Question

First Aid
Scenario: At a conference, the person sitting next to you suddenly starts making strange sounds and the falls down. They are unconscious, exhibit jerking movements of the head, arms and legs and are frothing from the mouth.

8.1)   List 6 (six) steps you would take in this emergency situation for first aid management.

Answer 1

First aid

First aid is the Basic medical care given to an injury victim, usually the injury is slight or where better care is not available.

Epileptic seizures

Epilepsy is a medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures or convulsions.

Convulsions are an intense paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction.

First aid management for an epileptic seizure attack

Seizures may last upto 30 to 1.30 seconds. The main aim of first aid in seizure treatment is keep the casualty safe from any type of danger.

* Be calm and stay with the person until the seizure stops and reassure others.

* Do not forcefully hold the person to stop the movement , it may cause injury if you restrain him.

* Check for any tight clothing or jewellery around the person's neck; loosen if any.

* Keep the environment safe by clearing the area around the person and removing the objects like sharp ended things, glasses, furnitures etc.

* Check for any emergency information like a medical bracelet or anything on person's body.

* Do not force anything into casualty's mouth, or don't try to open the mouth. Keep a soft thing like a pillow under the head if possible.

* Ones the fits over, provide side lying position for the patient, it keeps the airway open and drain any secretions present in the mouth.

* Be with the casualty until the casualtyis fully awake. Orient him if he is confused.

* Call 911, if the seizure doesn't stop after 4-5 minutes or a second attack is starting immediately after the first episode or if he doesn't awaken after the seizure stopped.