Shock and Drowning

The word shock can be used in a range of ways, but when used in a first aid context it describes a physical condition that results from a loss of  circulating body fluid. It should not be confused with emotional shock that might occur when a person has received bad news (although the external signs are very similar).

WHAT HAPPENS IN CASES OF SHOCK. A severe loss of body fluid will lead to a drop in blood pressure. Eventually the blood's circulation through the body will deteriorate and the remaining blood flow will be directed to the vital organs such as the brain. Blood will therefore be directed away from the outer areas of the body, so the victim will appear pale and the skin will feel cold and clammy. As blood flow slows, so does the amount of oxygen reaching the brain. The victim may appear to be confused, weak, and dizzy, and may eventually deteriorate into unconsciousness. To try to compensate for this lack of oxygen, the heart and breathing  rates both speed up, gradually becoming weaker, and may eventually cease.

POTENTIAL CAUSES OF SHOCK INCLUDE: severe internal or external bleeding; burns; severe vomiting and diarrhea, especially in children and the elderly; problems with the heart.

TREATMENT

• Warmth
• Air
• Rest
• Mental rest
• Treatment
• Help

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Pale, cold, and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Dizziness and weakness
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Breathing and heartbeat stopping

Shock kills, so it is vital that you can recognize these signs and symptoms. With internal bleeding in particular, shock can occur some time after an accident, so if a person with a history of injury starts to display these symptoms of internal bleeding, advise her to seek urgent medical attention, or take or send her to hospital.

Warmth. Keep the victim warm but do not allow her to get overheated. If you are outside, try to get something underneath her if you can do so easily. Wrap blankets and coats around her, paying particular attention to the head, through which much body heat is lost.

Air. Maintain a careful eye on the victim's airway and be prepared to turn her into the recovery position if necessary, or even to resuscitate if breathing stops. Try to keep back bystanders and loosen tight clothing to allow maximum air to the victim.

Rest. Keep the victim still and preferably sitting or lying down. If the victim is very giddy, lay her down with her legs raised to ensure that maximum blood and therefore maximum oxygen is sent to the brain.

Mental rest.  Reassure the victim but keep your comments realistic. Do not say that everything is going to be fine when it is obvious that there is something seriously wrong. Let the victim know that everything that can be done is being done and that help has been called for it. If she has other concerns, try to resolve this.

Treatment.  Treat the cause of the shock and aim to prevent further fluid loss.

Help.  Ensure that appropriate medical help is on the way.

DROWNING
When a person is drowning, the air passages flows to prevent water entering the lungs. This is also prevents air from entering the lungs, thus depriving, the victim of oxygen and eventually leading to unconsciousness and death. Usually, only if the victim has been unconscious in the water for some time to the lungs fill up with water. More commonly, the water goes into the stomach. A secondary risk for the rescued person is that he or she choke on vomit as water in the stomach forces the stomach contents upward. A near drowning person also faces the risk of hypothermia. Children and young adults are the greatest risk of drowning.

RESCUING A DROWNING PERSON. As in all first aid, the key rule is to protect yourself. A person who is drowning will strike out and pull down even the most competent swimmer; dirty water can hide dangers such as metal rubbish with sharp edges; and cold water can cause muscles to cramp very quickly.
     If possible, reach to the person from the safety of solid ground using a pole, rope, or buoyancy aid to enable him to help himself out of the water. If in doubt about your ability to rescue the person safety, call for emergency help.

VOMITING. A person who is nearly drowned is very likely to vomit. Maintain a close watch for this. If the victim vomits while you are resuscitating him, turn him toward you, and clear out the mouth before turning him onto the back and resuming rescue breathing. If the victim vomits while in the recovery position, clear out the mouth and keep close eye on breathing to ensure that it has not stopped. If the victim is conscious and becomes sick, encourage him to lean forward and support while he is vomiting.
     Don not make any effort to remove water from the lungs by applying chest compressions or abdominal thrusts. The risk of water in the lungs is minimal, while compressing the chest or stomach will increase the risk of the victim choking on his own vomit.

TREATMENT OF A NEAR-DROWNING VICTIM

1. Open the airway by tilting the head, checking the mouth, and lifting the chin. Check for breathing for up to 10 seconds.
2. If the victim is breathing, place into the recovery position.
3. If the victim is not breathing, provide rescue breathing before moving on to an assessment of circulation and full CPR as necessary.

HYPOTHERMIA. Hypothermia is a lowering of the body's core temperature and is very common secondary problem of near-drowning. If untreated, hypothermia leads to the breathing and heart rate slowing down and eventually stopping.

     To reduce the risks of hypothermia in a case of near-drowning, place the victim on a blanket or layer of coats to insulate him from the ground. Remove wet clothing if you are able to replace it quickly with warm and dry clothing; if not, then cover the wet clothing with blankets and coats. Cover the head to prevent heat loss. Warm the external environment if possible.

     Even in a conscious person, hypothermia can be a risk. Seek medical help as soon as possible.

ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK
An allergy is hypersensitivity to a substance (allergen) that is not normally considered to be harmful. Allergies are triggered by the immune system, which reacts to the allergen as though it were a harmful substance invading the body. The most extreme response is anaphylaxis, which may result in anaphylactic shock which, if untreated, can kill.

CAUSES OF ANAPHYLAXIS. This extreme allergic reaction has an intense effect on the body, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure and narrowing of the airways that can be fatal. Anaphylactic shock can be caused by anything, but among the most common triggers are: nuts (for those who are particularly sensitive, even touching the trace of a nut can be potentially fatal), seafood, insect stings and bites, and drugs (some people have a very extreme reaction  to penicillin, for example).
     As with asthma, the number of people suffering allergic reactions appears to be increasing. Whether this is because people are becoming more sensitive to allergens (the substances that cause allergic reactions) or whether we are just becoming better at detecting allergies, nobody is really sure.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
One of the main effects of severe anaphylaxis is a constriction of the air passages in a similar way to asthma but generally more severe, preventing the intake of any oxygen at all. There may be a history of contact with a particular allergen, the thing that triggers the attack. Anaphylaxis can happen very quickly, within seconds. Signs and symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Pale skin and blue lips
• Blotches on the skin
• Rapid pulse
• Breathing and heartbeat stopping

TREATMENT

1. Call an ambulance immediately. The victim needs  epinephrine to counteract the reaction
2. If the victim is a known sufferer she may have an epinephrine injection. Help her to administer this. if you have been trained and the victim is unable to do so, you may give the injection.
3. Place the victim in the most comfortable position and reassure her.
4. If the victim becomes unconscious, place in the recovery position. Monitor the victim's breathing and circulation and be prepared to resuscitate if necessary.

SKIN PRICK TEST FOR ALLERGIES

Skin prick test are simple procedures carried out to find out what substances (allergens) cause allergic reactions in an affected person. Extracts of allergens that commonly cause allergic reaction, such as food, pollen, and dust are made into dilute solution and are then placed on the skin. The skin is pierced to allow the substance to be absorbed.

1. Dilute solutions of substances that a person is thought to be allergic to are placed on the skin, usually the arm, and the skin is then pricked with a needle. Several different allergens can be tested on the skin at the same time.
2. An allergic reaction usually takes place within 30 minutes of the test. If the person is allergic to the substance a red weal, indicating a positive reaction, appears at the site where the needle pricked the skin.

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Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.