Personal injury or rapid decline

General

• What has happened? Try to get an overall idea of the situation.
• Rescue any people who are in danger.
• If required – administer First Aid.
• Time – every second counts. Don’t hesitate – always call 112.
• Notify security on 08-790 77 00 – they have medical equipment and defibrillators in their vehicles.

Burn/scald injuries

• Cool the area with plenty of running cold water for
• about 20–30 minutes.
• Do not leave the patient alone.
• Do not remove any of the patient’s clothes.

Eye injuries (splashes of corrosive substance)

• Rinse the eyes immediately with plenty of water.
• Keep the eyelid open while rinsing.
• Continue rinsing for about 20 minutes.

Corrosion injuries

• Immediately rinse the injured area with plenty of running water.
• Remove any clothes that have the corrosive substance on them.
• Continue rinsing the area for 20–30 minutes.

Electrical accidents

• Cut the power immediately.
• Do not touch the patient until the power has been cut.

Epilepsy

• Prevent the patient from hurting themselves, e.g. by cushioning their head.
• Do not put anything in the patient’s mouth – this can do more harm than good.
• Stay with the patient until the seizure has passed.
• If you witness a suspected epileptic seizure, check if the patient is wearing or carrying an epilepsy symbol before calling the emergency services. Most seizures pass within a few minutes.

Asthma

• Help the patient access and take their medicine, and loosen any tight-fitting clothes.
• If the seizure does not pass – call an ambulance.

Diabetes

• If the patient is conscious, give them something to eat or drink containing sugar.
• Wait 10–15 minutes to gauge their reaction. If the food or drink doesn’t help, the patient is in insulin shock.
• Never give an unconscious person anything to eat or drink.

Stroke/cerebral infarction/brain haemorrhage (symptoms)

• Sudden weakness or sudden numbness in the face, arms or legs, often – but not always – in one half of the body only.
• Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding, which can sometimes manifest as confusion.
• Sudden double vision or vision disorder in one or both eyes.
• Sudden difficulty walking, sudden dizziness, vertigo, or reduced balance and coordination.
• Sudden severe headache for no apparent reason.

The FAST test for stroke

If a person is unable to do the following, they may be having a stroke.
F: Facial weakness – Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
A: Arm weakness – Can the person raise both arms and keep them raised for 10 seconds?
S: Speech problems – Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
T: Time to call 112 if you see any of these signs.

Cardiac arrest/heart attack (symptoms)

• Severe, pressing or cramping pain in the chest that does not go away.
• A diffuse but unpleasant sensation in the chest that lasts more than 15 minutes.
• Chest pains combined with shortness of breath, cold sweats or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).