Common Medical Emergencies

10 Common Medical Emergencies:

With the world becoming increasingly connected, there is no doubt that medical emergencies will be a part of everyday life, more so than ever before. This article will cover ten common medical emergencies.

Medical emergencies happen even to the best of us. Although they can be scary, there's no need to panic. In this post, I'll list 10 common medical emergencies, including treatments and methods for dealing with them.

1. Burns and Scalds

Burns and scalds are serious injuries that can cause pain, discomfort and scarring. Burns are caused by the direct contact of heat to the skin. Scalds are caused by the immersion of the whole body in hot water.

Burns:

Burns caused by hot liquids, or steam, are among the most common types of burns. They occur when your skin is exposed to hot liquid or steam. The area of your body that comes into contact with the heat source will turn red and feel hot to the touch. You may also see steam coming from it. If you do not get medical help right away, the burn will eventually heal on its own, but it may take longer if you don't seek medical care right away.

Scalds:

Scalding injuries occur when a person's body gets too hot from being immersed in very hot water for an extended period of time (more than a few minutes). Some people have scalding injuries as a result of accidentally stepping into a bathtub full of very hot water or spilling boiling soup on themselves before being able to remove themselves from danger zone; others have scalding injuries after falling into cool water while taking a shower; still others

General rules for the treatment of burns and scalds are:

1. Remove any loose clothing first, to prevent further injury to the area that has been burned.

2. Clean the burn with cool water and a soft cloth or gauze pad. If possible, place a cool compress on the burn and cover it with a bandage or plastic wrap.

3. If the burn is very painful or severe, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

4. If you have minor burns, there are several home care methods that can help treat them at home:

·        Covering with ice (wrapped in a towel or used as a compress) for 20 minutes every two hours until they heal completely

·        Applying an antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) twice daily until they heal completely

·        Using topical cooling creams such as A&D ointment or Bepanthen cream to relieve pain and itching from minor burns

The first thing to do is to stop the burning part of the burn from touching more skin. If you can put some sort of dressing over it, that's even better. The dressing should be a light gauze or cotton bandage, not a heavy gauze like a band aid.

The reason is that heavy gauzes tend to stick to burns, making it harder to get them off later on. A light gauze can be removed much more easily and will not leave any sticky residue behind that could cause problems later on. You can also use an antibiotic ointment, but only if it isn't too thick and heavy (like Neosporin). You don't want this ointment to make your burn worse by being too thick or heavy. You also don't want it to become an infection because then you'll have to start treating it with antibiotics and they'll kill off all the good bacteria in your body that are supposed to help fight off infections!

Heart Attack/Chest Pain

Heart Attack

A heart attack is a sudden and severe pain in the center of your chest. It may feel like your heart is being squeezed or "hammered." When that happens, you need to call 911 immediately.

Heart attack symptoms:

Chest pain or pressure, especially at the chest or shoulder. This pain may radiate to the jaw, arm, and back.

Pain that radiates to the back or down your arm.

Nausea, sweating, and/or lightheadedness.

Shortness of breath (dizziness).

Chest Pain

Chest pain is often described as an aching feeling in your chest. It can be sharp or dull, steady or intermittent, and radiate to one side or both sides of your body. Chest pain may be caused by disease, injury, or emotional stress. Heart disease is the most common cause of chest pain. If you have chest pain that lasts more than 10 minutes and comes on suddenly with no other symptoms, such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), sweating, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, indigestion, or dizziness -- especially if it occurs with exertion -- you may have angina (chest pain).

The signs and symptoms of a heart attack include pain or pressure in the center of your chest, arm, or shoulder that usually comes on suddenly. It can be triggered by emotional stress.

The pain may radiate to the neck and jaw, or to the back and abdomen. You may feel short of breath, nauseated, or sweaty; these are common but not always symptoms of a heart attack.

If you have any of these symptoms and they don't go away with time, call 911 immediately.

Chest pain can occur while you're lying down or standing up. In fact, it's often mistaken for indigestion or anxiety attacks. But chest pain that comes on suddenly is more serious than those other things because it indicates that something's wrong with your heart and needs immediate attention.

Tell everyone you know about this emergency (including family members) so that they can seek emergency medical care and stay with you in case of an emergency until professional help arrives if there is no one nearby who can perform CPR, ask for help from bystanders who can perform CPR until professional service arrives if needed.

