An Emergency Responder who helps out with California High Desert Races is having some issues with Poisonous Snake Bites and slow response times due to being so far away from civilization. In this response video blog, we take a look at the different types of rattlesnakes that are causing problems, how they might kill a person and how we as rescuers could make the difference between life and death.
Tag Archives: ProFirstAid.com
What’s A Seizure And How Do I Treat It?
Seizures can be caused by many different things and though they don’t mean that the person has a serious condition, it is important to know what to do during and after a person has one. A student wrote in asking if I could give some additional information about how to handle a person who is having a seizure. Though it seems complicated when you’re watching a seizure in progress, the treatment plan is quite simple.
1. Protect the person while they are having a seizure.
2. If this is the first time this person has ever had a seizure, call 911 or EMS.
3. Treat the patients needs after they stop having a seizure.
4. Wait for EMS to arrive and takeover.
For a detailed training on seizure first aid, go to www.profirstaid.com and click on the video review tab at the top of the page. Then search for the topic of seizures, get your favorite beverage and watch the video training.
Until next time…
Roy
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/medical/seizures/types/
Can a Ball Hitting My Childs Chest Kill Him?
In some cases it has! The velocity of an object striking one’s chest can cause a phenomenon that could disrupt the normal beating heart. If this happens, everyone standing by should hope they can recognize it, and treat it. Here’s how I got on this subject.
An email came in to our offices asking about more information regarding what happens when a child is struck in the chest or abdomen ,ith a ball, puck, bat or other hard object.
Sports can be fun but not when someone gets seriously hurt or dies. One type of injury that is a real concern to everyone is cardiac arrest secondary to chest trauma from a blunt object. This can happen when a baseball, soccer ball, basketball, hockey puck, bat or person hits another persons chest with a great deal of velocity or force.(http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/437) In some cases, it is suspected that if a ball or other object hits a person chest over the top of the location of the heart, the strike works somewhat like a technique that was once used to mechanically cardiovert a heart called a precordial thump(http://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271%2809%2900687-0/abstract). This technique used force vs. electricity to create some form of rhythm or Arrhythmia/ Ventricular Fibrillation in order for the heart to be corrected so as to regain a purposeful and organized heart rhythm. This technique though used rarely today, may be the effect that is causing sudden cardiac arrest in children and adults who are involved in a chest trauma from sports. If this does happen, the person may collapse immediately and stop breathing with no palpable(you can’t feel it) pulse. If the person is in cardiac arrest or is not showing signs of life, 911/Activation of EMS and CPR should be started immediately and an AED may be very useful if the person is in a shockable condition. If an AED is not present, CPR will be done continuously without interruption unless the person becomes conscious and begins to move or attempts to speak(signs of life). Be on guard, bruising, punctured lung or other underlying conditions could cause the person to return to a state of cardiac arrest so frequent reassessments will be required until the person is turned fully over to the care of emergency medical services. The best cure for this injury is prevention. Many companies are designing and selling chest guards and protective devices to help prevent this condition from happening.(http://www.allsportsarmour.com/CHEST_ARMOUR_SHIRT_p/asa100%20dual.htm A well trained professional or volunteer coaching team in CPR and First Aid (http://www.profirstaid.com)would be highly suggested and an AED can be purchased for less than a laptop today.(ProFirstAid.com)
In comparison another condition related to a blunt trauma to the abdomen is a condition nick named, “getting the wind knocked out”. This condition usually occurs when a person receives a blow to the upper center abdomen which is approximately where we provide inward and upward abdominal thrusts for a choking victim. This area is physiologically perfect for compressing the diaphragm and compressing the lower lobes of the lungs. This forces residual air out of the lungs and feels scary. Normally, after a few minutes of one trying to breath deeply, fighting hard for that first real deep breath, the spasm releases in the diaphragm and air is gradually brought back into a normal state. Complications related to this fairly common condition could include ruptured or torn internal organs. If a person is hit hard enough, as in situations where a bat or object was used, or the lower half of a steering wheel which is common in unrestrained, non airbag vehicular accidents, the trauma could rupture/tear internal organs and even the descending aorta. If the Aorta is torn or ruptured, it is well know to be a usually fatal injury as time to surgery is quite a few minutes away and one can loose enough blood internally to die from hypovolemia. A condition where there is not enough blood to circulate oxygenated blood or maintain an adequate blood pressure which leads to death if not corrected. Treatment for this more serious condition is activation of emergency medical services while providing CPR, Shock Therapy(http://www.profirstaid.com) and minimization of movement. A way to prevent this injury is to avoid the types of conditions that could present it. Another way is to incorporate an aggressive core strength training program which will build strength in the abdominal muscles so as to help protect against sport related injuries.
