MEDICAL CONDITIONS. 2 MedicAlert ® MedicAlert ® Medical ID Alert identification engraved with primary medical condition(s), ID number, and the 24-Hour.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

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MedicAlert ® MedicAlert ® Medical ID Alert identification

engraved with primary medical condition(s), ID number, and the 24-Hour Emergency Response Center number

MedicAlert ®

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MedicAlert ® New product this

spring/summer Being marketed for

children in particular Can be worn over or

instead of bracelet

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Medical Conditions Angina Anaphylaxis Asphyxia Asthma Diabetes Epilepsy

Heart Attack Hyperventilation Stroke (CVA) Syncope (Fainting) Unresponsiveness

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Angina Angina is pain resulting from a deficiency of

blood supply, and therefore oxygen to the heart muscle

Pain may vary from discomfort, tightness, to very severe

Pain usually eases or disappears with rest Normally doesn’t last longer than 15 min Usually aware of their condition, and may be on

medication

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Signs Symptoms Vary from one person to another Will normally be the same for that person If a change in symptoms – suspect heart attack

Sub-sternal pain – “pressure or squeezing” May radiate across chest, upper extremities, neck, jaw,

back Feeling of indigestion Will be relieved almost immediately with medication Will NOT be influenced by changing the rate of

respirations, coughing, or movement

Treatment If the patient has

medication, assist the patient in taking it

Keep the patient at rest Give oxygen Take a medical history Check for MedicAlert ®

identification Evaluate vital signs Monitor vital signs during

transportation

If the patient does not improve with mediation, has no medication or shows signs of getting worse, activate EMS and treat as Load and Go

If the patient does improve with medication, recommend they seek further care at a medical facility and offer transportation

Be prepared to treat the patient if they lose consciousness

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Anaphylaxis Caused by a serious and rapid allergic reaction This is life threatening Allergies to nuts, bee stings, latex,etc. can

trigger this reaction People with known anaphylaxis usually carry

epinephrine

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Signs and Symptoms Respiratory distress

(wheezing) Rapid breathing and

pulse Throat tightness and

difficulty swallowing Dizziness, faintness Cool and clammy skin Swelling

Vomiting Red, watery eyes Abdominal cramps,

diarrhea Tingling in the lips and

mouth Itchy rash Sense of doom May be wearing

MedicAlert ®

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Treatment Activate EMS Assist the patient to administer the injection in the thigh

muscle (no other area) Hold the injector at a 90 degree angle to the skin and

press against the thigh muscle Monitor vital signs closely Administer oxygen Be prepared for AR Treat for shock Transport to medical aid

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EpiPen Administration Remove from tube Remove blue safety release

Help patient swing and push the orange tip against their mid-outer thigh until you hear a “click”

EpiPen Administration Hold on thigh for several seconds When EpiPen® is removed, the orange needle

cover automatically extends to cover the injection needle

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Asphyxia Suffocation caused by decreased oxygen and

increased carbon dioxide in the blood Causes:

Trauma Drowning Suffocation Lack of oxygen in the air

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Symptoms and Treatment Symptoms

Bluish tint or a pale appearance to the skin and lips (cyanosis)

Deteriorating level of consciousness

Treatment Move patient to clean air Establish an airway and administer oxygen Perform AR if required Monitor vital signs Activate EMS and treat as Load & Go

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Asthma Caused by an acute reactive constriction of the

bronchi Asthma attack may be brought on by:

Allergic reactions Respiratory infections Emotional stress Cold weather Exercise

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Signs and Symptoms Whistling or high pitched wheezing during respiration Anxiety Over-inflated chest Shallow rapid respiration Increased pulse Breathing through pursed lips, as if sucking in air through

a straw Appear to be “air hungry” Use of accessory neck muscles to assist breathing Prefer sitting forward

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Treatment Reassure the patient Maintain an open airway Be prepared to assist breathing Administer high flow oxygen Put the patient in the most comfortable position Transport to a medical aid facility Assist the patient to take medication if they have

any Many asthmatics will recover with use of inhaler

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Inhalers Assist the patient to:

Remove the cover Place the opening in their mouth Start inhaling Press down on the inhaler to administer medication

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Diabetes A disorder which affects the body’s ability to regulate the

level of blood sugar Approximately 1 in 20 Canadians have diabetes When the body cannot produce enough insulin, cells are

unable to take up and utilise the glucose Or, if there is too much insulin in the blood stream or not

enough glucose, the energy within the cells become depleted, and they begin to malfunction

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Hypoglycemia (Insulin Shock) Severe low blood sugar Most common complication of insulin use Extremely dangerous Signs and symptoms appear quite similar to

those of shock Treatment must be rapid

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Causes Delayed or missed meals Vomiting Prolonged exercise without extra food or insulin

adjustment Overdose of insulin Excessive alcohol ingestion Emotional distress Illness

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Signs and Symptoms Cold, clammy skin Combativeness Confusion or disorientation Irritability Hostility Slurred speech Trembling, shakiness of

hands Seizures

Reduced LOC Unresponsiveness Tingling or numbness of lips

and mouth Thickening of the tongue Sensation of forceful

heartbeats, or ‘skipping a beat’

Poor co-ordination Headache Hunger

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Treatment Check for a MedicAlert®

Activate EMS Provide sugar immediately

fruit juice or non-diet soda pop (1 cup) Lifesavers (5 or 6 lozenges) honey (2 tablespoons) sugar (3 packets or teaspoons) glucose (3 tablets), or dextrose (3 tablets)

If the patient is alert, urge the patient to eat or drink as quickly as possible and if symptoms do not subside within ten minutes, repeat the treatment

Recommend the patient seek further medical aid

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Treatment - Unresponsive Ensure there is an adequate airway Place in the semi-prone position Check for a MedicAlert®

Place liquid sugar source into downside cheek Wait 3-4 minutes and repeat Monitor vital signs continuously; activate EMS If patient regains consciousness:

Continue sugar by mouth Give a more complex carbohydrate, such as bread, crackers,

cheese, meat or peanut butter Avoid excessive activity Transport to medical aid

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Hyperglycemia (Diabetic Coma) Develops slowly, over a period of days Appropriate medical attention is the key to treatment Causes of high blood sugar may include:

missed or insufficient doses of insulin increasing resistance to insulin, possibly as the result of infection inability to take medications and follow diet properly undiagnosed diabetes

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Signs and Symptoms Fatigue Dry, warm, flushed skin Extreme thirst Dehydration Frequent urination Rapid, weak pulse Rapid, deep breathing

Fruity odour on breath (“acetone odour” or “apple cider odour”)

Nausea Abdominal pain Irritation and agitation Confusion, eventually

leading to unconsciousness and coma

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Treatment Monitor vital signs Check for MedicAlert ®

Transport to medical aid

When in doubt, give sugar.

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Insulin Shock(Needs Sugar)

Diabetic Coma(Needs Insulin)

Pulse: strong and rapid weak and rapid

Breathing shallow deep and sighing

Skin pale and sweating flushed, dry, warm

Breath Odor odorless like musty apple or nail polish

LOC faintness to unconsciousness

gradual onset of unconsciousness

Other Signs headachetremblinghunger

unsteady walknausea

Do not assist the diabetic to take their insulin shot

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Epilepsy Usually well-controlled by drug therapy Affects approximately 1in 200 people An epileptic seizure is the physical result of

uncoordinated electrical activity in the brain May be brought on by:

Emotional strain Fatigue Flashing lights or loud noises Alcohol intake Failure to take medications

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Signs and SymptomsPetit Mal No overt physical signs Person may simply

suddenly stop talking Trance-like gaze for a

short period of time May not remember the

event

Grand Mal Involuntary muscle

contractions (seizures) Loss of consciousness May have loss of bladder

or bowel control Possible temporary

cessation of breathing Fatigue and wanting to

sleep Pupil response may not

be normal

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Treatment – Grand Mal Lay the patient down –even during a seizure– to prevent

further injury Remove any sources of potential injury Be prepared to support breathing with AR Never place any fingers or any other object in a patient’s

mouth during a seizure Check for a MedicAlert ® and get additional information After the end of the convulsion, check breathing and

pulse, and maintain an open airway Transport the patient to medical aid Reassure the patient

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Heart Attack Myocardial Infarction (M.I.) Occurs when the circulation to a part of the

cardiac muscle becomes impaired, resulting in an inadequate oxygen supply

The cardiac muscle may lose its ability to function effectively

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Signs and Symptoms Pain in the chest radiating down one or both arms, to the

jaw, neck or back squeezing, crushing, stabbing, or vice-like

Apprehension Denial Laboured breathing Sweaty or nauseous Face may be pale and ashen Skin may have a bluish tint (cyanosis)

Severity of signs and symptoms varies.

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Treatment - Conscious Activate EMS and treat as Load & Go Transport the patient in a position of comfort (usually

semi-sitting) to medical aid Do not allow the patient to exert themselves in any way Give oxygen Keep the patient calm and still Loosen restrictive clothing Take a medical history Check for a MedicAlert ®

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…continued Evaluate vital signs Assist the patient to take their own medication Keep the patient warm, but do not overheat Monitor vital signs during transportation Be prepared to treat the patient if they lose

consciousness

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Treatment - Unresponsive Establish and maintain an airway Loosen restrictive clothing Administer oxygen Provide AR or CPR if needed Activate EMS and treat as Load & Go

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Aspirin® Administration Taking an Aspirin ® within the first four hours of

a heart attack can reduce a person's risk of fatality by 25 %

Do NOT administer Aspirin ® or an ASA product if: The patient is already taking blood thinning

medication such as warfarin / Coumadin ®

Sign and symptoms indicate a possible stroke

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Aspirin™ Administration Five (5) following conditions must be met:

The patient is conscious and alert The patient is able to provide an accurate medical

history The patient is able to chew and/or swallow the

medication The patient is not allergic to Aspirin ® or ASA products The patient is NOT asthmatic

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If all conditions are met: Check for MedicAlert ® identification Ask questions about allergies or chronic

respiratory conditions Administer ASA by one of the two following

methods:Preferentially, two children’s Aspirin ® (81 mg each) by

chewing OR One adult Aspirin ®(325 mg) by swallowing

Monitor and communicate the patient’s response to the medication and any possible complication

Continue to be available to assist the patient with the use of their own medication

Rescuers may not recommend the use of Aspirin® or ASA products in any other circumstance, for example headache, or sprains and strains.

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Hyperventilation Involves breathing too quickly (carbon dioxide

and oxygen levels in the blood are altered) Not a medical emergency Usually as a result of stress, strain or over-

exertion Patient does not wheeze or make other

abnormal sounds with respiration Do not treat with a paper bag, or cupped hands

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HyperventilationSigns and Symptoms Tingling and numbness in

the hands and around the mouth

Deep, rapid respiration with rapid pulse

Marked anxiety, escalating to panic

Dizziness, syncope Fingers and hands drawn

into a claw like spasm

Treatment Try to calm and reassure Explain to the casualty

what is happening Slow the breathing by

mimicking breathing Administer oxygen

Stroke Also known as a Cerebral Vascular Accident

(CVA) Is the result of a reduction in the supply of blood

to a section of the brain Signs and symptoms will depend on where the

damage occurred

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StrokeSign and Symptoms inability to talk confused, unable to express

themselves pulse is strong, though slow one side of the face may be

droopy one pupil may be dilated

compared to the other may have muscle paralysis on

one side, or reduced muscle power on one side of the body

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History Patient may have a history of:

high blood pressure (hypertension) short duration fainting spells “mini-strokes”, known as transient ischemic attacks

(TIAs) headaches periods of dizziness visual disturbances

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Treatment - Conscious Maintain an open airway Administer oxygen Reassure the patient Keep the patient calm Monitor vital signs Activate EMS and treat as Load &Go Give nothing by mouth

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Treatment - Unresponsive Maintain an open airway Administer oxygen Monitor vital signs Activate EMS and treat as Load & Go

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Syncope - fainting Caused by dilation of blood vessels in the

extremities of the body Blood pools in these vessels leaving the brain

without sufficient circulation May be caused by fear or emotional stress

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Symptoms and Treatment Signs and Symptoms Pale skin Profuse sweating Dizziness Weakness

Treatment Lie them down (head

lower than heart) Cool cloth to forehead or

neck Loosen clothing

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Altered Level of Consciousness Lowered level of consciousness is the abnormal

state of inappropriate response or complete lack of response to sensory stimuli

AVPU Scale A -Alert ( fully conscious response) V - Verbal ( responds to loudly spoken verbal

stimulus) P - Pain (responds to pain stimulus, such as rubbing

knuckles over patient sternum) U - Unresponsive (no response)

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Causes of Unresponsiveness

“U” on the AVPU Scale

Altitude Sickness Angina Asphyxia Asthma Diabetes Epilepsy

Heart Attack Hyperventilation Lightening Strikes Poisoning Stroke Syncope

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Treatment Establish presence of ABCs Administer oxygen ASAP Monitor vital signs Move patient to semi-prone position Continue to monitor and record vitals Establish reasons for unconsciousness Check for MedicAlert ® Activate EMS