Category Archives: First Aid

LIVE LIFE SAVE LIFE –ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK.

Allergy, BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, Education, First Aid, Life Saving Education, , , , ,

Hello readers! Trust all are safe and doing great in your lives. It has been a couple of months since my last blog. Was busy with training people and travelling. Hereinafter shall make sure I post blogs regularly every month. In this blog, Maggie and Jaggy discuss a medical emergency known as Anaphylactic shock, its symptoms and first aid.

Over to Jaggy and Maggie.

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy!”

Jaggy. “Hello Maggie! How was your trek and where did you go?”

Maggie: “It went well Jaggy. We went to the Queen of the Hills of South India.”

Jaggy: “Great! You had been to Ooty.”

Maggie: “Jaggy recently we had a situation in our office, and we did not know what to do at that time.”

Jaggy: “Oh, I see! What was the situation?”

Maggie: “One of our friends suddenly went sick when one of my friends brought a plate of peanuts to eat. The girl sitting next to him suddenly felt sick.”

Jaggy: “That must have been a bout of Anaphylactic shock.”

Maggie: “What?”

Jaggy: “No need for such a reaction. It is the word used to define the sickness associated with Allergies and the reaction to it.”

Maggie: “Can you explain it a bit more clearly?”

Jaggy: “Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life- threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within minutes of exposure to something you are allergic to such as peanuts, bee or insect stings or even certain food items.”

Maggie: “Oh! Now I understand.”

Maggie: “What are the symptoms and how does one recognize this?”

Jaggy: “Symptoms usually start within minutes of exposure to the allergen. Sometimes the symptoms appear later. The symptoms are skin reactions including hives, itching, flushed or pale skin. Drop in blood pressure, constriction of airways, a week and rapid pulse, nausea, dizziness, or fainting are also common.”

Maggie: “Oh, I see!”

Maggie: “So, what does one do when said symptoms occur?”

Jaggy: “The first thing to be done is to take the victim to the hospital immediately in whatever possible way. In many countries, people with allergies carry an epinephrine autoinjector. If the person has one, take it and inject it midthigh and monitor the victim. In many countries epinephrine auto injectors are not in use. People who suffer such reactions if known carry the related medicines.”

Maggie: “What else can be done while taking the person to the hospital?”

Jaggy: “You can loosen tight clothing and cover him or her with a Blanket. If you find vomit or blood in the mouth, turn the victim to one side to prevent choking. Seek medical help quickly. The victim may have to spend a few hours of monitoring in the hospital.”

Maggie: “Do we give CPR?”

Jaggy: “No not if the victim is breathing.”

Maggie: “Any short way I can remember this?”

Jaggy: “Glad that you asked. The procedure is called AMPLE. A- ALLERGY M- MEDICATION P- PREVIOUS HISTORY L- LAST MEAL E- EVENT. You can ask these questions based on these words.”

Maggie: “Great Jaggy. It is a pleasure always talking to you. You really keep things simple.”

Maggie and Jaggy will be back to discuss many more such incidents and events. Till my next blog,

Stay Safe Be Safe. Live Life Save Life, and keep the comments, suggestions coming.

Seshadri Varadarajan

LIVE LIFE SAVE LIFE – HEAT STROKE/HYPERTHERMIA

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, Education, First Aid, Heat Stroke, Life Saving Education, Live Life, ORS, , , , ,

Hello Readers!

Thank you all for the support you all give me by reading my blogs. The bouquets inspire me and the brick bats make me aware the need for improvements. As I was wondering what to write, one of my training assistants came up with a suggestion. He told me that as summer was on in most parts of the world, I could write on the First aid measures for Hyperthermia commonly known as Heat Stroke. Jaggy and Maggie precisely discuss this and will offer you valuable tips on summer care.

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy!”

Jaggy: “Hi Maggie! Trust all is well with you.”

Maggie: “Yes, Jaggy I am fine and on top of the world.”

Jaggy: “Good to hear that.  I remember last time you had told that your friends and you were planning on a summer trek.”

Maggie: “Yes Jaggy. The planning has been done and we plan to do it in the month of May.”

Jaggy: “That’s good but May will be very hot. There is every chance of someone being affected by Hyperthermia.”

Maggie: “There you go again. What on earth is Hyperthermia?”

Jaggy: “The opposite of Hypothermia.”

Maggie: “Oh, I see. Now I understand. I think it is commonly known as Heat Stroke or Sun Stroke right.”

Jaggy: “Yes. During summer, due to the hot weather many people suffer from Heat Stress which if not attended also results in Heat Stroke.”

Maggie: “Do People die because of that too?”

Jaggy: “Yes. A lot of people die due to it. Hence, one should know the symptoms and first aid for the same.”

Maggie: “Can you explain in detail please?”

Jaggy: “Heat Stroke or Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature which is the most serious and life threatening.”

Maggie: “Oh my God!”

Jaggy: “This happens due to increase in body temperature beyond 104 Deg Fahrenheit. It causes damage to your brain and other organs.”

Maggie: “How is it caused?”

Jaggy: “It is caused by strenuous physical activity in extreme conditions of heat.”

