Heart Attack

A heart attack is most commonly caused by a sudden obstruction of the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. For example, because of a clot in a coronary artery (coronary thrombosis). Worst come to worst, the heart will stop beating.

Drugs such as aspirin, and medications that dissolve the clot, are used to limit the extent of damage to the heart muscle.


Ways to identify

• Persistent, vice-like central chest pain, often spreading to the jaw and down one or both arms.
• Breathlessness, and discomfort occurring high in the abdomen.
• Collapse.
• Sudden faintness and dizziness.
• A rapid, weak or irregular pulse.
• Profuse sweating.
• Extreme gasping for air

Treatment

1. Make the casualty as comfortable as possible to ease the strain on his heart. A half-sitting position, with the casualty's head and shoulders well supported and his knees bent, is often best.

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2. Call for ambulance. State that you suspect a heart attack. If the casualty asks you to do so, call his own doctor as well.

3. If the casualty is fully conscious, give him a full-dose (300mg) aspirin tablet and advise him to chew it slowly.

4. If the casualty has medicine for angina, such as tablets or a pump-action or aerosol spray, help him to take it. Encourage the casualty to rest.

5. Constantly monitor and record vital signs - level of response, pulse, and breathing - until help arrives.

6. If the casualty becomes unconscious, commence DR.ABC.

Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation (excessive breathing) is a manifestation of acute anxiety and may accompany a panic attack. It may occur in susceptible individuals who have recently experienced an emotional or psychological shock.

Hyperventilation will cause abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood, leading the chemical changes within the blood.


What causes them?

• Casualty recently experienced an emotional or psychological shock.

Ways to identify

• Unnaturally fast, deep breathing.
• Attention-seeking behaviour
• Dizziness or faintness
• Trembling or marked tingling in the hands
• Cramps in the hand and feet

Treatment

1. When speaking to the casualty, be firm but kind and reassuring.

2. If possible, lead the casualty away to a quiet place where she may be able to regain control of her breathing more easily and quickly. If this is not possible, ask any bystanders to leave.

3. If the casualty failed to regain control of her breathing, ask her to rebreathe her own exhaled air from a paper bag. Tell her to breathe in and out slowly, using the bag, about 10 times and then breathe without the bag for 15 seconds. She should continue on with this cycle until the need to breathe rapidly has passed.

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4. Encourage the casualty to see her doctor about preventing and controlling panic attacks in the future.

**The End**

All the information above are from First Aid Manual 8th Edition.

Shock

Shock is a life-threatening condition which occurs when circulatory system (which distributes oxygen to the body tissues and removes waste products) fails. Thus, immediate treatment is required to prevent permanent organ damage and death.

What causes them?

• Severe blood loss.
• Overwhelming infection
• lack of certain hormones
• Low blood sugar(hypoglycaemia)
• Hypothermia
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)
• Spinal cord injury

Ways to identify:

• A rapid pulse
• Pale, cold, clammy skin; sweating
• Nausea, and vomiting
• Thirst
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Restlessness and aggressiveness
• Unconsciousness

Treatment:
1. Treat any possible cause of shock that you can detect, such as severe bleeding.

2. Lay the casualty down on a blanket to insulate her from the cold ground. Constantly reassure her.

3. Raise and support her legs to improve the blood supply to vital organs. However, be careful if you suspect a fracture.

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4. Loosen tight clothing at the neck, chest, and waist to reduce constriction in these areas.

5. Keep the casualty warm by covering her body and legs with coats or blanks. Call for an ambulance.

6. Monitor and record vital signs - level of response, pulse, and breathing. If the person becomes unconscious, open airway and check breathing. Turn the victim's head to one side if neck injury is not suspected.

**The End**

All the information above are from First Aid Manual 8th Edition.