Community Guide 2017
Medical Emergencies by Diana Rocha
Other Emergencies For other medical emergencies, such as drowning, electric shock, unconsciousness, and internal bleeding, phone 911 immediately. Note: 911 is the correct number for all emergencies. The glitch that delayed calls from cell phones has been fixed. First Aid • First aid information for a variety of conditions can be found at www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid • We recommend that you print out the condition you are most likely to encounter, review it thoroughly, and then place it in a very accessible and obvious place, such as on your refrigerator or next to your phone. • We also recommend that everyone complete a class on CPR. Local classes are offered frequently through the American Red Cross, 415- 721-2365 or www.redcross.org. Bites and Stings • Scorpion stings, snake and animal bites, as well as bites from black widow and brown recluse spiders require immediate attention and follow-up by a physician. • Even bee stings, in the case of an allergic reaction, need prompt medical care. • Particular treatment will be determined by a physician. What you can do immediately: • Wash the bite/sting with soap and water. • Apply ice or a cold compress. • In the case of snake bites, immobilize the bitten area and keep lower than the heart. More information can be found at: • www.redcross.org • www.heart.org/ • www.calpoison.org/about/ • www.umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/blac-wid- ow-spider • www.umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/brown- recluse-spider • www.ready.gov/earthquakes
Heart Attack & Stroke Symptoms Require Immediate Treatment • Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies: every second counts. • Coronary heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death and disability. • If you or someone with you has any of the listed symp- toms, immediately call 911 to summon help. Symptoms of Heart Attack • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discom- fort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. • Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath, which may occur with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Symptoms of Stroke • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause A simple test for stroke is to ask the person to do three things: • Ask the individual to SMILE. • Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. • Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE COHERENT SENTENCE. (“It is sunny out today.”) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
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