Disaster Preparedness: Medical Emergency Medical emergencies come in many different forms, and sometimes cannot be prevented. Sometimes, a medical emergency could have been avoided by simply treating the problem when it first arose; other times, there is no chance to solve the injury or illness, and 911 must be called immediately. In the case of all true emergencies, of course, medical professionals should be called as soon as possible. However, treating the emergency during the interim between when medical services were called and when they actually arrive could save someone’s life. And there are always the cases, such as while hiking, when there is no way to call for medical help; in cases such as these, it is important to know at least the basic first aid, to carry a first aid kit, and to act as quickly as possiblei. In order to actually prevent a medical emergency, it is important to follow all the advice doctors give their patients, as well as follow all recommended safety procedures in any activity. So many injuries occur because people ignore things like safety harnesses, seatbelts, or other rules that would have ensured their security. Things like smoking or risky activities like driving under the influence also obviously raise the risk that someone will get hurt. Doctors also recommend that people get regular exercise in order to keep all their organs functioning properly, which reduces the risk of disease. Preventing a medical emergency isn’t enough, however, no matter how hard people try. There are always accidents which could not have been stopped through any preventative measures. That’s why it’s also important to prepare for medical emergencies. The first few minutes after an injury or emergency occurs are often the most crucial. Most of the time, however, there are not medical personnel on-site, and so it may be up to whomever is available to step in and at least try to take care of the problem. Even some intervention could be enough to save a person’s life. Whenever possible, then, carry a first aid kit; keep some dosage of any important medication around at all times, and always wear medical-alert bracelets or necklaces. It’s also a good idea to program an ICE (in case of emergency) contact into cell phones so medical personnel will know who to contact; be sure to label the ICE contact as such. Because a person should only call 911 for life-threatening medical emergencies, they should know what other options are available to them in the case of non life-threatening emergencies. The first of these is to try to treat the injury at home; this requires at least a basic knowledge of medical treatment, and will certainly require a good, comprehensive first aid kit. The very basic medical supplies that should be in any first aid kit include bandages, antiseptic wipes, over-the-counter medicines like antihistamine and ibuprofen, scissors and tweezers, and gauze, among other things ii. Other sources also recommend that first aid kits should also include
materials to treat poison, like ipecac and charcoal, ice packs, materials to treat insect bites, cotton balls, thermometers, disposable gloves and antiseptic for hand cleaning, and splintsiii. These lists are incomplete, however, and a more comprehensive summary of first aid kits can be found here and here. If the list already seems overwhelming and the supplies seem as though they would take a long time and a good deal of effort to gather individually, don’t worry; emergency preparedness businesses like The Ready Store sell comprehensive first aid kits that comply with Red Cross standards. These first aid kits can be as simple as a few dozen supplies, or they can be more specific, like trauma supplies, sports, burn treatment, or vehicle kits, or even kits specifically designed to treat injuries acquired outdoors. Just having the kit isn’t enough, however. Some medical emergencies require more treatment than just the minor fixes that can be administered at home. That doesn’t mean that people must call an ambulance, however. If the illness or injury is not life-threatening and the person is able to be moved without causing further damage, it might be a good idea to just drive them to the ER or hospital. Someone could even drive themselves or take a taxi. This is more cost-effective and will free up ambulances and EMTs for the emergencies that really require them. Traffic conditions and injury permitting, it is better to take one’s own vehicle, since ambulances do cost a good sum of money. However, in a few cases, people must call 911 or risk further injury. If someone has a spinal injury or even suspects that they may have a spinal injury, if there is a lot of blood, or blood that cannot be stopped by putting pressure on the wound, if the victims condition could worsen on the way to the hospital, or if the moving the victim would require any special equipment from EMTs, then someone must call an ambulance. And it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so if someone even suspects that calling 911 might be necessary, they should do so. Finally, if the illness or injury must be treated outside of a medical care center, even if it’s just for a little while (i.e. waiting for the ambulance to arrive), it’s important to have training. People must first know how to use the supplies before having them will do anyone any good iv. Something like the CPR process is easy enough to describe in words: place the heel of the hand in the center of the chest and try to do about 100 compressions a minutev. However, this is just a description and cannot make up for real training. There are many variables to this method, like how hard and fast to push, how far the chest should compress in order for the CPR to be effective, how to keep hands firmly in place on the chest, and so on. Remember: reading about something is never a substitute for practicing it. And in a time of real emergency, when someone’s life depends on people remaining calm and doing CPR in the way they have practiced, it’s important not to have to sit down and read a manual before assisting with the
emergency. Once someone is trained in CPR, they may want to consider carrying around a small CPR kit, so they can be completely ready if their skills are ever called upon. CPR, of course, is not the only emergency service in which people need training. Places like the Red Cross are famous for their CPR and other first aid classes, and these classes should be taken whenever possible vi. People should also inquire as to whether or not their company will pay for or sponsor first aid classes, since it is important to have people who are ready and willing to perform first aid around the workplacevii. What really saves people’s lives is not just the first aid kits or the training. The key to saving lives is having the training and knowing what to do, and making a decision to act quickly and remain calm.
i