Maggie: “What are the symptoms and how to identify the same?”

Jaggy: “The symptoms are 1. Dry mouth. 2. Cramps in the muscles. 3. Dizziness. 4. Blurred Vision 5. Nausea and Vomiting. 6. Fainting 7. Red Hot skin.”

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHERMIA

Maggie: “What is the First aid for the same?”

Jaggy: “First get the person to a cool and ventilated place, an area where there is shade. Remove the upper clothing if you can. Cover him with a towel or a bed spread. Keep on pouring a lot of water over the person. Pour it till the temperature goes down. If the person is responsive and able to drink, give him any drink with electrolytes like Coconut water or ORS solution. If the person has still not recovered, rush him to the nearest hospital.” “If not responding and no breathing perform CPR.”

Maggie: “ORS? what is that?”

Jaggy: “ORS is Oral Re-hydration Solution. In India popularly known as Electral Powder.”

Maggie: “Can we give plain water”?

Jaggy: “Yes, but ORS will give the victim the important electrolytes like Salt and Sugar.”

Maggie: “Are sports drink useful in these situations?”

Jaggy: “They are if you have them. As a First aider I would prefer ORS.”

Maggie: “Thank you so much for your clear explanation. What other precautions can we take during the trek?”

Jaggy: “Wear Cotton clothes, keep drinking plenty of water, take breaks if the sun is too hot and avoid soft and hot drinks if you can. Carry ORS sachets or liquids and keep your medicines handy at all times.”

Maggie: “Can we prepare ORS ourselves at home?”

Jaggy: “Yes. The method is to take a glass of water add a tea spoon of sugar and a pinch of salt and stir it completely. Drink as soon as it is ready.”

Maggie: “Are there more heat related conditions?”

Jaggy: “There are. We will discuss later as summer has just started.”

Maggie and Jaggy will be covering more heat related conditions in the next conversation. Take care folks and make sure you are hydrated at all times. It has been extremely hot wherever in India I had been to in April. Keep sharing the blog with your loved ones and keep the comments coming.

Till then Stay Safe Be Safe.

Seshadri Varadarajan.

LIVE LIFE SAVE LIFE EPILEPSY

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, Education, First Aid, Life Saving Education, , , ,

Maggie and Jaggy are back in this blog to discuss a first aid scenario for an often-misunderstood emergency known as an Epileptic Fit attack. They will not only tell the readers the correct first aid but debunk certain myths too. So, over to Maggie and Jaggy.

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy, how are you?”

Jaggy: “Excited to be alive Maggie!”

Maggie: “Excited to be alive? A new one from you.”

Jaggy: “Nothing new Maggie. I believe that Life is for Living.”

Maggie: “Saving it too if need be right!”

Jaggy: “Absolutely.”

Maggie: “Recently when I was going on the road, a young boy about 20 had an epileptic fit attack and people were standing around not knowing what to do. Can you tell me the correct first aid for an epileptic fit?”

Jaggy: “Sure. An Epileptic Seizure as it is called in medical terms, occurs to many people. It is usually more evident in Children and Young people though elderly persons too can experience seizures. It is commonly called an Epileptic Fit.”

Maggie: “Oh, I see!”

Jaggy: “It is basically a disorder of the nervous system which results in increased electrical impulses in the brain and because of which the body of the person trembles violently. These attacks usually do not last for a long time.”

Maggie: “What is the first aid if one sees someone having an Epileptic attack?”

Jaggy: “First and foremost, do not touch the victim when he is trembling. They are difficult to handle during the seizure. Wait for the convulsions to stop.”

Maggie: “What next?”

Jaggy: “Once the trembling stops, the victim usually falls. The first aider must ease the fall and make the victim lie down on a flat surface.”

Maggie: “You are telling me that one needs to wait till the intensity subsides.”

Jaggy: “Exactly. Once the victim has been made to lie down, check the response of the victim. If the victim is not responding call the ambulance and check breathing. If the victim is breathing, you place him in Recovery Position.”

Maggie: “Recovery Position? What is that?”

Jaggy: “It is quite simple. All you need to do is make the person lie down on one side, either the left or the right. The left side is better than the right as the heart lies in the centre and slightly tilted to the left to prevent a medical term called Aspiration.”

RECOVERY POSITION

Maggie: “Can we give him water or liquids to drink?”

Jaggy: “Absolutely not. You never give water or liquids to a person who is not responding. The water will enter the lungs of the victim and can be fatal.”

Maggie: “Okay I understand. But I have seen people give iron rods or keys for such incidents from where I hail.”

Jaggy: “Yes, I know that. All that is a myth. It is neither scientific nor medically correct. In some places, they even make the victim smell leather shoes or onions. Medically, Recovery position is the correct first aid.”

Maggie: “Often I have seen froth coming out of the mouth. Is it dangerous?”

Jaggy: “It is not froth but saliva that comes out and it is harmless. There are occasions where victims bite their tongue too but that’s not so serious. Trained paramedics use a Hook shaped like the alphabet J to prevent a victim from biting their tongue.”

Maggie: “Do we do CPR for an Epileptic attack?”

