Benedictine Mumba submitted 2015-12-20
An emergency is an expected and difficult or dangerous situation, especially accidents which happens suddenly and requires quick action to deal with it. As a medical student there are basic courses that you start with to help you in case of a medical emergency that can happen either home nor in the hospital and this includes
It is a basic life support for health care providers, it provides an over view of cardiovascular and respiratory systems, its an introduction to diagnostic sign triages as well as insight into the structure and function of emergency medical services system. CPR involves the following
As a student if there is an accident or any trauma and a patient is brought at an emergency ward unconscious, the first thing to do is to check airway obstruction by opening the mouth if at all there is a fall back tongue, any food nor fluid because that can lead to choking and death. Check for breathing from pulsing veins, here in Zambia mostly ruler set ups we sometime use a plastic and place it on the nose if patient is breathing you see vapour on the plastic. On circulation check for any injuries especially neck and spinal cord in cases of car accidents After airway breathing and circulation the patient should be taken to a intensive care ward if any abnormality is noted, there now a full history and some lab testing can be done for diagnostic confirm.
Burns also are emergency cases depending on how severe and the grading of the burns which can either be first, second and third degree or mild, moderate and severe burns. First degree burns involves only the epidermis tissue blanches with pressure, its erythematous and very painfull with minmal tissue damage.
Second degree burns: Are also referred to as partial thickness the epidermis and portion of the dermis is involved accessory structure such as the sweat gland, hair follicles are involved. In second degree the burned area characteristically has blisters and very painful such that if not cared for properly edema, which accompanies the injury, and decreases blood flow in the tissue can result in conversion to full-thickness burn. Third degree burns: Are characterized by charring of the skin with coagulated blood vessel below, the area is insensate, but patient complains of pain which is usually a result of surrounding second degree burns all of the skin tissue and structures are destroyed.
Stabilize the airway asses the depth and extent of the injury, intravenous asses must be established and begin fluid resuscitation, give crystalloids etc.
First aid is as important for medical students, police, fire, teachers and drivers to know. Its very cardinal for medical students to have first aid knowledge in cases of fracture especially in a ruler set up and towns as well.
Accidents like car accidents, fire, trauma etc are not the only emergencies even the following requires immediate medical attention