Being involved in a medical emergency is not something anyone wants to experience. Some are more serious than others and should be acted on as soon as possible. To eliminate any doubt, here are seven of the most common medical emergencies that you should take seriously.
1. Bleeding
Bleeding of any kind is never a good thing but it isn’t always a serious condition. Instacare will tell you that cuts and scrapes happen all the time, so bleeding isn’t always a medical emergency. However, you should definitely seek emergency treatment if you are unable to control the bleeding even after applying treatment, you can see tissue or bone, or there is an object within the wound or it appears to be quite deep.
2. Someone Experiences A Fit Or Epileptic Seizure
Fits and seizures typically occur in someone who has been diagnosed with epilepsy, or who has epilepsy that hasn’t been diagnosed yet. It involves involuntary jerking, twitching, or shaking of a body part or the entire body. Another form of a fit or seizure is where there is little to no movement at all but it seems as if the person is staring off into space. They don’t even respond when someone is talking to them. It is important to contact emergency services if you’ve witnessed someone having a fit or seizure.
3. Heart Attacks
A heart attack is a serious life-threatening situation where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked. They are quite common in adults but they can happen in children as well. The symptoms prior to a heart attack include chest pain, pain radiating down the left side of the arm, shortness of breath, feeling sick or lightheaded, sweating, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of doom or anxiety.
4. Having Difficulties Breathing
There are several reasons why a person could stop breathing or have problems breathing, including severe asthma, anaphylaxis, or simple coughs/colds. But you should definitely seek medical attention if you experience pain when breathing, you’re unable to catch your breath, or there is a wheeze or whistle when you breathe.
5. Someone Has A Stroke
This is different from a seizure; a stroke occurs when the blood supply is cut off from the brain. This can be the result of a blood clot or a brain bleed. To recognize the symptoms of a stroke, remember FAST: Face (does the person’s face droop to one side?), Arms (can they lift both arms and keep them up?), Speech (has their speech changed in any way?), and Time (call as soon as you notice any of these symptoms).
6. Someone Passes Out
You should definitely call emergency services if someone loses consciousness. This can be caused by a number of different medical reasons, but they need to be assessed by a medical professional. If you find someone who is unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position and still call for emergency medical attention.
7. Severe Pain
Regardless of the source or cause of the pain, if it is so severe that you cannot go about your daily activities, then you should definitely seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If you have any further questions about any of these medical emergencies, feel free to contact a medical professional to learn more.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 