Emergency Care

At some stage you may be required to perform first aid for somebody who needs it through the usage of some form of drugs, whether it be for recreational use or a prescribed drug. So this may help you save somebodies life through your prompt action.

Heat Stroke

• Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia in which the body temperature is elevated dramatically.
• Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated.
• The cause of heat stroke is an elevation in body temperature, often accompanied by dehydration .

Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heatstroke. Common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include -

• high body temperature,
• the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, or damp skin,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• confusion,
• nausea ,
• rapid pulse,
• strange behaviour,
• agitation,
• disorientation,
• seizure, and/or coma .

What to do

• Call 999/911 right away - heat stroke is a medical emergency.
• Move the person to a cooler place.
• Help lower the person's temperature with cool cloths or with whatever means available - sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water.
• Do not give the person anything to drink .

Complications

Heatstroke can result in a number of complications, depending on how long the body temperature is high. Severe complications may include -

• Vital organ damage. Without a quick response to lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause your brain or other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage.
• Death. Without prompt and adequate treatment, heatstroke can be fatal .

The Recovery Position

If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position.

Putting someone in the recovery position will keep their airway clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid won't cause them to choke .

Follow these steps -

• with the person lying on their back, kneel on the floor at their side,
• place the arm nearest you at a right angle to their body with their hand upwards, towards the head,
• tuck their other hand under the side of their head, so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek,
• bend the knee farthest from you to a right angle,
• carefully roll the person onto their side by pulling on the bent knee,
• the top arm should be supporting the head and the bottom arm will stop you rolling them too far,
• open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin, and check that nothing is blocking their airway,
• stay with the person and monitor their condition until help arrives .

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