It is important to consult with your health care professional or physician before beginning any intense workout program and if you are at all concerned that you or someone you know may have internal injuries, call 911/EMS and seek medical help.
Most of the signs and symptoms related to an internal injury in the chest or abdomen are severe pain that disables a person from performing normal behaviors. Tender abdomen to touch, distending(bulging) belly, rigid or hard belly) bruising or marks over the abdomen or chest, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, pale, cool, sweaty, increased anxiety, increased respiratory rate, dizziness, fear of dying and unconsciousness. If any of these signs or symptoms are present or appear after an injury, activate the Emergency Medical Services immediately and/or seek medical help right away.
I hope this answers the question and I hope the next time you are by someone who is struck in the chest or simply gets the wind knocked out of them, you’ll better know what it is, what to do, and how to help.
Best Wishes,
Roy Shaw, EMT-P, RoyOnRescue
www.royonrescue.com
Tweet: @royonrescue
P.S. Here’s a link to a real life scenario. It’s worth the read Mom and Dad.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/19/family-of-boy-hit-by-base_n_102439.html
What is Shock and How Do I Treat It?
In this video blog, Roy Shaw, EMT-P answers a question by a student. The student wanted to know what shock is and how to treat it. Roy explains what shock really is and how you can treat it and possibly save one’s life.
Roy’s Back from Wisdom Teeth Extraction!
Hello Everyone!
I am taken back at the kindness and encouragement that I received during this wisdom teeth procedure. I wanted to let everyone know that it went very well, with no complications after one week. For those of you that didn’t have it so easy, my heart goes out to you. Other than eating very soft food or liquids for about a week and worrying that I was going to get a condition called “Dry Socket” it has been very non eventful. For those of you who still must get your wisdom teeth pulled…I hear it’s better to do it when you’re young because your jaw bone is less dense and the procedure not only goes more effortlessly, but heals in a shorter amount of time.
I’m looking forward to video blogging on some very interesting topics that have come to my attention and it’s great to be feeling better.
P.S. I do wonder however, if anyone else thinks that getting their mouth numbed makes them a little “brain-dead” too? Hmmmm.
Concussion vs. Closed Head Injury
Ever see someone hit their head very hard? Wonder if it’s just a minor “Knock on the Noggin” or could it be a serious head injury? In this Roy On Rescue Video Blog entry, Roy Shaw, EMT-Paramedic answers those questions with directives on how to assess, stabilize and treat a person for a serious head injury or minor. There’s nothing worse than sitting with a crying child or an injured adult and wonder if we are over reacting by calling 911, or under reacting by not doing more. Watch this video blog for some interesting insights straight from the Paramedics mouth on what to do.
Don’t miss this entry where Roy puts a common sense spin on how to handle the next event where someone hits their head and no one knows if they should go in to the hospital or just sleep off the headache.
Watch the video below if you would like to see a video animation of what happens in the skull when a person hits their head.
A website that shows a video explaining a traumatic closed head injury is located at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmAML1-F2LE
Should I Use Abdominal Thrusts or Chest Compressions?
Ever wonder what to do if someone chokes near you? Should you give them the Heimlich Maneuver or Chest Compressions? In this video Blog, Roy Shaw, EMT-Paramedic answers a students question about what to do if someone chokes and if Abdominal Thrusts or Chest Compressions are better. Roy takes a look at when to use abdominal thrusts as in the Heimlich Maneuver and when to use Chest Compressions for a person who is definitely choking.
