Life is an unpredictable journey ladened with ups and downs. We can plan all we want, but the harsh reality is that no one knows what the next second holds. For instance, consider health; it is unnerving knowing that even the fittest people can’t protect themselves from a sudden illness or an accident. It is only human to resort to fear and panic under such pressing circumstances to Handling Medical Emergencies.
While we can’t entirely anticipate when such an incident would occur, we can prepare ourselves beforehand to avoid being caught off-guard. Caution and vigilance are crucial to staying calm under medical emergencies. With adequate education and the right tools at your disposal, you’ll know what to do and who to reach out to. For your ease, we have compiled a list of some tips that’ll help handling medical emergencies the right way:
Get an EMT certification
While there are many positions in the healthcare force that deal with sudden medical trauma, illnesses, and injuries, the most hands-on experience is that of an EMT. An Emergency Medical Technician’s job is physically and psychologically strenuous as it requires them to make critical life-or-death decisions. They judge the scenario, assess victims, manage their symptoms, and provide immediate on-the-spot medical care to stabilize their condition.
So, you can either train to become one or enroll in a certification that equips you with necessary life-saving skills. You can enroll in an online EMT course if you want to quickly upskill alongside a hectic schedule. The next time someone around you experiences sudden bruising, bleeding, or breathing problems, you’ll be able to help immediately.
Assess the situation:
Before making any impulsive decisions, take a step to assess the situation and get a hold of your sanity. Start by checking yourself and those around for signs of potential injury, physical wounds, and bleeding, while looking out for hazards like broken glass, fire, or explosions. Look around for issues that require immediate attention. Remember that the most prominent problems aren’t always the most critical ones.
Call 911
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Avoid waiting even if you feel like the injury or illness isn’t severe and that you or the victim can wait for treatment. What appears to be a minor symptom can often transgress to lethal consequences within just a few minutes if left unattended. Additionally, it takes time for help to reach. So call 911 as soon as you can.
Start CPR
This is why basic life support training helps. There might not be time to wait for the paramedics to arrive in certain circumstances, especially if the victim appears to be unconscious. You must start managing the situation on your own. First, check if the individual is breathing, listen through the nose, and watch the chest for signs of rising or falling. If no pulse is noticeable, start CPR without delay. While paramedics can guide you on how to conduct CPR over the phone, having some basic training at an online training center like c2cfirstaidaquatics.com b
- Kneel on the floor next to the victim. Use your hands stacked on top of one another to locate the breastbone. This is the area where direct force must be applied.
- Using your body weight, slowly press down with a steady rhythm, push for 1-2 seconds before you let go and allow the chest to expand before the next compression. Do so 30-40 times.
- Give two rescue breaths every 30 compressions. Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the victim’s nostrils shut, take a normal breath (not a deep one), and place your mouth over theirs, creating a tight seal for air to enter.
Stay calm
While it is easier said than done, staying composed and controlling your nerves in a medical emergency is more necessary than you think. Panic and fear are known to mess with the human brain, affecting the ability to make sound judgments. Thus, even if you have the knowledge needed to manage a crisis, you cannot put it to good use if you don’t get a hold of yourself first.
It is even more crucial when the accident has happened to someone around you. Chances are, the victim is already stressed. Seeing you panic only adds to their anxiety. If you can keep a level head, you can provide them with proper support and assurance. So, take a deep breath and gather yourself, find your focus and assess the situation thoroughly before you make any impulsive moves.
Have a first-aid kit ready
Whether you’re at work, at home, or in the car, having access to a first-aid kit can save you from an unnecessary trip to the hospital and reduce the chances of irreversible damage. A first-aid kit contains all the basic equipment you need to manage sudden injuries or illnesses. It includes bandages, scissors, gauze, disinfecting alcohol, painkillers, antihistamine lotion, bug spray, thermometer, sterile gloves, and hot or cold packs. With these essentials at your disposal, you can prevent significant blood loss and manage potentially harmful conditions before they become life-threatening. However, be sure to keep your first-aid box updated at all times to ensure the stuff in it isn’t expired.
Keep an updated medical record
Although this may not sound necessary, carrying your medical card with you at all times can potentially save your life. An individual’s medical card contains all the relevant information needed by a healthcare professional to make an informed decision and devise a patient-specific treatment plan. It includes their medical history, past procedures, current physical ailments, blood group, allergies, and any current medications they’re on. These details can give a doctor a general idea of the person’s health.
Moreover, it is also essential to include a brief list of details like age, contact number, address, and emergency contact information. This way, the authorities know who to reach out to if you’re ever in an accident.
Invest in a medical insurance
A medical crisis can impact a person emotionally, physically, and financially. Over the last decade, there has been a rapid rise in healthcare costs owing to the massive surge in infectious and lifestyle diseases across the globe. Procedures like surgeries, lab work, scans, examinations, and even prescriptions drugs are by no means cheap and can add up to a lot. The cost can often be high enough to cause a person to go bankrupt.
Therefore, investing in reliable healthcare insurance is a necessity and not a luxury. You won’t have to manage expensive costs alone. Insurance professionals help you navigate complex medical care facilities bills while providing legal aid to ensure your finances remain stable.
Conclusion
While you can’t do much to avoid a medical emergency, preparation, precaution, and awareness can help you better manage the situation of Handling Medical Emergencies. The above mentioned are just a few essential tips that should help tackle a crisis with ease and calm.
