(OLTE) Other Life Threatening Emergencies Module Overview

Other Life-Threatening Emergencies Module Overview

Introduction

image of girl scout building a fire and near an axScenario- Corrine and her friends are camping at a nearby lake. They decide to start a fire for roasting marshmallows. As the friends begin to gather fire wood, Corrine attempts to chop a small log into smaller pieces to fit in the fire pit. Suddenly, the axe slips and cuts her leg deeply. Blood spurts rapidly from the open wound and Corrine cries out in pain. The bleeding continues and Corrine becomes visibly shaken and upset. Her breathing becomes rapid and her face turns pale. What would you do? This unit will help recognize other life-threatening emergencies and how to care for them.

Essential Questions

  • What other situations are considered life-threatening?
  • Why is it important to treat severe bleeding and shock victims immediately?
  • How can a citizen responder best assist a person experiencing an asthma attack?
  • How can a citizen responder best assist a person experiencing anaphylaxis?

Module Minute

Severe bleeding and shock are both situations that can quickly turn to life-threatening emergencies. Bleeding can occur both internally, (which is difficult to detect) and externally. A hemorrhage occurs when a large amount of blood escapes from the arteries, veins or capillaries in a short amount of time. When bleeding becomes uncontrollable, either internally or externally, death may result. Shock is a progressive condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide adequate oxygenated blood to vital organs. When an injury or sudden illness occur, proper body functioning is interrupted. The body tries to compensate for this interruption, but occasionally is unable to meet the demand for oxygen due to poor blood circulation. This results in shock and victims must be treated quickly to avoid death.

Key Terms

  1. Arteries - Blood vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.
  2. Capillaries - The smallest blood vessels in the body; link arteries and veins and transfer oxygen and nutrients from the blood to body cells and remove waste products.
  3. Clotting - The body's response to an open wound whereby blood thickens at the wound site in order to seal the opening of the blood vessel and stop bleeding.
  4. Direct Pressure -The pressure applied directly to a wound to control bleeding.
  5. External Bleeding - Bleeding that involves blood leaving the body and can be seen.
  6. Internal Bleeding - Bleeding that occurs entirely inside the body and cannot be seen.
  7. Veins - Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart; most veins carry low-oxygen blood.
  8. Asthma - A condition that causes breathing to become difficult due to the narrowing of air passages.
  9. Anaphylaxis - A severe allergic reaction causing swelling of the air passages and restricted breathing.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION