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~ EMERGENCY! ~ What Should I Do?

During any medical emergency, the most important thing is to recognize and assess the situation and then get the Emergency Response System in motion AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! DON'T wait for someone else to do it. If you have the knowledge--YOU are the one who should take the responsibility to call 911! Remember that in life-threatening situations--EVERY second counts! The information provided on this page is only meant to be a basic guideline of WHAT TO DO for the following emergencies before help arrives. Please be patient as the empty ones will be filled in soon! Asphyxiation Move victim away from source of toxin Cardiac Arrest Heart stops beating--person is unresponsive Choking Person clutches throat, can't speak--may become unresponsive Diabetic/Insulin Shock May have altered mental status or may become unresponsive Electric Shock If victim is unresponsive--may need CPR Heart Attack Chest/arm pains, trouble breathing--may become unresponsive Hypothermia If victim is unresponsive--may need CPR Lightning Strike If victim is unresponsive--may need CPR Poisoning Call Poison Control first! Pulse How to take a pulse Seizure Call 911--protect the victim from injury Sexual Assault Call the police--go to a hospital emergency room! Shock Occurs due to varying trauma. Serious Shock can be life-threatening Stroke Disorientation, slurred speech, weakness on one side of body--may become unresponsive Water Rescue/Near Drowning Call 911--Rescue victim Before the Squad Arrives Clear a path! When You See an Ambulance Coming Pull to the side of the road! When You Are Alone and Need Help Activate the 911 response system immediately! Administering CPR to an unresponsive person can keep them alive by giving them the oxygen and blood flow they need to sustain their vital systems until emergency medical help arrives. Remember the general rules: Number one--REMAIN CALM. DIAL 911 Do not move the patient. If they have already hit the ground, leave them there unless it presents an immediate hazard. Moving them could injure them more. If they have sustained any superficial injuries from the fall like bleeding, put a clean gauze or cold wet compress on the wound and apply moderate pressure. If they are conscious, make them as comfortable as you can, such as putting a pillow under their head, if appropriate (i.e. no neck injury) Place a warm blanket over them, especially if it is cold or they are in shock. Loosen the top button on their shirt or necktie. Don't allow onlookers to crowd you in--your patient will need the ventilation and the EMT's need a clear path to access the victim. Do not give them food or water unless instructed by the 911 operator. Try to learn any vital medical information you can (such as diabetes) in case the victim becomes unconscious before the EMT's arrive. Never sacrifice your own safety to rescue someone else. GET HELP! Learn CPR from a certified instructor. CPR is the most worthwhile education you will ever receive!

WHAT TO DO: What to do for Asphyxiation Asphyxiation means suffocation. The most common cause of asphyxiation is through the inhalation of gas produced by fire (smoke inhalation) or fumes from toxic chemicals (carbon monoxide) or gas leaks. The result of asphyxiation from any of these toxins is loss of consciousness and ultimately cardiac arrest (heart stops). In this situation: The rescuer's safety comes first (i.e. burning house, gas filled room). Think responsively before you act. If you cannot take action to help the victim--call 911! If you can help, move the victim as far away from the toxin as possible. Call 911 If the victim is not breathing and has no pulse--begin CPR. WHAT TO DO: How to Recognize Cardiac Arrest Cardiac Arrest means the heart has stopped beating and the person is not breathing. If you know CPR, this is the time to use it! Whenever someone suddenly becomes unresponsive, the person needs immediate emergency care! No response: When you speak to the victim or touch the victim, the person does not respond. If the victim is unresponsive phone 911 immediately! No Breathing: You open the airway and look, listen and feel for breaths. The victim is not breathing at all. Open the airway, give 2 rescue breaths and check pulse. If victim has no pulse, begin CPR immediately! CPR is only administered if the person is unresponsive and has no pulse. If they are breathing on their own, call 911 and make them as comfortable as possible until the squad arrives. WHAT TO DO: If Someone is Choking When people choke, they universally clutch their throats. They will NOT be able to speak. They MAY turn blue in the face. They WILL become unresponsive if they do not receive help! Everyone has heard of the Heimlich Maneuver. If performed properly, this is an extremely simple and effective way to literally save someone's life. The main thing is to recognize the signs of choking (above) and get immediate assistance. If you cannot help the victim, call 911 immediately. Without help to dislodge the item the person is choking on, they will become unresponsive, can injure themselves as they fall to the ground and can go into cardiac arrest. If a choking person becomes unresponsive, it is only advisable to begin CPR if the object has become dislodged. The Heimlich Maneuver is taught in all CPR classes. It teaches you how to rescue adults, children and infants and how to save yourself if you are ever choking while you are alone. Taking is CPR class is one of the most valuable things you can ever learn! The Oakhurst First-Aid Squad occasionally offers CPR classes to the general public that will be posted on our Training Page. If we are not currently running one, we can help get you signed up at an area hospital. Remember, CPR is also a great education for younger children because it also teaches them how to activate the 911 emergency response system. For additional information and to register for a CPR class, please call 732-531-4295 or click HERE WHAT TO DO: How to Recognize Diabetic Insulin Shock The diabetic person has trouble assimilating sugar (or glucose) inside their body properly, therefore they need to regulate it carefully and constantly on their own using insulin. Having either too much or too little sugar in their system can cause them to become disoriented (known as altered mental status) and can make them appear to be drunk, or they can become unresponsive (unconscious). This can be caused by something as simple as their not taking their medication on time, eating too little, eating too much or over-exerting themselves. Insulin Shock is a life-threatening situation and emergency help is needed immediately. If you know the person is diabetic and they seem to be in an altered mental state, they may have symptoms that include: An intoxicated appearance Stagger when they walk Slurred speech Cold or clammy skin May even become combative Try to have them have them sit down to prevent them from injuring themselves in case they become unconscious. Call 911 immediately. Once the emergency response system has been activated, try to talk to the person to find out what they were doing just prior that may have caused their insulin imbalance. Try to find out where their medication is as well as other medication they might be taking. Write it down if you can. Once the person becomes unconscious, they can no longer give you information the EMT's will need. If you come upon a diabetic person who is already unconscious, call 911 immediately! There is nothing you can do but wait and signal to the ambulance where the victim is. If the person fell when they became unconscious in a dangerous position, i.e. next to a fire or grill, gently move them safely out of reach. Never sacrifice your own safety for that of someone else. Try to attend to any bleeding wounds they may have incurred when they went down. WHAT TO DO: How to Recognize Electric Shock Most electric shocks in adults occur in the workplace. Most pediatric shocks occur in the home due to biting of electrical wires or from touching an electrical outlet. Depending upon the severity of the shock, the victim can have mild symptoms or it can cause cardiac arrest. Water or moisture can intensify a low-voltage shock into a life threatening one. The situation must be evaluated and the rescuer must not put themselves in danger. Only specially trained rescuers should attempt rescue with live current (as from a power line). Call 911 If the area is safe, (no water is present and no live wires) and the victim is not breathing and has no pulse--begin CPR. WHAT TO DO: If You Suspect That You or Someone You Know is Having a Heart Attack Sit Down, Keep Calm, Call 911! The signs of heart attack are many, varied and may or may not be painful or severe. Many times they are less severe in women. Common signs of heart attack are: Chest discomfort-pain can be severe or mild and can radiate into the neck, back or down the arms. Sweating, nausea, shortness of breath. A feeling of weakness. Person may have one symptom or several. Remember that a person may just have a funny overall feeling with only mild symptoms. Children are also susceptible to heart attack. It's always best to have it checked out. Anyone, young or old, experiencing chest pains should ALWAYS seek immediate medical assistance! People having heart attacks do NOT need CPR unless they stop breathing and become unresponsive. WHAT TO DO: How to Recognize Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops severely. When that happens, all bodily functions slow down as well. Even the pulse will be difficult to detect and you may think the victim is dead. But don't give up yet! Call 911 immediately! In our area (Monmouth County near the ocean) the most likely cause of hypothermia would be because the victim fell into cold water (ocean, lakes or inlets). You may have to rescue them from the water first--have someone else call 911! Remember, NEVER put your own safety before that of the victim. Once the victim is out of the water, remove their wet garments and protect them from heat loss by covering them with a dry blanket. If no breathing is detected, begin CPR. WHAT TO DO: What to Do if Someone You Know is Struck by Lightning The primary cause of death from a lightning strike is cardiac arrest. Call 911 If there is no breathing or pulse--begin CPR WHAT TO DO: How to Recognize Poisoning Some poisons can be very fast-acting and lethal! Calling POISON CONTROL first can help save a life! Poison Control will automatically set the Emergency Response System into action--meanwhile they will give you the information you may need to save a life in the meantime.

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