Major Cuts

Major cuts are caused by a sharp object penetrating the skin, usually by cutting an artery or vein. The most severe type of major cut is a laceration, which can become infected if not treated properly. A laceration is any wound created by a sharp object that cuts through the surface of the skin.

Lacerations are classified as minor if they do not involve the muscles or tendons and major if they involve these areas. Minor lacerations can range from cuts that extend only one millimeter to deep lacerations that extend two or more centimeters into muscle tissue and/or tendons. Deep wounds may require stitches to close them.

Major wounds are wounds that penetrate deeper than one centimeter into muscle tissue or tendons, or through the bone into muscle tissue or tendons. Deep wounds can become infected if they are not properly treated with antibiotics, but it is rare for them to become life-threatening unless they penetrate vital structures such as the heart or diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen).

The Major cuts/wounds can be classified as follows:

● Major wounds – These are the most serious type of wounds. They can be compound, complex, and complex multisystem injuries. The body may have to go through a long healing process to overcome these injuries.

● Minor cuts and lacerations – These are very minor wounds that do not require stitches or sutures. However, you must treat them as soon as possible for better healing results.

● Minor burns – These are also a type of burn that does not require stitches but must also be treated immediately to stop the infection from setting in.

● First aid care for minor cuts and lacerations includes the following steps:

⦁ Keep the injured area clean by applying gentle pressure with sterile gauze pads or cloths

⦁ Cover it with dry sterile dressings to stop bleeding

⦁ Apply cold compresses on the area if it has blisters or inflammation which is called erythema (redness) and edema (swelling).

Heat Stroke

Heat Stroke is a medical condition where the body's temperature rises to high levels and damages the brain, heart, or other organs.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent damage to the body. It is not always possible to save a person who has a heat stroke, but early treatment can reduce their chance of death.

Heat Stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the body’s core temperature rises to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. It usually occurs in people who have been exercising vigorously and then stop sweating, which causes their body temperature to rise rapidly.

If you experience symptoms of heat stroke, seek medical attention immediately. If you suspect heat stroke, get into a cool bath, shower, or sink of running water as quickly as possible. Then, try to drink plenty of water until your body temperature returns to normal.

·        Heat Stroke Symptoms

·        Hot and dry skin

·        Dizziness or lightheadedness

·        Feeling very weak and lethargic

·        Nausea (feeling sick) and/or vomiting

·        Breathing difficulty or shallow breaths, especially if accompanied by a rapid heart rate or high blood pressure

Fractures:

Fractures are common injuries and can be classified as closed or open. Closed fractures are those that involve the skin and do not require surgery. Open fractures are those in which the bone protrudes through the skin.

The most common type of fracture is a closed fracture, also known as a simple fracture, where the bone breaks without necessarily falling apart. This type of fracture happens when you fall or twist your ankle or knee, for example. Simple fractures cause pain, swelling, and bruising but do not always need medical attention.

Open fractures are more serious injuries than simple ones. These fractures involve breaking through the skin and tend to become infected very quickly due to blood pooling under the skin. Open fractures may require surgery to repair them, particularly if complications arise.

Fractures

Fractures of the bone often result from an injury to the bone, such as a fall or sports injury. Fractures may also be caused by diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and Paget's disease. Fractures are classified according to their location in the body and the type of fracture involved.

Types of fractures include:

Open The bones that have been broken through directly by a hard object or weapon. Examples include a splinter or knife fragment lodged in the skin overlying a fracture site; or a gunshot wound to an arm or leg where the bullet lodged in the skin but not enough to penetrate all layers of tissue.

Closed: A break in one bone, usually caused by another bone crashing into it at high speed (such as in a car accident). Closed fractures are difficult to repair surgically because they are often accompanied by damage to other structures around them.

Comminuted: A compound fracture is one that has two or more breaks across different bones at the same time (as opposed to simple breaks). This type of fracture is most common after falls from heights greater than 3 meters (10 feet), especially if there are several breaks across multiple bones.

General symptoms and signs of a fracture;

A fracture is a break in a bone. It may be caused by a fall, accident, or even an attack. A fracture can be broken down into two types:

Simple fracture: This type of fracture involves only one bone. It is usually caused by a force applied to the bone. The most common example is a fall on an outstretched hand or at high speed.

