Just a Reminder
Sharon Koehler
Stone Industry Consultant
Not too long ago, a very old and dear friend of mine had a heart attack, a VERY severe heart attack. When the situation presented itself, he and his roommate did everything wrong. No one called 911. He just got dressed, put himself in the car and his roommate drove him to an urgent care facility.
The urgent care facility stabilized him, called for an ambulance and he was taken to an honest-to-gosh, real, bona fide, hospital where he was admitted and treated. He received an emergency stint in one of his heart blood vessels and later had a quadruple bypass.
Now, on the flip side: My son-in-law also had a heart attack, a VERY severe heart attack not too long ago, and to be honest, my daughter was on it. She loosened his tight clothing and got him into a comfortable position, sitting, leaning against the wall and she called 911. The 911 operator gave her instructions on the phone to help the situation until the ambulance arrived and took him straight to the hospital where they placed several stints, and he went home in just a few days.
Granted, every situation is different, but the point here is time. My son-in-law received help almost immediately and he ended up in much better shape than my friend that did everything wrong and ended up in much worse shape.
So, the question is: If you were working in someone’s home or business, or even in your own shop, and an injury or medical emergency happened, would you know what to do to help?
Here are some tips from an EMT on how you can help in an emergency.
The most important advice he offered was that if you are unsure if it’s an emergency, CALL 911. They are your best resource for help. That being said, not every situation is an emergency, but you can still help. Some situations you might encounter include:
Bleeding
Types: Minor cuts and grazes, to deep lacerations.
Response:
Minor cuts: Clean with water, apply an antiseptic, and cover with a sterile bandage.
Severe bleeding: Apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth. Elevate the injured part if possible. Seek emergency medical help immediately.
If a foreign object is embedded, do not attempt to remove it. Stabilize it and apply pressure around the wound. Seek emergency medical help immediately.
Burns
Types: First-degree (superficial), second-degree (partial thickness), and third-degree (full thickness).
Response:
Cool the burn with running cold water for at least 10 minutes.
Cover with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
Do not apply ice, butter, or ointments.
Always seek medical help for burns that are severe, cover large areas, or are on the face, hands, feet, or genitals.
Choking
Signs: Inability to speak, difficulty breathing, coughing, or high-pitched sounds.
Response:
For adults and children over one year: If you know the Heimlich maneuver – do it. Essentially, you stand behind the person, place your fist above their navel, and giving quick, upward thrusts.
For infants under one year: Place the infant face-down on your forearm, support their head, and give up to five back slaps followed by five chest thrusts.
Another first aid relief for choking is to use one of the suction masks on the market these days under a variety of names. They supposedly work on babies and adults, depending on the one you purchase.
Fractures and Sprains
Signs: Swelling, pain, inability to move the limb, or deformity.
Response:
Don’t move the injured part. Immobilize it using a splint or sling.
Apply ice packs to reduce swelling.
Elevate the injured part if possible.
Seek medical help for suspected fractures.
Nosebleeds
While not usually life-threatening, nosebleeds are pretty common, and have a variety of causes.
Response:
Have the person sit upright and lean forward slightly. Pinch the soft part of the nose and keep pressure for about 10 minutes. Avoid lying down or tilting the head backward.
Fainting
If someone faints, lay them on their back and elevate their legs to improve blood flow to the brain. Check for responsiveness and breathing. If the person doesn’t regain consciousness quickly, seek medical help.
Poisoning
Find the source of the poison and remove it if possible. Identifying the poison could be important information for treatment. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a professional. Contact emergency services or a poison control center at once.
Seizures
Protect the person from injury by moving harmful objects away. Do not restrain the person or put anything in their mouth. After the seizure ends, place them in the recovery position (move them onto their side and tilt their head back – putting them in this position with their head back helps keep their airway open). Watch their breathing, and seek medical help.
Drug Overdose
Call 911 immediately. Stay with the person. If naloxone (Narcan) is available and you’ve been trained to use it, do so. If it’s available and you haven’t been trained, let the 911 operator know you have it and ask for instructions.
Heart Attack
Signs: Chest pain or discomfort, pain in other areas such as shoulder, jaw, arm, back or neck, shortness of breath, and sometimes slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
Response:
Anyone who suspects they or someone they are with is having a heart attack should act fast by taking the following steps:
- First and foremost, call 911...
- Give the person an aspirin.
- Ask if they have any prescribed chest pain medication, like Nitroglycerin tablets. If so, let 911 know so they can advise you.
- Loosen tight clothing.
- Open the door so emergency personnel can enter quickly.
- Get the person resting in a comfortable position and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
You don’t have to be a doctor to help someone in trouble. You just need to remain calm, fall back on basic first aid measures, and if there is any doubt call 911. Summer is the season with the most reported accidents and medical emergencies and that’s where we are folks: Accident Prime-Time.
Please send your thoughts and comments on this article to Sharon Koehler at Sharonk.SRG@gmail.com .