First Aid

Shock

What is it?

Shock is a dangerous physical condition in which the flow of blood throughout the body is drastically reduced, causing weakness, confusion, or loss of consciousness. It can result from many kinds of serious injuries and illnesses. If shock is not treated quickly, a person can suffer permanent organ damage and may die.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms you may notice if someone is in shock

·           Pale, cool, moist skin

·        Rapid breathing

·        Rapid and weak pulse

·        Excessive thirst

·        Nausea and/or vomiting

·        Altered conscious state

How to treat it

People in shock should be taken by ambulance to a hospital as quickly as possible. They should be kept lying down on their back with their feet raised about a 30cm higher than their head. This helps the blood flow back to the brain and heart. They should be covered up with something like a blanket to keep them warm.

 

 

Hypothermia

What is it?

Hypothermia is when the core body temperature drops.  Are normal temperature is between 36 and 37.2° C unless you have a fever. If your internal temperature falls too low, it can be very dangerous. This is most likely to happen when you are either in water or around ice/snow, when the body becomes wet as water is very good at cooling the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypothermia include

·        Feeling cold

·        Pale skin

·        Shivering

·        Loss of concentration

·        Drowsiness

·        Confusion

·        Dizziness

·        Slurred speech

·        Dilated pupils

·        Slowed breathing

·        Loss of feeling in limbs and extremities

How to treat it

Once hypothermia has occurred you should attempt to re-warm the victim as soon as possible (find a sunny spot if available). Attempt to keep the victim out of the wind. After this you should remove any frozen or wet clothing from the victim and replace them with dry clothes. If dry clothes are not available still remove the wet or frozen clothes and use a blanket to keep the victim covered. After the victim is in new clothing or covered with a blanket another person should then get in the blanket with the victim, body warmth is one of the fastest ways to re-warm anyone suffering from hypothermia.

Hyperthermia

What is it?

Hyperthermia (or commonly known as heat stroke) is when the body becomes too hot, above 37.2 c, it uses several strategies to cool down, including sweating. But if a person spends too much time in the heat without drinking enough fluids, the body's cooling processes can't work properly. When the body becomes dehydrated, it can no longer cool itself by sweating. When this happens, body temperature can raise high enough to make the person sick.

Symptoms

Heat stroke can come on suddenly, but warning symptoms often appear first. They include:

·           Abdominal cramps

·           Muscle cramps

·           Nausea

·           Vomiting

·           Headache

·           Dizziness

·           Weakness

·            Heavy sweat or a lack of sweat

·            Disorientated or confused

How to treat it

· slowly rehydrate by drinking cool liquids.

· Sponge or mist skin with cool water.

· Remove heavy or dark clothing.

· Get into a shaded and breezy area or move into a cool indoor environment.

 

Bite/Sting (not snake)

What is it?

Insect bites often cause one or more red bumps that are usually itchy and sometimes painful. Often there's a small hole in the middle of the bite, perhaps with the end of the sting sticking out. These can be very painful and may even feel like they are burning. Itchiness may persist for some time due to the poison or irritant that the insect injects or leaves behind when it bites or stings. Sometime the body may have an allergic reaction to the poison and a major allergic reaction called anaphylaxis may occur.

Symptoms

·         a rash or swelling that gets worse instead of better

·         the site is red, tender and swollen

·         headache

·         dizziness

·         nausea

·         pains in the chest

·         choking or wheezing

·         difficulty breathing

·         Itchiness at the site and perhaps around the area

How to treat it

If an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis occurs then medical assistance must be as soon as possible and death can occur if left untreated. If the reaction is minor then creams can be used to sooth the pain. Ice may be applied to reduce heat in the area and reduce any swelling. If there is a barb left in e.g. bee sting then it needs to be carefully removed. The area should be washed with cool clean water to try and wash any poison off the outside area of the sting.