How to Respond to a Medical Emergency

What if a person is in critical condition and there was no one else around to come to their aid? Would you know what to do?
It can be terrifying for anyone to unexpectedly find somebody collapsed or unconscious, but it is important to remain calm and carry the necessary steps following an emergency.

As we mentioned in our previous blogs, being prepared for emergencies is essential. And one easy way to be emergency ready is to have an Emergency Action Plan beforehand. EAPs are put in place for "when" an emergency happens, not "if" an emergency happens.

Medical emergencies will vary, and sometimes can be difficult to determine if a situation requires emergency care. As a responder, you only have a few seconds to decide what the best actions are in each situation. Knowing how to deal with medical emergencies ahead of time will help you to stay calm when you are faced with one.  

Read on to learn how to recognise a medical emergency, and what to do if you encountered one.
Call 000.

If you think the situation requires emergency care, you should always call 000 – which is the national emergency number in Australia.  Be sure to let them know your location, the number of people requiring first aid, and the health conditions of the casualties.

The 000 operators will then instruct on you what to do while waiting for the emergency medical services to arrive.

Stay Calm.
When faced with an emergency, the body is under stress and panic. These two will make you behave emotionally, rather than critical in your thinking. Therefore, you must stay calm in the face of danger. It is important to not be reactive and deliberately find ways to keep yourself calm.
Panicking can only make the situation worse.  You can hurt yourself, the victim, or put others in jeopardy when you let stress and panic take over you.

Stop the Bleeding.
If the emergency involves a wound that is deep, bleeding heavily or has blood spurting on it – it needs to be stopped immediately. Use direct pressure on the wounded area along with elevation to stop the bleeding. Continue until the bleeding stops or until the medical responders arrive.

Start CPR.
If the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you must begin CPR right away. CPR can avert a potentially deadly situation by supplying oxygen to the brain and other organs. It greatly improves a person's chances for survival and reduces the risk of significant brain damage.

The best way to deal with a medical emergency is to be prepared before one happens. If you are reading this blog – congratulations, you are on the right track.

Training is essential to emergency preparation and taking a First Aid Course is the first step to be emergency ready. You can learn the basics including CPR, use of AED, Heimlich maneuver, treating of wounds, and dealing with injuries.

When faced with a medical emergency, every second is precious. Remember to stay calm, call 000, and perform first aid.  

Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia

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