Compound fracture: A compound fracture involves more than one bone and requires surgery to fix it properly. Often, this type of fracture happens when there is no apparent cause for it.

General rules for the treatment of fractures;

Fractures are common injuries and are often the result of a sudden impact or trauma.

Injury to bones causes them to break, or fracture. The broken bone then needs to be set in position so that it can heal properly.

The following general rules apply to all fractures:

Glue casts should be used for any fracture involving the leg, pelvis, or upper arm. These castings are done either in plaster or with a plastic shell that fits over the bone and holds it in place until the bone has fully healed.

Broken bones will usually heal without surgery unless there is an open wound over it or if it is in a joint that may need surgery to close up again.

If you have a fracture and you have been advised to go straight home from A&E then please do so as soon as possible but take plenty of painkillers with you (paracetamol or ibuprofen), even if you think your pain isn't too bad at this stage. You may find that your pain gets worse before it gets better but this is normal and will pass in a few days' time.

Electrocution

It is a medical emergency.

Electrocution is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person comes in contact with an electric current, which can be either accidental or intentional. It has been known to cause severe burns and even death.

Electrical injuries can be caused by faulty wiring, appliances, electrical equipment, and power lines.

Electrocuting is a medical emergency that can be fatal. If you are aware of the signs and symptoms, you can help prevent electrocuting someone else.

Signs and symptoms

Electrocuting happens when electricity passes through your body. This can cause serious burns to your skin and internal organs. The amount of damage depends on electricity passes through you, but it could burn your whole body from head to toe or just one part of your body

Causes

There are many ways people get electrocuted:

You touch high-voltage power lines (like those in your home) or equipment with metal parts that have exposed wires. This includes extension cords and electric fences, as well as transformers used in substations or gas pipelines. When these come into contact with your skin or clothing, they create an electrical current that travels through them quickly and can injure you.

You wear loose clothing that touches metal objects like railings, windowsills, or fence posts without protection against electrical currents - such as metal jewelry or non-insulated shoes with leather uppers touching metal plating on railings.

General rules for the treatment of Electrocution

1. Immediate attention is required to prevent further injury.

2. The victim must be moved away from the source of electricity and to a safe place.

3. Remove any jewelry, watches, rings, etc., which may act as electrodes in the body and also stop the flow of blood to the skin.

4. Remove any metal objects (such as coins) from around the body as they may cause burns in contact with water if immersed in them.

Bites/Stings

Bites and stings are common medical emergencies. In the United States, an estimated 300,000 people die from venomous insect stingers annually. Most bites occur in the summer and fall when insects are most active, but they can happen any time of year.

Bites from bees and wasps are the most common type of sting you'll encounter. They occur when a stinger is injected into your body. If a bee or wasp sting you on your hand or arm, a small amount of venom will get into your bloodstream. This venom causes an allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Bee stings often cause swelling, pain, redness, and itching at the site where the sting occurred. It usually takes 2 to 3 days for symptoms to appear after a bee sting occurs — but it can take longer for some people who have weak immune systems or are elderly or very young children.

Wasp stings usually cause only mild pain upon contact with their tiny stinger or bite you may feel itching sensations around where the stinger has entered your skin or need medical attention because you have been stung by multiple wasps.

General symptoms and signs of Bites/Stings

• Localized pain, redness, and swelling at the site of the bite or sting.

• Redness, swelling, and tenderness around the area of the bite or sting.

• Itching and burning at the site of a bite or sting.

• Pain when you press on it with your fingers.

• A rash that is not itchy may appear after a few hours after getting bitten or stung by an insect such as a mosquito or fire ant. This rash may be small bumps on your skin (nodules) or larger raised bumps that are red and painful to the touch (vesicles). It is also possible for this rash to develop into blisters filled with clear liquid that later burst. You should see a doctor if you develop a red rash without any other symptoms such as itching, fever, or serious allergic reaction.

General rules for the treatment of Bites/Stings

The general rules for the treatment of bites/stings are:

1. Remove the stinger (insect) if possible.

2. Wash the area immediately with soap and water for 15-20 minutes. Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other harsh chemicals that can damage the skin.

