Medical emergencies may also be caused by a sudden onset of illness that can be immediately life threatening or exhibit symptoms that may become life threatening.
If patron is awake and able to talk to you, ask if it’s okay to help then proceed with assessment. If patron has serious warning signs, immediately alert EMS and activate the associated Emergency Action Plan.
SIGNS OF SERIOUS ILLNESS
- Altered mental state - confusion, drowsiness, change in behavior, inability to communicate
- Abnormal skin color- skin turns pale, blue, purple, or gray
- Breathing difficulty
- Seizure in a person who has no history of seizures
- Pain, severe pressure or discomfort in chest
- Temperature of 105 degrees or higher
- Appearing very weak, sick or in severe pain
- Sudden onset of blood-red or purple rash (in children)
- Fever in a child less than 2 months/ 8 weeks in age (infant)
- Fever in a child of any age who looks more than mildly ill (children)
- Large volume of blood in stool (children)
SUDDEN ILLNESS- THINK ABOUT
- Suspected Stroke; use FAST method, activate EMS, monitor
- Suspected Heart Attack; activates EMS, allow person to find a comfortable position, encourages chewing aspirin if person has it on hand or if EMS advises to do so, assists in administering person’s nitroglycerine if available
- Suspected hypoglycemia: gives glucose tablets or dietary sugar, activates EMS if no improvement within 10-15 minutes
- Suspected heat exhaustion or heat stroke: have person lie down in cooler place and raise legs 6-12 inches, loosens clothing and cool body, gives sports drink or water; if no improvement in a few minutes or symptoms worsen, activate EMS and aggressively cool