(TAE) Types of Emergencies Lesson One

Types of Emergencies

Before we begin to learn how to care for injured victims, it is important to understand what an emergency is and the types of emergencies you may encounter.

An emergency is defined as a situation that demands immediate attention. Emergencies requiring first aid come in two varieties: Injuries and Sudden Illness.

Injuries

image of vehicle flipped upside down An injury is damage from an external force, such as a blow, a fall, a collision, an electrical current, or temperature extremes. You have likely been subjected to some type of injury in your lifetime, whether it was a minor scrape or bruise, or a major injury such as a broken bone. The question is: Did you receive effective first aid treatment at the time of your injury? By the end of the semester, you should be well informed of the most accepted treatment protocols for many common injuries.

Sudden Illness

image of man who had heart attack In contrast, a sudden illness is defined as a physical condition that required immediate medical attention. This might include anaphylaxis, heart attack, stroke, and many others. These will be covered in more detail in future chapters.

We can also classify emergencies by severity.

A life-threatening emergency is an illness or injury that impairs a victim's ability to circulate oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
While non-life-threatening emergencies are situations that do not have an immediate impact on a victim's ability to circulate oxygenated blood.

Now try to categorize each of the following medical situations as a sudden illness or injury.

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