Many of you asked for a write up on what to do for various emergencies before EMS (Emergency Medical Services) arrives. In most areas the fire department will respond to medical calls along with the ambulance and sometimes the police. Most firefighters are at least EMT basics and should have some medical equipment on the fire truck to begin treatment till an ambulance arrives.
The first thing for any sort of emergency related to a medical complaint or an injury of some sort is to go ahead and call 911. The 911 dispatcher will ask questions to get the most appropriate type of people to the scene. Most 911 dispatchers are also trained to help walk you through CPR and other things that may help the patient till EMS arrives. When you call 911 try to have the most exact location possible as well as age and gender of the patient. If possible be prepared to have someone waiting outside to lead the crews to the patient so we don't have to figure out our way through a building we arnt familiar with.
Please be smart when getting involved in various situations, getting yourself hurt just makes things worse for everyone.
A few of the more common events that people may come across and want to help.
Car Accidents
These are super common as I'm sure we all know, most of the time they are minor fender benders and no real injuries are present. But, that isn't to say that they should be handled as nothing until someone qualified says so. Now what can and should the typical bystander do?
- Ask each person if they are ok and if they have called 911, if they haven't go ahead and call.
- If they are hurt encourage them to stay in the car.
- Don't physically prevent them from getting out of the car or leaving, that is just putting yourself in a bad position.
- If the vehicle is on fire, attempt to put it out if you have the means. If you don't and feel the fire is going to hurt the person more and you feel you can safely get them out then do so and get them to a safe distance.
- Do not get involved with arguments between the drivers.
Seizures
There really isn't anything bystanders can do to stop an active seizure. But, there are some things to consider.
- Don't put things in their mouth
- Don't try and hold them to keep them from flailing around
- Don't mess with them after the seizure, after a seizure most people go into a very confused state. They also have the tendency to become violent. Do what you can to stop them from harming themselves further but don't put yourself in a spot to get hurt.
- Do move things out of the way that they may hit, pull them away from the road or stairs or other things that they may fall down.
Stroke
Strokes are very time dependent. The faster someone who had a stroke gets to the hospital the better. It is very important to call 911 as soon as you suspect a stroke, we don't do anything really to fix or stop the stroke, but can treat other things if they go down hill. EMS will also know which hospital the patient needs to go to.
Some of the obvious signs of stroke:
- One sided weakness. Example, the left arm won't move but the right will.
- Slurred speech
- Facial droop (if they smile and only one side moves up)
- Begin acting confused
These are very basic things, but are easily recognizable. If you see these, especially on older people, call 911. EMS can further evaluate and rule out other causes. If we do suspect a stroke we can get them to where they need to be faster than if you take them on their own.
Allergic reactions
If you see someone who appears to be having a sudden or severe allergic reaction, call 911. There are a few things to look for with a severe allergic reaction.
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking
- Facial swelling
- Tongue swelling
If you see these things ask if the person has an epi-pen. Many people who have severe allergies have (or should) have an epi-pen. If they do and cannot give it to themselves, offer to help them. If they are so bad they can't answer you then do it anyway. They are easy to use.
- Remove cap
- Get to their thigh, remove clothes to get to it if you can, thin clothes shouldn't matter too much.
- Stab them in the meaty part on the outside of their thigh
- Hold it there for 10 seconds once you stab them
Benadryl is good for more minor reactions but will probably make them sleepy. Don't give Benadryl to someone who has any of the symptoms listed above because they may start to choke.
These are all just some basic things you may see and may be able to help with. This is not meant to replace medical training or to replace EMS or the hospital. Do not do anything you are not comfortable doing or don't feel you can do safely. And if you haven't figured it out, calling 911 is important. It's better to have help on the way and then cancel them then to wait till things have gotten bad to call.
Please feel free to ask any questions, myself or some of the other EMS members we have will be glad to answer to the best of our abilities.
An original Southeast Traders article.
