Immediate Response to Medical Emergencies and Injuries

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 in Physical Education

Cardiovascular Accidents (Stroke)

A cardiovascular accident, commonly referred to as a stroke, is a sudden interruption in the blood supply to the brain, typically caused by a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel. This interruption deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients, leading to brain cell damage or death. Although severe strokes can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest, many people make a full recovery.

Symptoms of Stroke

  • Paralysis or weakness, often on one side of the body
  • Speech difficulties or vision problems
  • Asymmetrical movement of the mouth and forehead
  • Intense headache

IMMEDIATE ACTION: Call 112 (Emergency Services).

Managing Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by feelings of apprehension, worry, nervousness, or fear about future events, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and difficulty concentrating. It can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and overall well-being.

How to Help Yourself Manage Anxiety

  • Talking to someone you trust about what’s making you anxious could be a relief.
  • Try to manage your worries by setting aside specific ‘worry time’.
  • Look after your physical health (diet, sleep, exercise).
  • Try breathing exercises to calm your nervous system.
  • Write a diary or journal to process thoughts.
  • Consider complementary and alternative therapies.

Stomach Cramp and Cold Water Shock

Stomach cramps in water often occur due to a sudden change in temperature (cold water shock). This temperature difference causes blood vessels to narrow (vasoconstriction), reducing blood flow to the brain, which can lead to fainting (hydrocution).

Symptoms of Cold Water Shock

  • Shaking chills
  • Blurry vision
  • Stomachache
  • Dizziness and nausea
  • Pale skin
  • Low blood pressure and pulse

Prevention of Cold Water Shock

  • Enter the water slowly, wetting the body little by little (have a shower before entering).
  • Do not eat copiously before bathing.
  • Hydrate constantly throughout the day.
  • Go accompanied to the water.
  • Do not swim intensely immediately after eating.
  • Do not drink cold liquids, especially after intense physical exercise.

Lipothymy (Near-Fainting)

Lipothymy is a state of near-fainting or feeling faint, often accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, weakness, and a temporary loss of consciousness. It can be caused by various factors, including low blood pressure, dehydration, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), anxiety, or certain medical conditions.

Symptoms of Lipothymy

  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
  • Nausea
  • Cold sweat
  • Paleness
  • Blurred vision
  • Weakness

Treatment for Near-Fainting

  1. Lay the victim on his/her back and elevate the person’s legs to restore blood flow to the brain.
  2. Loosen tight clothing, particularly around the throat and abdomen.
  3. Sit them up gently and have them perform isometric contractions with their legs several times.
  4. Then help them rise slowly to their feet.

Frostbite: Cold Weather Injury

Frostbite is a cold-weather injury that occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, typically below freezing. It commonly affects exposed areas of the body such as the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks, and chin.

Symptoms of Frostbite

  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Pain
  • Blistering

Treatment for Frostbite

  • Rewarm the affected area gradually and gently.
  • Avoid rubbing or massaging the frostbitten skin, as this can cause further tissue damage.
  • Seek medical care for severe cases immediately.

Recognizing and Treating Dehydration

Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, resulting in an inadequate amount of water to support normal bodily functions. This can happen due to various factors such as excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or inadequate fluid intake. When dehydrated, the body may not have enough fluids to carry out essential functions, so it requires prompt rehydration with fluids such as water or oral rehydration solutions to restore the body’s fluid balance and prevent complications.

Symptoms of Dehydration

  • Intense thirst
  • Dry mouth
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion

Treatment for Dehydration

  • Help the person to sit down.
  • Encourage the person to drink fluids such as water and oral rehydration solutions, sipping small amounts of fluid frequently.
  • Loosen tight clothing to improve air circulation and aid in cooling the body.

Trauma and Physical Injuries

An injury is physical harm or damage to the body resulting from a harmful event. Injuries can range from minor cuts, bruises, and strains to more severe conditions such as fractures, dislocations, or burns. Injuries can impact a person’s physical function, mobility, and overall well-being, and may require medical treatment, rehabilitation, or surgical intervention depending on their severity.

