Emergency 101: Emergency signs

Most often, people don't know or are not familiar with the emergency signs except when they are in the obvious situation such as accidents. But what about the not so obvious or a simple emergency situation like dizziness, bleeding, shortness of breath, pains, and others. These are just simple situations that most of us don't know what to do whether to call for an emergency or not or how to apply first aid the least.

This blog will give people basic information on emergency signs and what should do when we encounter such signs. To start with, we should know that emergency signs dictate that you must seek medical help immediately. The following are emergency signs that we should be familiar.

Major Injury

Common sense tells us that a person with a broken leg or large chest wound deserves immediate attention. Emergency facilities exists to take care of major injuries. They should be used promptly.

Unconsciousness

The person who is unconscious needs emergency care immediately.

No Pulse or Breath

Again, someone whose heart or lungs aren't working needs help right away. Call for help. If you know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), start it after you call for help or direct someone else to call. Choking is another cause of hardly breathing that should apply first aid -Heimlich maneuver. (This will be discuss further on another blog)

Stupor or Drowsiness

A decrease level of mental activity, short of unconsciousness, is termed "stupor". A practical way of determining if the severity of stupor or drowsiness needs urgent treatment is to note the victim's ability to answer questions. If the victim is not sufficiently awake to answer questions concerning what has happened, then urgent action is necessary. Children are more difficult to judge, but the child who cannot be aroused needs immediate attention.

Disorientation

In medicine, disorientation is described and measured in terms of time, place and person --that is, according to whether the person can answer these questions correctly:

    • What is the date?

    • Where are we?

    • Who are you?

A person who doesn't know his or her identity is in more trouble than a person who doesn't know where he or she is, and that person is in more trouble than a person who can't give the correct date.

Disorientation may be part of a variety of illness and is especially common when the person has a high fever. The person who previously has been alert and then becomes disoriented and confused deserves immediate medical attention.

Active Bleeding

Most cuts will stop bleeding if pressure is applied to the wound. This is the most important part of first aid for such wounds. A wound that continues to bleed despite the application of pressure requires attention in order to prevent unnecessary loss of blood.

Shortness of Breath

As a general rule, immediate attention is needed if the person is short of breath even though resting. However, in young adults the most frequent cause of shortness of breath at rest is the hyperventilation syndrome. If you can't confidently determine that shortness of breath is due to the hyperventilation syndrome, then the reasonable course of action is to seek immediate aid.

Severe Pain

Surprisingly, severe pain by itself rarely determines if a problem is serious and urgent. Most often, pain is associated with other symptoms that indicate the urgency of the condition. Than most obvious example is pain associated with major injury -- like a broken leg -- which itself clearly requires urgent care.

The severity of pain is subjective and depends on the individual; often the magnitude of pain is altered by emotional and psychological factors. Nevertheless, severe pain demands, urgent medical attention, if for no other reason than to relieve the pain.

Cold Sweats

As an isolated symptom, sweating isn't likely to be serious. It's the normal response to elevated temperature. It's also the natural response to stress, either psychological or physical. Most people have experienced sweaty palms when "put on the spot" or stressed psychologically.

In contrast, a "cold sweat" in a person complaining of chest pain; abdominal pain, or light-headedness indicates a need for immediate attention. Its common effect of severe pain or serious illness.