First Aid, Safety & Preparedness

Recently Answered

• QHow can I tell if someone has become suddenly ill?

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  A American Red Cross answered

   

  When a person becomes suddenly ill, he or she usually looks and feels sick. Common signs are:

  • Changes in level of consciousness, such as feeling lightheaded, dizzy, drowsy or confused, or becoming unconscious
  • Breathing problems (i.e., trouble breathing or no breathing)
  • Signs of a possible heart attack, including persistent chest pain, discomfort or pressure lasting more than a few minutes that goes away and comes back or that spreads to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, stomach or back
  • Signs of a stroke, including sudden weakness on one side of the face (facial droop), sudden weakness, often on one side of the body, sudden slurred speech or trouble forming words, or a sudden, severe headache.
  • Loss of vision or blurred vision
  • Signs of shock, including rapid breathing, changes in skin appearance and cool, pale or ashen (grayish) skin
  • Sweating
  • Persistent abdominal pain or pressure
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Seizures
• QHow are reactions to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac treated?

  3 Answers

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  A Discovery Health answered

  

  Watch this video to see an easy home remedy to soothe the pain of poison ivy.
  
  

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• QWhat symptoms might I have after coming into contact with poison sumac?

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  A National Athletic Trainers' Association answered

  The infected areas will become red and start to itch if not cleaned within 12-28 hours after touching the poison sumac. Depending on the person, the infected area can have red streaks or just a red colored area. Hives can appear, and so can fluid-filled blisters. (This answer provided for NATA by the California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Training Education Program.)
• QCan reactions to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac be prevented?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac produce a resin (think of it like an oil) containing reactive, unstable molecules. The unstable molecules as a group are known as "urushiol." They react with our skin, forming complexes to which the body first becomes sensitized, then reacts. The reaction can take some time, so usually the rash appears 6 to 24 hours after contact.
  
  Immediately after contact, washing with soap and cold water (to avoid opening the pores) may reduce the risk of a reaction. However, the best way to prevent a reaction is to not come into contact with the plants in the first place! Therefore, it's very important to know where they are found and what they look like.
  
  Generally, poison ivy is east of the Rockies, poison oak is in the West, and poison sumac is also east of the Rocky Mountains, in very wet areas. Poison ivy does well in disturbed areas and as such is extremely common in suburban and exurban areas.
  
  Poison oak and poison ivy have leaves in groups of three with the middle leaf extending out longer than the others. They also have a reddish tinge to them, from the urushiol making its way to the surface and reacting to oxygen. The stems and vines have an even more concentrated amount of urushiol, so coming into contact with the plants in the winter will likely be worse and harder to avoid (because they can't be recognized by their leaves). Burning them will release the chemicals into the air, which may still cause reactions.
  
  Urushiol is extremely stable, so unless it is washed off clothes (regular laundering with detergent should be fine) or tools (soap and water), it could still easily cause a rash a few years later.
• QWhat medications help treat poison ivy, oak or sumac?

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  A Dr. Bruce L. Pfuetze, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered on behalf of Overland Park Regional Medical Center

  For poison ivy, oak and sumac there are topical medications available through the pharmacy, but for any significant allergic reactions you should see your physician who will prescribe appropriate medications and frequently will need up to two weeks of prednisone or oral cortisone in addition to topical medications. 

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• QShould I call 9-1-1 for someone with broken ribs?

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  A American Red Cross answered

  If you think that the injury is serious, involves trouble breathing, or the spine also has been injured, do not move the person and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
  
  If the person is standing, do not have the person lie down.
• QWhat should I do for my child in an emergency?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  In many cases that involve the emergency room (ER), the health of your child will be in the hands of the pros. But there are still some things that you can do to help your child, to speed up the process, and to ensure that your child gets the best care possible. Make an emergency plan:

  • Pretend to be calm; anxiety is as contagious as rotavirus. Your child needs your soothing voice, not anxiety. She'll absorb your calmness, and that will ultimately help her manage a scary situation.
  • If your child is unresponsive, call 911 and do the "ABC" check: (A) Check the Airway, to make sure that it's not blocked. (B) Check for Breathing -- sounds of inhaled or exhaled air. (C) Check for Circulation - your child's pulse. If you need to start CPR or perform the Heimlich maneuver, the dispatcher can walk you through the steps while the paramedics are on their way. Better yet, be prepared by taking a CPR class or a refresher course.
  • Stop any bleeding by applying pressure on the wound. Keep holding the pressure for at least ten minutes and do not cheat by peeking early, since, once the bleeding restarts, you have do it all over again for another ten minutes.
  • Don't move your child if you suspect a head, neck, or back injury. Cover her with a blanket and wait for the paramedics.

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• QWhat is the first aid treatment for open fractures?

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  A Dr. Kathleen Handal, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  The following is the first aid treatment for open fractures:
  
  

  • Call for medical help.
  • If necessary, control bleeding by applying continuous pressure above the fracture site.
  • Cover wound with dry sterile dressing.
  • Stabilize the injured area in position found. Splint if necessary.
  • Monitor and treat for shock if present.

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• QShould I call 9-1-1 for someone with a crush injury?

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  A American Red Cross answered

  Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number for any serious or life-threatening condition.
• QHow should I treat a groin injury?

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  A National Athletic Trainers' Association answered

  After the injury occurs, apply ice and rest the area. After three days, begin some light stretching. (This answer provided for NATA by the California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Training Education Program.)