Jaggy: “No. Usually the victim is not responsive but breathing. Only if there is no breathing, we begin CPR.”

Maggie: “Do people affected by Epilepsy wear any identification so that one can easily help during and attack and can also inform the Emergency services of the problem.”

Jaggy: “Thanks for asking the question. They usually wear a medical bracelet or band which informs others that they have a medical problem. Not only epilepsy but certain diabetics too wear them.”

WRIST BAND IDENTIFICATION

Maggie: “Thanks, Jaggy for the clear explanation.”

Jaggy: “Always a pleasure to share Lifesaving knowledge Maggie.”

Jaggy and Maggie will be having more conversations on various aspects of First aid. Till then Stay Safe, Be Safe. Keep the comments and suggestions flowing.

Seshadri Varadarajan.

LIVE LIFE SAVE LIFE —–BURNS

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, Diwali, Education, First Aid, , , , , , ,

Wishing all my readers across the world a Happy Diwali. Diwali or Deepavali is a festival of Lights celebrated by all in India no matter to what religion they belong. There is a lot of Happiness, bonhomie among everyone who celebrate the festival. This day is celebrated by wearing new clothes, meeting people, distributing sweets, and of course bursting a lot of Firecrackers. So, in this blog Maggie and Jaggy will discuss how to deal with Burns. Over to Maggie and Jaggy. 

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy! Happy Diwali to you and your family.”

Jaggy: “Thanks Maggie and wish you and your family too a Happy and Safe Diwali.” 

Maggie: “I was expecting you would use the word safe.”

Jaggy: “Yes. Safety is my passion and profession and I want everyone to be safe especially when using firecrackers.”

Maggie: “What precautions we need to take while bursting firecrackers?”

Jaggy: “Just a few precautions are enough like 

1. Wearing Cotton clothes and proper footwear. 

2.Having two buckets of water nearby. 

3. Elders supervising the Children when they burst the firecrackers. 

4. Ensuring the oil lamps lit are not near flammable material like clothing. 

5.As far as possible lighting the crackers in open spaces. In case of fire on clothing remember to STOP, DROP ROLL.” 

Maggie: “That’s nice. Simple precautions yet people do not follow them.” 

Jaggy: “Correct. That’s the reason why we see a lot of burn injuries during these times.” 

Maggie: “Can you tell me about the burns Jaggy and what is the first aid for Burns?”Jaggy: “Burns to the skin are based on the skin itself. The human skin has three layers the Epidermis, Dermis and Hypodermis. The burns are therefore called as First degree, Second degree and Third degree.”

Maggie: “Oh! Now I remember the biology lesson of the skin.”

Jaggy: “The first degree, burn affects the top layer of the skin and is usually superficial. There is pain, redness in the area and irritation for a few minutes and usually heals when given quick first aid. A second degree burn damages for the outer layer and penetrates to the middle layer and usually forms blisters at the burn site. The third degree, burn penetrates deeper into the inner most layer and can even cause damage to tissues and muscles. The area usually becomes black or grey in color and the damage is severe.”

Maggie: “You mean to say that if aid is not given on time the severity of the burn increases.” 

Jaggy: “Exactly. Hence quick first aid is imperative.”

Maggie: “What is the best first aid for a burn injury?”

Jaggy: “Burns to the skin can be through fire, chemicals, acids, hot water, steam and contact with any hot surface. Even an electrical injury can cause burns to the skin. The best first aid is to pour a lot of water on the affected areas for as long as you can. Pouring water cools the skin and water can penetrate to the deepest parts of the skin.” 

Maggie: “But many people say that water should never be used on a burn injury.”

Jaggy: “Those who say that are misguided. Water in fact has the best heat absorbing properties and is the best for any burn injury.” 

Maggie: “Now I get it. Is there other medication we can use like an ointment?” 

Jaggy: “Yes, you can if the area is sufficiently cooled with water.” 

Maggie: “What if blisters appear on the burn area?”

Jaggy: “Do not open the blisters. They will heal based on the treatment and time”. 

Maggie: “Do we need to take the victims to Hospital?” 

Jaggy: “Yes, that is always the best thing to do. Doctors are healers and they know better than first aiders like you and me.” 

Maggie: “There are lot of local treatments I have heard of like applying egg whites, using banana leaves and such is it correct?”

Jaggy: “They are not correct, and people do that in ignorance. These days there are burn gel liquids available in the market with sterile dressing and they can be used for the burn injuries.” 

Maggie: “One last question. I have heard that doctors treat based on percentages of burns. Can you throw some light on that?”

Jaggie: “Sure. It is calculated by the rule of nine. The front and back of the body is taken as 18% each. The legs are taken as 18% each. The arms including hands are 9% each. The head and neck as 9% and the genital area as 1%.” 

Maggie: “Thank you so much Jaggy. As usual you have given me the clear picture. See you soon. Stay Safe.” 

Jaggy: “Sure Maggie.” 

Festival times call for celebrations. Let us all celebrate but the pandemic is still not over, and we should still be careful. Stay Safe, Be Safe. 

Jaggy and Maggie will be back with more conversations.

Seshadri Varadarajan