Steps to follow in an emergency?

Four steps to follow during an emergency

The following are the steps you should take when anything happens to a person in front of you. Carry the following tips if it seems like an emergency to you.

Step 1: Recognize if emergency exits.

The first step that you have to take is recognizing if the emergency exits. You can confirm the emergency by checking for specific indicators. The indicators are on a pointwise basis :

• Dilated pupil
• slurred speech
• difficulty in breathing
• chest pain
• Drowsiness
• Unexplained confusion
• Uncharacteristic skin color
• pale face
• Unconsciousness
• sweating

Step 2: Taking an action 

Everyone knows time is an essential part of an emergency. So, as soon as you recognize the situation, you should take action. The action that you can take involves:

• Calling for help
• Providing comfort to the patient or his family member
• Giving first aid to the victim
• Any other service that you can provide at that moment.

People can help in a medical situation in many ways, but you must act to do that. Sometimes people cannot recognize there is a medical emergency, while other times, they are ignorant to act. However, there may be other reasons too why people are not helping. But if you can act, then you should, because it can save someone’s life.

Step 3: Calling emergency professional

The situation in which an emergency can occur is not very specific; you may have different scenarios. But the first thing you can do is give condolence to the patient that he will get help. This condolence often calms the patient. The next thing is to call an emergency professional because they can start with the treatment as soon as they arrive.

Step 4: Care for the patient until a professional arrives

Never move the victim from its place until he is at risk. This is because you don’t know where the injury is; it can be internal and invisible, so it’s better to leave it for the professional.

The four conditions that is considered immediate life-threatening emergency are:

• No breathing
• Unconsciousness
• Severe bleeding
• No pulse

So until the medical help arrives, check for changes in the victim’s breathing level and whether he/she is losing consciousness. There might be a condition in which it will not look severe initially but will become serious eventually.

Help the patient rest comfortably but without moving his/her body. Protect him/her from getting overheated or chilled and reassure that it will be alright; this will calm the situation.

Preparation for a medical emergency

Life is unpredictable, so it’s better to prepare from before. Taking proper care and precaution to be effective at the time of medical emergency very helpful. So make sure you follow the following tips:

• Prepare and keep a first aid box at home and in the workplace

Prevention is always better than cure. So, make sure to prepare your first aid box that contains scissors, roller bandage, antiseptic cream, pain killer, sterile cotton, and a thermometer. Make sure to replace them before their expiry. Please keep it in a safe and easily accessible place.

• Always carry your personal detail with yourself

It is always safe to carry necessary personal details about you written down on a card. The information includes your address, name, contact number, person to contact in emergency time, the list of medications you take, your doctor’s name, etc.

• Maintain your medical file

Whenever you go through a medical checkup, maintain the results correctly, do not discard them. Keep the details of your CT scan, MRI and X-ray as well.

• Save important contact on speed dial

You must save all the vital contact you may require in an emergency on your speed dial. This number can include the number of your partner, parents, neighbors, relatives, and friends.

• Have proper knowledge of the medical clinics near you

You must know the address and name of the medical clinic nearby the place where you go regularly. It includes areas like your workplace, relative’s house, friend’s house, etc.

• Have a medical insurance

Everyone should have medical insurance. Many people are suffering from diseases, and many are unable to treat the problem because of no insurance coverage. Given the current expense of medical cost, it is wise to get coverage. But read all the terms and conditions properly before signing.

• Getting common knowledge about the medical emergency

Knowing the symptoms of a typical medical emergency can help identify the urgent situation before it’s too late. Some common medical emergencies are traumatic head injuries, stroke, seizure, breathing problems, burn and heart attack.

• Basic training against an emergency situation

It is best to take some basic training to life support courses. Every hospital runs these. It can help save the life of many people, especially when it is a difficult situation. The situation when the victim’s heart has stopped, or the person is unconscious.

Conclusion

Emergency situations are often frightening and confusing. It isn’t easy to make a clear decision at that time so try to follow the instructions led down here on a step-by-step basis. Moreover, call as many people as possible to help you in emergencies apart from a medical professional. If you have your first aid box in hand, use it if needed. Last but not least, help the patient to feel comfortable.