Disaster Preparedness: Medical Emergency

Medical emergencies come in many different forms, and sometimes cannotbe prevented. Sometimes, a medical emergency could have been avoided bysimply treating the problem when it first arose; other times, there is nochance to solve the injury or illness, and 911 must be called immediately. Inthe case of all true emergencies, of course, medical professionals should becalled as soon as possible.However, treating the emergency during the interim between when medicalservices 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 wayto call for medical help; in cases such as these, it is important to know atleast the basic first aid, to carry a first aid kit, and to act as quickly aspossiblei.In order to actually prevent a medical emergency, it is important to follow allthe advice doctors give their patients, as well as follow all recommendedsafety procedures in any activity. So many injuries occur because peopleignore things like safety harnesses, seatbelts, or other rules that would haveensured their security. Things like smoking or risky activities like drivingunder the influence also obviously raise the risk that someone will get hurt.Doctors also recommend that people get regular exercise in order to keep alltheir organs functioning properly, which reduces the risk of disease.Preventing a medical emergency isn’t enough, however, no matter how hardpeople try. There are always accidents which could not have been stoppedthrough any preventative measures. That’s why it’s also important toprepare for medical emergencies.The first few minutes after an injury or emergency occurs are often the mostcrucial. 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 totake care of the problem. Even some intervention could be enough to save aperson’s life. Whenever possible, then, carry a first aid kit; keep somedosage of any important medication around at all times, and always wearmedical-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 willknow who to contact; be sure to label the ICE contact as such.Because a person should only call 911 for life-threatening medicalemergencies, they should know what other options are available to them inthe case of non life-threatening emergencies. The first of these is to try totreat the injury at home; this requires at least a basic knowledge of medicaltreatment, and will certainly require a good, comprehensive first aid kit.The very basic medical supplies that should be in any first aid kit includebandages, antiseptic wipes, over-the-counter medicines like antihistamineand ibuprofen, scissors and tweezers, and gauze, among other thingsii.Other sources also recommend that first aid kits should also include

materials to treat poison, like ipecac and charcoal, ice packs, materials totreat insect bites, cotton balls, thermometers, disposable gloves andantiseptic for hand cleaning, and splintsiii. These lists are incomplete,however, and a more comprehensive summary of first aid kits can be foundhere and here.If the list already seems overwhelming and the supplies seem as thoughthey would take a long time and a good deal of effort to gather individually,don’t worry; emergency preparedness businesses like The Ready Store sellcomprehensive first aid kits that comply with Red Cross standards. Thesefirst aid kits can be as simple as a few dozen supplies, or they can be morespecific, like trauma supplies, sports, burn treatment, or vehicle kits, or evenkits specifically designed to treat injuries acquired outdoors.Just having the kit isn’t enough, however. Some medical emergenciesrequire more treatment than just the minor fixes that can be administered athome. That doesn’t mean that people must call an ambulance, however. Ifthe illness or injury is not life-threatening and the person is able to bemoved without causing further damage, it might be a good idea to just drivethem to the ER or hospital. Someone could even drive themselves or take ataxi. This is more cost-effective and will free up ambulances and EMTs forthe emergencies that really require them. Traffic conditions and injurypermitting, it is better to take one’s own vehicle, since ambulances do cost agood sum of money.However, in a few cases, people must call 911 or risk further injury. Ifsomeone has a spinal injury or even suspects that they may have a spinalinjury, if there is a lot of blood, or blood that cannot be stopped by puttingpressure on the wound, if the victims condition could worsen on the way tothe hospital, or if the moving the victim would require any special equipmentfrom EMTs, then someone must call an ambulance. And it’s always better tobe safe than sorry, so if someone even suspects that calling 911 might benecessary, they should do so.Finally, if the illness or injury must be treated outside of a medical carecenter, even if it’s just for a little while (i.e. waiting for the ambulance toarrive), it’s important to have training. People must first know how to usethe supplies before having them will do anyone any goodiv. Something likethe CPR process is easy enough to describe in words: place the heel of thehand in the center of the chest and try to do about 100 compressions aminutev.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, howto 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 peopleremaining calm and doing CPR in the way they have practiced, it’s importantnot to have to sit down and read a manual before assisting with the

emergency. Once someone is trained in CPR, they may want to considercarrying around a small CPR kit, so they can be completely ready if theirskills are ever called upon.CPR, of course, is not the only emergency service in which people needtraining. Places like the Red Cross are famous for their CPR and other firstaid classes, and these classes should be taken whenever possiblevi. Peopleshould also inquire as to whether or not their company will pay for orsponsor first aid classes, since it is important to have people who are readyand 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, andmaking a decision to act quickly and remain calm.

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