In addition to calling an ambulance, the first thing you should try before a medical emergency is to observe the symptoms that the person presents, or yourself, in order to inform the doctor who will treat you correctly. This information is essential to establish your diagnosis and thus treat your case as it should.

We are often alarmed by a health emergency, but experts say that knowing how to act can make a difference, as it will help you better explain your symptoms so that the doctor can make a better diagnosis. Here they explain how to act in a medical emergency. (Photo: Image Bank)

We are often alarmed by a health emergency, but experts say that knowing how to act can make a difference, as it will help you better explain your symptoms so that the doctor can make a better diagnosis. Here they explain how to act in a medical emergency.

The second, if you must wait for help, is to find that the person is as comfortable as possible and in a resting position: lying on the floor, but slightly inclined (neither reclining nor sitting). You must also remove the shoes so that the blood circulation remains stable.

The key, however, is to stay calm, even if you are suffering from a stroke or heart attack. If you do so, you can breathe easier and follow the instructions while receiving help.

Remember you can visit a qualified professional here at Northcote Medical.

A stroke or a heart attack

Rodney Gin, a specialist at the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, explains that the symptoms you should pay attention to are:

• If the discomfort that is generated from the centre of the chest to the arm, which is not necessarily pain, it can also feel like burning or numbness.
• Difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, a feeling of indigestion or suffocation, nausea and vomiting and a high or irregular heart rate, are other signs that may indicate that you begin to have a heart attack.
• In the case of women there may also be jaw pain, intense fatigue and problems with sleep. 78% of patients have presented some unusual symptom even months before a heart attack. They often do not tell their family.

How to act if you are alone?

Although it may seem like one of the logical steps, calling an ambulance, despair and anguish may cause you to overlook this detail, but the quicker you report the sooner the help will arrive. Also, if you are as calm as possible, you can better attend to the recommendations.

People who have a heart attack need 325 mg of aspirin, for best results it is best to chew before taking it, as this will release its assets directly into the stomach. This should be done only in case of emergency. It is only your cardiologist who can recommend taking or not a pill of this type to maintain the health of your heart. All cases are different.

Because of how frightening a heart attack is, walking briskly or entering a state of panic will make the problem worse. Relax as much as you can to keep your heart rate stable and allow air to reach your lungs.

You can lie on the floor on your back and put your feet up. Using the bed as a backrest is a good idea, this will open the diaphragm, making it easier for you to breathe and give oxygen to your blood. Once you have taken the most important steps, you can call a relative to accompany you.

If a wound occurs

Usually, a puncture wound does not cause excessive bleeding. Often, the wound closes almost instantaneously. However, this does not mean that a treatment is not needed. A puncture wound – like stepping on a nail – can be dangerous because of the risk of having an infection.

So, you must act:

Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection and stops bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a bandage or with a clean cloth.

Clean the wound. Wash the wound with clean water. If dirt or debris remains on the wound after washing it, use tongs disinfected with alcohol to remove the particles. If residues remain, consult a doctor. Clean the area around the wound with soap and a cloth.

Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin and Polysporin). In some people, certain ingredients found in some ointments can cause a mild rash. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment.

Cover the wound. Bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria away and change the bandage. Do this at least once a day, or when the bandage gets wet or dirty.

Look for signs of infection. Consult your doctor if the wound does not heal or if you notice redness, increased pain, drainage, heat or swelling.

At what time should you go to the emergency room?

If it continues to bleed after direct pressure for a few minutes: If it is the result of the bite of an animal or a human. If a cat or dog caused the injury, try to confirm that your rabies shots are up to date. If it was caused by a wild animal, seek advice from the doctor to find out which animals are most likely to transmit rabies.

It is deep, dirty or made with a metallic object: If the injured person has not been vaccinated against tetanus in the last five years and the wound is deep or dirty, the doctor may recommend the application of a reinforcement. The injured person must receive the reinforcement within 48 hours after the injury.

How to act in case of drowning or suffocation?

It is important that the person is placed on a hard surface, should look in his mouth if there is any foreign element and take the pulse to determine how his breathing.

In the case of a foreign object, you can perform the “Heimlich maneuver”: stand behind the person, pass a fist over the navel with the thumb towards the abdomen and cover the fist with the other hand. Press in and up quickly.

Here at Northcote Doc you will find second to none services for whenever you have an emergency.