One of the most common forms of sudden medical emergencies is Diabetes, a diabetic emergency happens when the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood. The blood sugar level may become too high “Hyperglycemia” or too low “hypoglycemia”. “Literally Diabetes means an imbalance in sugars”, this can alter the victims mental state, breathing rate, might feel or look ill or even appear intoxicated. Once you are able to recognize sings and symptoms the steps to help someone with Diabetes is quite simple.

To help someone who is a Diabetic or a potential Diabetic we should first look at some of the “potential causes“. These causes are a reference to the body’s imbalance between two or more factors.

Causes:

• Pregnancy
• Lack of Exercise or too much
• Imbalanced food intake “High sugar / fat diets”
• Insulin production “Often organ damage / failure / Malfunction”

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes:

• Unusual thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight change (gain or loss)
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Frequent or recurring infections
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Trouble getting or maintaining an erection

Prevention:

• Proper Nutrition
• Proper exercise
• Weight management
• Take your medications as prescribed
• Check your blood sugar often, especially if you are sick or not following your normal routine.
• Keep some quick sugar foods with you at all times.
• Lifestyle management

What a Diabetic Emergency looks like:

• Changes in the level of consciousness
• Changes in behavior, such as confusion or aggression
• Rapid Breathing
• Cool, sweaty skin
• Skin that is paler than normal
• Appearance of intoxication
• Feeling and looking ill

How to help a Diabetic: High or Low Sugars

1. Check the area, once the area is safe, Check the person and ensure the persons ABC’s are present “Airway / Breathing / Circulation” REMEMBER – Wear gloves if available to avoid bodily fluids.”
2. Call 911 and get an AED if you are alone, you suspect a Head / Neck or Spine injury, there is a motor vehicle collision, dangerous environment or the injured persons life could be at risk.
3. Care for the Diabetic casualty by:

Always follow recommendations by your Emergency Response professionals and 911 Dispatch personnel. “Never endanger yourself or the victim, you may “not” need to move or roll the injured person“

– If there are other life threatening injuries, treat those first as quickly as possible with as little movement to the injured person.

• a) “If the casualty is conscious and knows its a diabetic emergency“, offer the person a sugary drink such as orange or apple juice. If the person’s condition improves, recommend he or she eat a complete meal to stabilize
• b) “If the casualty is unconscious” Perform a secondary survey and place the person in the recovery position, continue care until EMS personnel arrive. “Do not stick anything in the casualty’s mouth as they may choke or stop breathing“

While you wait for an ambulance:

RECOVERY Position:

1. Kneel Beside the victim and place the victims furthest arm from you above their head.
2. Place the arm closest to you across the victims chest as a protector arm.
3. The Key is in their Knee, bend the nearest leg up at the knee.
4. Carefully slip your hand under the hollow of the victims neck to support the Head Neck & Spine, at the same time use your forearm by slipping it carefully under the shoulder for leverage.
5. Place your free hand on the Key Knee and gently roll the victim away from you by applying steady pressure against the knee and shoulder at the same time. The victims head should rest on their raised arm.
6. To secure the position pull the key knee further up and bring their protector arm out to use the elbow to stabilize the position.
7. Check the Airway to make sure their still breathing.

In any emergency just remember to Protect Yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Waste Time!!!

Learn First Aid Today, Save a Life Tomorrow, let first aid training in Edmonton be your Saving Grace

Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd

#Diabetes #DiabeticEmergencies #DiabetesType1and2 #FirstAid #FirstAidCourseEdmonton #BLS #BCLS #BLSforHCP #BLSCourseEdmonton #ACLS #AdvancedCardiovascularLifeSupport #EMR #EmergencyMedicalResponder #H2SAlive #H2SAliveEdmonton #Unconsciousness #PassingOut #BlackOut #LooksIntoxicated #BloodSugars

For this segment lets focus on the sudden loss of consciousness known as “Fainting” Passing out, Blacking Out, medically known as Syncope”. Fainting is a brief period of unconsciousness that happens when there isn’t enough blood flowing to the brain. This can cause a rapped decline in thought process, feeling dizzy or light headed which rapidly leads to a complete loss of consciousness.

