Sudden Illness
Chapter 15:11
Providing First Aid for Sudden Illness

2. Heart Attack
Coronary thrombosis, coronary occlusion, or myocardial infarction.
Occurs when coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart is blocked.

3. Facts regarding heart attacks
Signs and symptoms: severe, painful pressure under sternum with pain radiating to shoulders, arms, neck and jaw.
Shortness of breath
Skin becomes pale or bluish in color.
Weakness, anxious, apprehensive
Nausea, vomiting, perspiration, loss of consciousness

4. First Aid for Heart Attack
Have victim lay in comfortable position, relieve pain and assist breathing and obtain medical help.

5. Cerebrovascular Accident or Stroke
Caused by either presence of clot in a cerebral artery or hemorrhage from a blood vessel in the brain.

6. Signs and symptoms
Numbness, paralysis, eye pupils unequal in size, mental confusion, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and swallowing and loss of consciousness.

7. Treatment
Maintain respirations, laying victim flat on back with head slightly elevated or on their side.
Obtain medical help immediately. First three hours are crucial to obtaining medicine.

8. Fainting
Occurs when there is a temporary reduction in supply of blood to brain.
Victim usually regains consciousness after being in a supine position.

9. Signs and symptoms
Dizziness, extreme pallor, diaphoresis, coldness of skin, nausea, numbness and tingling of hands and feet.
If symptoms are noted, help victim to lie down or sit in a chair and position head at level of knees.

10. If victim loses consciousness, try to prevent injury.
Lie victim down, elevate feet about 12 inches.
Use cool water to bathe face.
Have victim remain lying down until, regains consciousness and color returns.

11. Convulsions
Type of seizure, strong, involuntary contraction of muscles.
Occurs in conjunction with: high temperatures, head injuries, bran disease, epilepsy.

12. Convulsions Body muscles become rigid, with jerking motions.
Victim may stop breathing, bite tongue, lose bladder and bowel control
Face and lips turn bluish color.
Lose consciousness

13. Treatment Remove dangerous objects from area.
Pillow under head, provide respirations if necessary.
DO NOT place anything between victim’s teeth.
DO NOT try to restrain muscle movements.

14. After convulsion Position victim on side
Allow victim to sleep or rest.
Obtain medical help

15. Diabetic Reactions
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by a lack or insufficient production of insulin.
Victims can go into : Diabetic coma or Insulin Shock

16. Diabetic coma
Caused by an increase in the level of glucose in bloodstream.
Signs and symptoms: confusion, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rapid respirations, sweet or fruity odor to breath.
Medical assistance required ASAP

17. Insulin Shock Caused by an excess amount of insulin. Low blood sugar
Signs and symptoms: muscle weakness, confusion, restlessness, diaphoresis, pale, moist skin, hunger pangs, convulsions, loss of consciousness.
Onset of insulin shock can be sudden
Medical attention needed ASAP

18. Treatment
Give victim drink containing sugar such as orange juice, cube of sugar, hard candy.

19. Diabetic coma vs. Insulin Shock
Ask questions: Have you eaten today? Have you taken your insulin?
Taken insulin not eaten: Insulin shock
Eaten but no insulin: Diabetic coma
If victim unconscious: place sugar under tongue in case of insulin shock.
Insulin shock much worse than diabetic coma.