3. Cover the area with a bandage to protect it from infection, as well as to prevent further irritation caused by ants or bees entering through the wound.

4. Call your doctor if symptoms persist more than 48 hours after you've been stung or bitten by an insect, even if they don't seem serious at first.

Choking

Choking is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. It can happen when food, or anything else, gets lodged in the airway and blocks off breathing. If you have been choking, it's important to act quickly to avoid permanent damage or death.

Choking can affect anyone at any age, but it's most common in children and youngs. It's also more likely to occur in men because they are larger than women.

Causes of choking

The most common cause of choking is eating something too large or dense for your child's smaller body size. For instance, a piece of candy bar could get stuck in a child's throat while they are trying to swallow a piece of bread that was too big for them. Other causes include swallowing foreign objects such as pencils or sewing needles; inhaling liquids into the lungs; and choking on food that has gotten caught in the esophagus (food tube).

Symptoms of choking

Choking symptoms vary depending on the type of obstruction. Symptoms may include:

Difficulty breathing – If something blocks off enough airflow, it can make it difficult for someone to breathe.

General rules for the treatment of choking

The general rules for the treatment of choking are as follows:

First, remove the source of obstruction. If a blockage is in the throat, it must be removed. If it is in a small child's mouth, you may need to remove it with your fingers or a penlight. If it is large enough to be removed with your fingers, then this should be done first.

If there is no object blocking the airway, just simply swallow air and clear the airway by coughing or sputtering. This will also help in dislodging any small object that may have lodged itself in your throat.

Seizures

Seizures are a common medical emergency. They can happen in children, teens. Seizures are sudden electrical disturbances traveling through the brain. They can cause symptoms such as:

·        Drooling.

·        loss of consciousness (coma).

·        loss of muscle control (tonic-clonic)

·        loss of bladder or bowel control

·        facial expressions (convulsions)

General rules for the treatment of Seizures

Treatment of seizures depends on:

·        The type of seizure each person has (simple or complex).

·        The age and health of the person who has had a seizure.

·        The severity of the symptoms after a seizure.

Treatments include medicines, surgery and other treatments as needed. For example, some people with epilepsy may need to take medicines that prevent them from having a seizure. Others may need surgery to remove or reduce the size of a part of their brain that is causing seizures.

Eye-Trauma

An ocular injury can induce a seizure in a person with epilepsy. The majority of eye injuries occur during sports and accidents. In most cases, the injury is minor, but if the eye is left untreated for too long or the eye becomes infected, it can cause permanent damage to vision.

The most common causes of eye trauma are:

Concussion or traumatic brain injury. If you suffer from chronic head pain or soreness, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. A concussion may be responsible for your symptoms and could lead to seizures.

Eye infection. Eye infections can cause changes in vision and color in affected eyes. A bacterial infection is one of the most common types of eye trauma that causes seizures in people with epilepsy.

Hemorrhage into the eye (intraocular hemorrhage). This condition occurs when blood accumulates behind the eyeball—in the retina—causing swelling and pressure on surrounding tissue, including the optic nerve. It can lead to temporary blindness, loss of vision, or severe pain that requires immediate medical attention.

General rules for the treatment of Eye-Trauma

1. Assess the severity of the injury and type of damage.

2.Withhold topical antibiotics if possible. Antibiotics may cause a secondary infection in some people with glaucoma, cataracts, or another ocular disease that has been damaged by trauma.

4. If there is heavy bleeding, apply a sterile dressing to stop it immediately and notify a health professional if you are unable to stop bleeding within 15 minutes.

5. Call a health care provider if you notice any changes in vision or other symptoms after getting medical attention for your eye injuries, such as sensitivity to light or pain when closing your eye following an injury to the eye.

 

Conclusion:

These potential emergencies present a whole host of problems, but these are problems that you can minimize and prepare for. By knowing to expect, by having emergency contacts and an emergency plan in place, and by possessing the knowledge to carry out a basic treatment plan, you will have taken the first steps towards avoiding permanent damage when faced with any number of emergencies large or small.

Preparing to handle potential emergencies is a good way to prepare for a healthy and happy lifestyle. Both large and small emergencies may occur, but given the right knowledge, you can successfully avoid or treat the lasting effects of any emergency.