Dealing With Emergencies

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Overview

Review this topic before you need it. Then, when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know where to turn. Your confidence in dealing with both major and minor emergencies will be reassuring to an injured person.

Some of the medical emergencies you may find helpful to review are:

• Bleeding. See the topic Cuts.
• Chest Pain.
• Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Maneuver). For tips to avoid choking, see preventing choking.
• Confusion, Memory Loss, and Altered Alertness.
• Head Injury, Age 4 and Older.
• Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger.
• Heart Attack and Unstable Angina.
• Poisoning.
• Nervous System Problems.
• Rescue Breathing and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Shock.
• Stroke.

When an emergency occurs, take a deep breath. Count to 10. Tell yourself you can handle the situation.

Check for danger. Protect yourself and the injured person from fire, explosions, or other hazards. If you think the person has a spinal injury, do not move him or her unless the danger is great.

If the person is unconscious or does not respond to your voice or touch, be ready to start rescue breathing and CPR. (See the Rescue Breathing and CPR section of this topic).

Try to look at the situation as a whole. What is the most serious problem and what do you need to do first? The most obvious problem is not always the most serious. Treat the most life-threatening problems like bleeding or shock first. Check for broken bones and other injuries. Call 911 or other emergency services, such as the local fire department, sheriff, or hospital, if you need help.

See tips on how to prepare for the emergency room.

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Last updated:	May 19, 2006
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer