Chapter 8: Other Emergencies
This chapter is broken off into several sections, depending on the traumatic emergency which you may encounter. The sections are described below:
1. Poison/Overdose
2. Heat Emergencies
3. Cold Emergencies
4. Water Emergencies/Drowning
I. Poison/Overdose
Definition, Prevention & Causes
- Keep All Household Cleaning Away from Children
- An Overdose is Having Too Much of a Drug/Medication
- Bad Food
Signs & Symptoms
- Varies Depending on the Poison
- May Be Anxious
- May Be Unconscious
- Pale & Sweaty
- Tired
- Multiple Other
How It Happens
- The Body Doesn't Like What Was Put Inside
- Four Types of Poison
o Injection
o Ingestion
o Absorptive (Skin/Other Membranes)
o Inhaled
- The Body Reacts in a Way to Combat the Poison
- The Poison Reacts on the Body
What To Do
- Calm Person Down if Anxious
- Call Poison Control
- Call 9-1-1 if Directed or Person is Critical
- Find Out What Poison is
- Find Out How Much was Taken
- Find Out How it was Taken
- Follow Poison Control Instructions
When To Call 9-1-1
- Unconscious Person
- Trouble Breathing
- When Directed by Poison Control
- If Person is Critical
II. Heat Emergencies
Definition, Prevention & Causes
- Common in Hot Cities Such as Phoenix
- Dehydration Increases Chances
- Long Exposure to Heat without Cooling
- Excessive Exercise
Signs & Symptoms
- Heat Cramps/Illness (Mild)
o Thirsty
o Sweating
o Hot Skin
o Muscle Aches
- Heat Exhaustion (Moderate)
o Same as Above
o Acting Abnormal
o Dizzy
o Headache
o Nausea& Vomiting
- Heat Stroke
o Extreme Temperature
o Loss of Body Ability to Cool
o Maybe Dry Skin (Sometimes, Sometimes Not)
o Seizure
o Dizzy, Nausea, Vomiting
o Unconscious
How It Happens
- The Body Gets Hot
- The Person Doesn't Drink Enough Water to Keep Cool
- Progressively Condition Worsens
What To Do
- Move to Cool Area
- If Person Can Drink, Give Water or 50/50 Gatorade
- Place Compress within Towel or Cloth under Armpits
- Use A/C or Fans
When To Call 9-1-1
- Call for Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke
III. Cold Emergencies
Definition, Prevention & Causes
- Cold Environments & Cold Water Exposure
Signs & Symptoms
- Cold Body Temperature
- Wet
- Shivering
o The Body's Warming Response
- Blue Skin & Lips
- Acting Abnormal
- Unconscious
How It Happens
- The Body Becomes Cold
- May Progress from Shivering to Unconsciousness
What To Do
- Take Off Wet Clothes ASAP
- Dry Person if Wet
- Move to Warm Area
- Warm Packs Under Cloth if Available
When To Call 9-1-1
- Severe Cases
- The Person is Acting Abnormal
- Unconscious Patient
IV. Water Emergencies/Drowning
Definition, Prevention & Causes
- Drowning/Near-Drowning Common in Phoenix
- Un-Gated or Poorly-Gated Pools
- Aggressive Water Currents
- Inability to Swim
Signs & Symptoms
- Of Drowning/Near Drowning
o Difficulty Breathing
o Not Breathing
o Water Coming from Mouth
o Bluish Skin
o Unconscious
o No Signs of Life
How It Happens
- Water Gets into Lungs
- Person is Unable to Breathe Oxygen
- Water Damages Lungs
- Oxygen Doesn't Get to Brain
- Person Loses Consciousness
What To Do
- Pull Person From Water
- Start CPR if Indicated
- Call 9-1-1
When To Call 9-1-1
- Drowning/Near-Drowning
- Unable to Pull Victim From Water
