Emergency+Response

__ **Emergency Response** __ **An emergency response plan should be designed, practiced and modified whenever changes in your situation warrant it.** **EMS should be called if any of the following life-threatening conditions is present or the person in charge does not feel prepared with the situation:** **- patient is not breathing**

**- patient doesn’t have a pulse**

**- patient is bleed profusely**

**- patient has impaired consciousness**

**- patient has injured back, neck, or head**

**- patient has visible trauma, with deformation to a limb**

**- patient can’t move his arm or legs or has lost feeling in them** **Treatment** **After putting on disposable gloves, the charge person begins that appropriate treatment:**
 * **artificial respiration without cardiac compression for a non-breathing victim**
 * **CPR if there is no pulse**
 * **direct pressure with a compression bandage for severe bleeding**
 * **rest and immobilization for fractures and head, neck and back injuries**
 * **unconscious victims should be rolled over into the semi-prone (or recovery) position unless there is indication that a spinals injury might have occurred. In this position fluid will drain from the mouth rather than accumulate in the throat which could block the breathing passages**
 * **if spinal injury is suspected, do not move the injured person**

**Other people on hand may assist by moving spectators away from the scene, preparing clear access for the EMS team, or bringing needed equipment and supplies such as the first aid kit, blankets and cold packs.**

__ **Secondary Assessment and Treatment** __ **If the injured person does not exhibit any of the previously listed symptoms, the charge person can continue the assessment by determining the mechanism of injury. The injured person and those who witnessed the accident can provide details. The charge person applies appropriate first aid based on the information given, signs she observes and symptoms the victim reports.** **The charge person must try to keep the injured person calm. They should exhibit confidence and caring through their words and actions. Even at this stage EMS may be called in – possibility of head injury, no first aid knowledge etc.**

__ **Cardiovascular Events** __ **The heart acts as a pump, continuously circulating blood to the lungs and all parts of the body. The heart itself gets its blood supply through two coronary arteries. If these arteries or their branches become narrowed or blocked, a part of the heart won’t receive the oxygen it needs. This will cause a cardiovascular emergency.** __**Examples**__ **: heart attack, cardiac arrest, angina, stroke** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">__**Risk factors**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**: smoking, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise and excessive stress. A person’s age, gender and family history also play a significant role.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">__**Symptoms of heart attack**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**: shortness of breath, pale colour, sweating, vomiting, and unconsciousness. Person may also complain of crushing chest pain, pain spreading to neck, jaw, shoulders and/or arms, fear or a feeling of doom, indigestion or nausea.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">__**Response**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**: call EMS, keep immobile, usually a semi sitting position is most comfortable, loosen tight clothing. If conscious ask if he has angina or any medication available. If person goes into cardiac arrest, start CPR**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">__**Symptoms of a stroke**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**: weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, vision problems, difficulty speaking or understanding, loss of balance or coordination, confusion, severe headache.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**Sometimes symptoms are hard to identify. Give possible victim 4 commands:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**S – Smile** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**T – Talk and speak a simple sentence like ‘it is sunny out today.”** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**R - Raise both arms** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**T – Stick out tongue. If the tongue is crooked (goes to one side or the other) it is an indicator of a stroke.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">__**Response**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">**: if one or more of these symptoms are present call EMS. Damage can be stopped and even reversed if proper treatment is administered within a few hours after the start of symptoms**