Illnesses
By: Paige Stephens
Sudden Illnesses- Fainting and Seizures
Fainting is when a person temporarily looses consciousness that can occur with or without warning. Some symptoms of a person about to faint would be; feeling dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, and vision may white/black out. To treat this illness you would need to lower the person carefully to the ground, loosen tight clothes and check their airway. Then you would need to lay down for 10-15 minutes in a cool quiet place. Do not give anything to eat or drink. To help prevent faints is usually nothing to worry about, but sometimes they are signs of serious problems when the person is out for two minutes or longer.
Seizures happen when a person is having brain problems because of sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Some symptoms would be; high fevers, head injuries, and certain diseases can make seizures occur. To treat seizures you should NEVER try to hold the person down in any type of way. Holding the person down could cause you or the victim to have injuries. You should not attempt to stick anything into the victim's mouth because the victim could swallow it and choke or hurt you as well. Remove anything that is in the way of the victim and could hurt them. And wait for the EMS to arrive after you call. To help prevent seizures is very limited because they are uncontrollable. Some things that you could do but may not concern you would be, get enough sleep, avoid alcohol, learn relaxation, and maybe even eat a balanced diet.
Seizures happen when a person is having brain problems because of sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Some symptoms would be; high fevers, head injuries, and certain diseases can make seizures occur. To treat seizures you should NEVER try to hold the person down in any type of way. Holding the person down could cause you or the victim to have injuries. You should not attempt to stick anything into the victim's mouth because the victim could swallow it and choke or hurt you as well. Remove anything that is in the way of the victim and could hurt them. And wait for the EMS to arrive after you call. To help prevent seizures is very limited because they are uncontrollable. Some things that you could do but may not concern you would be, get enough sleep, avoid alcohol, learn relaxation, and maybe even eat a balanced diet.
Stroke, Diabetes, Poisoning, Bites and Stings or Temperature Related Inness
A stroke is a small blockage in the blood vessel of the brain, which causes oxygen starvation to that part. Some symptoms of a stroke would be sudden blurred, dim, patchy vision, sudden dizziness, loss of balance, and severe headaches. Treatment for a stroke can vary depending if the victim is conscious or unconscious. For a conscious victim you should call 9-1-1 and reassure and comfort the victim while waiting. Then you should tell the victim to try and get in a comfortable position as possible, but some can not move so you should try making them comfortable. Incline them to the unaffected side, this will help relieve some symptoms of floating and monitor ABC's. And do not give the victim anything to eat or drink. Then an unconscious victim you should treat the stroke by calling 9-1-1, asses the victims ABC's and give care for life-threatening conditions, assist the victim into the recovery position to allow fluids to drain from the mouth, and then you should monitor breathing and changes in conditions. To help prevent a stroke you should identify and review the risk factors occurring, reduce the risk factors by working to reduce the victims stroke risk through medication, and then recognize and respond to the victim as soon as you notice anything abnormal.
Diabetes are a very trick illness. There are two types of diabetes: Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a diabetic condition that the body has an insufficent amount of blood sugar. Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the body's blood sugar level is too high to maintain. Treatment for hypoglycemia is to notify EMS immediately, treat shock and monitor vital signs including blood sugar readings, Do not give glucose to an unconscious victim, if able to swallow give them candy or glucose, and have the victim administer glucagon injections if available. To help prevent hypoglycemia you should keep up with the right amount of sweets to intake and do not go over or go under the amount that is prescribed. And maintain a healthy diet that is for your illness. For hyperglycemia you should treat this illness by notifying the EMS as soon as possible, treat the signs, give glucose or candy, insulin should be administered by the victim and should not be used as an emergency medication. Some symptoms of hyperglycemia would be hunger, confusion, dizzy, weakness. And for hypoglycemia the symptoms are red skin, dehydration, excessive urination, and loss of appetite.