To help someone who is about to faint or who has already fainted we should first look at some of the potential causes.

Causes:

• Pregnancy
• Standing / Sitting / Laying in one position for too long without moving.
• Pain
• Traumatic information, sights or experiences
• Heat
• Dehydration
• Lack of Food or malnutrition

Prevention:

• Watch for the warning signs of fainting, such as dizziness or nausea, and intense need to sit or lay down.
• Keep hydrated and nourished
• Wear loose clothing around the neck
• When standing up from sitting or laying down do so slowly

How to help with Fainting:

1. Check the area, once the area is safe, Check the person and ensure the persons ABC’s are present “Airway / Breathing / Circulation” REMEMBER – Wear gloves if available to avoid bodily fluids.
2. Call 911 and get an AED if you are alone, you suspect a Head / Neck or Spine injury, there is a motor vehicle collision, dangerous environment or the injured persons life could be at risk.
3. Care for the Fainting casualty by:

Always follow recommendations by your Emergency Response professionals and 911 Dispatch personnel. “Never endanger yourself or the victim, you may “not” need to move or roll the injured person“

• If there are other life threatening injuries, treat those first as quickly as possible with as little movement to the injured person.

a) “If you expect the ambulance to arrive shortly, or If the ambulance can be delayed –Place the person in the “Recovery Position” so that blood can start flowing to the brain again and the airway stays open.

b) If the person is pregnant, has a history of heart disease, or has another serious illness, seek medical attention.

RECOVERY Position:

1. Kneel Beside the victim and place the victims furthest arm from you above their head.
2. Place the arm closest to you across the victims chest as a protector arm.
3. The Key is in their Knee, bend the nearest leg up at the knee.
4. Carefully slip your hand under the hollow of the victims neck to support the Head Neck & Spine, at the same time use your forearm by slipping it carefully under the shoulder for leverage.
5. Place your free hand on the Key Knee and gently roll the victim away from you by applying steady pressure against the knee and shoulder at the same time. The victims head should rest on their raised arm.
6. To secure the position pull the key knee further up and bring their protector arm out to use the elbow to stabilize the position.
7. Check the Airway to make sure their still breathing.

In any emergency just remember to Protect Yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Waste Time!!!

Learn First Aid Today, Save a Life Tomorrow, let first aid training in Edmonton be your Saving Grace

Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd

#Fainting #FirstAid #FirstAidCourseEdmonton #BLS #BCLS #BLSforHCP #BLSCourseEdmonton #ACLS #AdvancedCardiovascularLifeSupport #EMR #EmergencyMedicalResponder #H2SAlive #H2SAliveEdmonton

#Unconsciousness #PassingOut #BlackOut

Our last installments of Bone Muscle & Joint injuries focused on how it implement a splint within the emergency setting, now that we have taken care of an injury we can add some basic techniques to help the person rest in a comfortable position while you wait for an ambulance or while you are on rout to a medical facility. Always remember that “you may not have to move a patient” waiting for a Medical Professional may help minimize further injury or discomfort.

Slings:

“A sling is a bandage or cloth used to support an injured arm, consisting of a wide triangular piece of cloth hanging around the neck for support of the injured limb.”

There are 2 Main Types of Slings:

• Regular Sling “The arm is held horizontally across the abdomen“
• Tube Sling “The Arm is held slightly vertical against the chest“

How to apply a Sling:

a) Determine which type of “Sling” will help the casualty get the most comfort out of the least amount of movement of the injured body part. “Arm down – use Regular Sling / Arm up – use Tube Sling” Use what you have available. Your sling material should be long enough to touch the floor and the casualty’s shoulder as a general rule and be in a triangular shape if possible or “As wide as the torso is another way to utilize other materials not in a triangular shape”

b) When possible, sling the injured part in the position in which it was found or the most comfortable. “Movement may increase pain and lead to long term damage or side effects“. Always consult a medical professional before moving a damaged body part.

Regular Sling:

1. Check circulation by comparing the warmth and color of the fingers with the other hand “Ask the casualty if they are experiencing numbness or tingling, rings should be removed if possible“
2. From the most comfortable position, have the casualty support the injured arm, holding it across the body with the fingers pointed at the opposite shoulder:

• -Position the open triangular bandage under the injured arm, against the body. The point of the triangular bandage should extend past the elbow. The opposite, or bottom, end should be strait up and down on the body with the upper end over the shoulder.
• Take the bottom end of the bandage and place it over the opposite shoulder.

1. Tie the bandage at the back of the neck, making sure that the knot does not create any discomfort.
2. Twist the top of the point of the bandage.
3. Tie a broad bandage from the elbow on the injured side across the body “To secure the sling against the torso“
4. Recheck circulation

Tube Sling:

1. Check circulation by comparing the warmth and color of the fingers with the other hand “Ask the casualty if they are experiencing numbness or tingling, rings should be removed if possible“
2. Put the forearm of the injured side across the chest, with the fingers pointed at the opposite arm.
3. Position the open triangular bandage over the forearm and hand. “The point of the triangular bandage should extend past the point of the elbow and shoulder“
4. Support the forearm and carefully tuck the bandage under all the way from the hand to the elbow.
5. Carry the end of the bandage near the elbow around the back. “Twist the top of the point of the bandage near the elbow to secure the elbow from coming out of the sling“
6. Adjust the height of the sling to make sure it is supporting the arm. “Tie the ends together in the hollow of the neck on the uninjured side“
7. Pad between the arm and the body, in the natural hollow with soft, firm material.
8. Tie a broad bandage from the elbow on the injured side across the body.
9. Recheck Circulation

How to help with a Bone, Muscle & Joint Injury:

1. Check the area, once the area is safe, Check the person and ensure the persons ABC’s are present “Airway / Breathing / Circulation” REMEMBER – Wear gloves if available to avoid bodily fluids.
2. Call 911 and get an AED if you are alone, you suspect a Head / Neck or Spine injury, there is a motor vehicle collision, dangerous environment or the injured persons life could be at risk. “If you expect the ambulance to arrive shortly, keep the person still and do not splint the injury. If the ambulance can be delayed “Immobilize the injury in the position found” NEVER straighten a broken bone without medical assistance and expertise“
3. Care for the Bone Muscle & Joint Injury by:

Always follow recommendations by your Emergency Response professionals and 911 Dispatch personnel. “Never endanger yourself or the victim, you may “not” need to move or roll the injured person”

• If there are other life threatening injuries, treat those first as quickly as possible with as little movement to the injured person.
• a) Treat the injury using the “R.I.C.E” method
• b) Cool the injured area for 20 minutes of every hour for the first 24 to 48 hours. If you use ice, put some sort of thin cloth or pad between it and the bare skin to avoid freezing the skin.
• c) Elevate the injured are above the level of the heart if possible. “Often a position of comfort is more than enough to help alleviate pain and swelling”

In any emergency just remember to Protect Yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Waste Time!!!

Learn First Aid Today, Save a Life Tomorrow, let first aid training in Edmonton be your Saving Grace

Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd

#BoneMuscleJointInjuries #FirstAid #FirstAidCourseEdmonton #BLS #BCLS #BLSforHCP #BLSCourseEdmonton #ACLS #AdvancedCardiovascularLifeSupport #EMR #EmergencyMedicalResponder #H2SAlive #H2SAliveEdmonton

#Splints #Slings

#HowToMakeSplints #Sprains #Strains #Dislocations #Fractures