Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15
Alwayscxfollowcxthecxemergencycxactioncxsteps:cx-cxanswer--Check,cxCall,cxandcxCare.

Suddencxillnessescxoftencxshowcxthecxfollowingcxsignals:cx-cxanswer--
Changecxincxacxperson'scxlevelcxofcxconsciousness.cx
Feelingcxlightheaded,cxdizzycxorcxweak.
Nauseacxorcxvomiting.cx
Changescxincxbreathing,cxcirculation,cxskincxtemperature,cxcolorcxorcxmoisture.
Persistentcxabdominalcxpaincxorcxpressure.cx
Losscxofcxvisioncxofcxblurredcxvision.
Seizures.

Commoncxsuddencxillnessescxinclude:cx-cxanswer--Fainting.cx
Diabeticcxemergencies.cx
Seizures.cx
Stroke.cx
Poisoning.cx
Heartcxattack.cx
Shock.

Suddencxillnesscxcancxbecx-cxanswer--Acutecxorcxchronic.

Generalcxguidelinescxofcxcarecxforcxsuddencxillnessescxinclude:cx-cxanswer--
Docxnocxfurthercxharm.cx
Monitorcxbreathingcxandcxconsciousness.cx
Helpcxthecxvictimcxrestcxincxthecxmostcxcomfortablecxposition.cx
Keepcxthecxvictimcxfromcxgettingcxchilledcxorcxoverheated.cx
Reassurecxthecxvictim.cxGivecxanycxspecificcxcare.

Ifcxthecxpersoncxiscxconscious,cx-cxanswer--
Askcxthemcxifcxtheycxhavecxanycxmedicalcxconditionscxorcxarecxtakingcxanycxmedications.

LookcxforcxacxmedicalcxIDcxtagcxofcxbracelet,cxwhichcxcouldcxindicatecxthatcxtheycxhavecxacx-
cxanswer--Chroniccxconditioncxorcxallergy.



DOcxNOTcx-cxanswer--
Givecxthecxpersoncxanythingcxtocxeatcxorcxdrinkcxunlesscxtheycxarecxfullycxconsciouscxandcxa
blecxtocxswallowcxandcxalsocxdocxnotcxifcxtheycxshowcxanycxsignscxofcxhavingcxexperiencedcx
acxstroke.

Faintingcxiscx-cxanswer--
Acxcommoncxsuddencxillnesscxcharacterizedcxbycxacxpartialcxorcxcompletecxlosscxofcxconsci
ousness.

, Faintingcxiscxcausedcxbycx-cxanswer--
Acxtemporarycxreductioncxofcxbloodcxflowcxtocxthecxbrain.

Faintingcxcancxbecxtriggeredcxbycx-cxanswer--
Ancxemotionallycxstressfulcxevent.cxItcxmaycxbecxcausedcxbycxpain,cxspecificcxmedications,c
xconditions,cxstandingcxforcxlongcxperiodscxofcxtime,cxoverexertion,cxorcxincxsomecxpeoplecxt

hecxsightcxofcxblood.

Thecxvictimcxwillcxcommonlycxdisplaycxshock-likecxsignals,cxsuchcxas:cx-cxanswer--
Cool,cxpalecxorcxmoistcxskin.
Nausea.cx
Numbnesscxorcxtinglingcxincxthecxfingerscxandcxtoes.cx
Sweating.cx
Vomiting.cx
Distortioncxorcxdimmingcxofcxvision.cx
Headcxorcxabdominalcxpain.

Faintingcxiscxusuallycxacx______cxcondition.cx-cxanswer--Self-correcting.

If/whencxthecxpersoncxcollapsescx-cxanswer--
normalcxcirculationcxtocxthecxbraincxresumescxandcxthecxpersoncxshouldcxregaincxconsciou
snesscxwithincxacxminute.

Faintingcxbycxitselfcxdoescxnotcxharmcxthecxperson,cxbutcx-cxanswer--
Ancxinjurycxmaycxoccurcxfromcxthecxpersoncxfallingcxascxacxresultcxofcxfainting.

Generalcxcarecxguidelines.cx-cxanswer--
Ifcxyoucxcancxreachcxthemcxascxtheycxarecxstartingcxtocxcollapse,cxlowercxthemcxtocxthecxgrou
ndcxorcxacxflatcxsurface.cx
Positioncxthecxvictimcxincxhiscxorcxhercxbackcxincxacxflatcxsurface,cxelevatecxlegscxaboutcx12cxi
nches,cxandcxifcxyoucxarecxunsurecxofcxthecxperson'scxconditioncxorcxifcxmovingcxiscxpainfulcxt
ocxthecxperson,cxkeepcxthemcxlyingcxflat.cx
Olsencxanycxrestrictivecxclothing.cx
Checkcxforcxanycxothercxlife-threateningcxandcxnon-lifecxthreateningcxconditions.

Whencxacxpersoncxhascxfainted,cxdocxnotcx-cxanswer--
Givecxthecxvictimcxanythingcxtocxeatcxorcxdrinkcxandcxdocxnotcxsplashcxthecxvictimscxfacecxwit
hcxwatercxorcxslapcxhiscxorcxhercxface.

Ascxlongcxascxthecxfaintingcxvictimcxrecoverscxquicklycxandcxhascxnocxlastingcxsignals,cx-
cxanswer--

Youcxmaycxorcxmaycxnotcxneedcxtocxcallcx911cxorcxthecxlocalcxemergencycxnumber.

Thecxconditioncxincxwhichcxthecxbodycxdoescxnotcxproducecxenoughcxinsulincxorcxdoes.cxOrcx
usecxinsulincxeffectivelycxiscxcalledcx-cxanswer--Diabetescxmellituscx(DM).

Incxthecxdigestivecxprocess,cx-cxanswer--
Thecxbodycxbreakscxdowncxfoodcxintocxsimplecxsugarscxsuchcxascxglucose.