Poisoning is another illness that should not be taken lightly. Poisoning is any substance that is harmful to the body or any living thing. There are different types of ways to have poison in your body by; inhaled poisons, absorbed poisons, ingested poisons, and injected poisons. Signs and symptoms of poisoning are difficulty breathing, swelling of skin, itching, redness, headaches, weakness, and change in heart patterns. To treat this illness you should ensure the scene is safe, check for breathing, care for life-threatening conditions, collect evidence, call the National Poison Control Center Hotline (1-800-222-1222), and do not give the victim anything to eat or dink. To help prevent this illness you should always supervise children, take medication from original bottle, never call medicine candy, and keep all medicines out of reach, etc.
Bites and Stings are from insects that can transfer diseases but can also be unharmful. There are many insects that can bite you but one would be spider bites. Symptoms of a spider bite could be fever, and allergic reactions. To treat a spider bite you should wash the area well with soap, apply ice pack, take over the counter medication, seek medical help, and monitor and treat the bite. To help prevent spider bite is almost impossible if you are always outside but you can check and shake off anything that you are about to wear that has been outside for awhile before putting them on, and you can spray for insects every month to keep them away or at least try.
Temperature related illnesses can be critical. There are many types of temperature related illnesses such as; heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, frostbite, and hypothermia. Symptoms of a heat rash would be cluster of red pimples or small bites, and most likely occurs around the neck and upper chest. A heat rash is a skin irritation is caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. To treat a heat rash you should try to move to a cooler area, keep affected area dry, dust powder to increase comfort. To help prevent a heat rash you should not stay in the sun a lot for anything without being hydrated.
Diabetes are a very trick illness. There are two types of diabetes: Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a diabetic condition that the body has an insufficent amount of blood sugar. Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the body's blood sugar level is too high to maintain. Treatment for hypoglycemia is to notify EMS immediately, treat shock and monitor vital signs including blood sugar readings, Do not give glucose to an unconscious victim, if able to swallow give them candy or glucose, and have the victim administer glucagon injections if available. To help prevent hypoglycemia you should keep up with the right amount of sweets to intake and do not go over or go under the amount that is prescribed. And maintain a healthy diet that is for your illness. For hyperglycemia you should treat this illness by notifying the EMS as soon as possible, treat the signs, give glucose or candy, insulin should be administered by the victim and should not be used as an emergency medication. Some symptoms of hyperglycemia would be hunger, confusion, dizzy, weakness. And for hypoglycemia the symptoms are red skin, dehydration, excessive urination, and loss of appetite.
Poisoning is another illness that should not be taken lightly. Poisoning is any substance that is harmful to the body or any living thing. There are different types of ways to have poison in your body by; inhaled poisons, absorbed poisons, ingested poisons, and injected poisons. Signs and symptoms of poisoning are difficulty breathing, swelling of skin, itching, redness, headaches, weakness, and change in heart patterns. To treat this illness you should ensure the scene is safe, check for breathing, care for life-threatening conditions, collect evidence, call the National Poison Control Center Hotline (1-800-222-1222), and do not give the victim anything to eat or dink. To help prevent this illness you should always supervise children, take medication from original bottle, never call medicine candy, and keep all medicines out of reach, etc.
Bites and Stings are from insects that can transfer diseases but can also be unharmful. There are many insects that can bite you but one would be spider bites. Symptoms of a spider bite could be fever, and allergic reactions. To treat a spider bite you should wash the area well with soap, apply ice pack, take over the counter medication, seek medical help, and monitor and treat the bite. To help prevent spider bite is almost impossible if you are always outside but you can check and shake off anything that you are about to wear that has been outside for awhile before putting them on, and you can spray for insects every month to keep them away or at least try.
Temperature related illnesses can be critical. There are many types of temperature related illnesses such as; heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, frostbite, and hypothermia. Symptoms of a heat rash would be cluster of red pimples or small bites, and most likely occurs around the neck and upper chest. A heat rash is a skin irritation is caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. To treat a heat rash you should try to move to a cooler area, keep affected area dry, dust powder to increase comfort. To help prevent a heat rash you should not stay in the sun a lot for anything without being hydrated.
Fainting Victim
Dizziness, black outs or white outs occur.
Seizures
Uncontrollable shaking and not knowing what they are doing.
Diabetes
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia