Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

6 Medical Emergencies

If they cannot repeat the phrase properly, then the problem may be the function of understanding speech, producing it, or both.

First Aider in Action: Part 2 Asking the child’s name, you reassure her that you will help her aunt. The girl tells you her name is Emily and that she is 8 years old. When questioned about her aunt’s previous medical history, she tells you that her aunt sometimes has shaking attacks. The woman collapsed onto grass, but you still look for injuries before carefully rolling her into the recovery position. As you continue to watch the patient’s airway and breathing, you ask Emily if she knows her parents’ phone number. She tells you that she has both of her parents’ numbers in her cell phone and proceeds to show you as you call 911. Should you get medical help or contact the patient’s family?Why or why not? What additional first aid is indicated at this time?

Testing Facial Movement – Ask the patient to smile, showing their teeth. Watch both sides of the face around the mouth for equal movement. If one side does not move the same as the other, then you know something is wrong with the control of muscles on that side. A person having weakness, any type of paralysis, or an altered level of consciousness must be given extra consideration during any lifting or moving (See Chapter 10, Lifting and Moving). Like an unconscious person, they may be unable to protect themselves and are more susceptible to injury and airway obstruction.

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