Wounds: Cuts, Scrapes, and Punctures

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin.

Types of Wounds

  • Puncture: Occurs when a sharp object enters the skin. Usually small and do not bleed a lot.
  • Incision: A cut in the skin caused by a sharp object such as a knife, broken glass, or scissors. Incision wounds are neat, and the edges of the skin are usually smooth.
  • Contusion (Laceration): The edges and surrounding tissues are bruised or crushed.

Treatment for Minor Wounds

Minor wounds can be treated at home. First, wash and disinfect the wound to remove all dirt. Use direct pressure and elevation to control bleeding and swelling.

When to Seek Medical Attention

  • The bleeding does not stop with direct pressure.
  • The bleeding lasts longer than 20 minutes.
  • The bleeding is the result of a serious accident.

Controlling Hemorrhages (Severe Bleeding)

Hemorrhage refers to excessive bleeding from ruptured blood vessels, through a wound or injury. It can range from minor and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening, depending on the extent and location of the bleeding.

Hemorrhage Treatment Steps

  1. Place sterile gauze over the wound and apply firm pressure with your hand.
  2. If the bleeding does not stop, place more gauze over the first application (do not remove the first layer). Elevate the affected area and continue applying pressure, but this time with more force.
  3. If the bleeding is serious and still does not stop, you must compress or squeeze the main artery supplying the area. This technique should only be used for the upper and lower limbs.

Burns: Classification and Immediate Care

A burn is a type of injury to the skin or other tissues caused by exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction. Burns are classified based on their severity:

First-Degree Burns

These typically cause redness, pain, and minor swelling. Sunburns are a common example of first-degree burns.

Second-Degree Burns

These can cause redness, pain, swelling, and blisters. Second-degree burns may require medical attention to prevent infection and promote healing.

Third-Degree Burns

These burns extend through the entire thickness of the skin, affecting the deeper tissues underneath. They may appear white, blackened, or charred and can result in numbness or severe pain due to nerve damage. Third-degree burns often require emergency medical treatment.

Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains and Strains

Sprains (Ligament Injury)

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, which is the tissue that connects bones to one another at a joint. It typically occurs when a joint is forced beyond its normal range of motion, causing the ligament to stretch or tear. Sprains commonly happen in the ankles, wrists, or knees.

Sprain Symptoms
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Restricted movement

Strains (Muscle or Tendon Injury)

A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, which is the tissue that connects muscles to bones. It typically occurs when a muscle is stretched or overloaded beyond its capacity, leading to microscopic tears in the muscle fibers or tendon. Strains commonly happen during activities that require sudden or excessive muscle contraction.

Strain Symptoms
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Restricted movement
Treatment for Sprains and Strains (R.I.C.E.R. Protocol)
  • REST: Keep the injured area still.
  • ICE: Apply ice right away to reduce swelling.
  • COMPRESSION: Use a bandage to reduce bleeding and swelling.
  • ELEVATE: Raise the injured limb above the heart level.
  • REFER: Seek medical professional advice when needed.

Fractures (Broken Bones)

A fracture is a medical term used to describe a break or crack in a bone.

Common Types of Fractures

  • Closed Fracture: The bone breaks but does not pierce the skin.
  • Open Fracture (Compound Fracture): The broken bone pierces through the skin, increasing the risk of infection.
  • Greenstick Fracture: Common in children, where the bone bends and partially breaks.

Fracture Symptoms

  • Intense pain
  • Deformity – the limb looks out of place
  • Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
  • Problems moving a limb

Immediate Fracture Treatment

  • Do not let the victim move, except if necessary to avoid further injury.
  • Do not force or attempt to fix a broken bone back in place.
  • Immobilize the injured body part in a functional position if you will be moving the victim.
  • Seek medical help immediately.

Immobilizing Fractures in a Functional Position

To immobilize, you must block off the joints immediately above and below the fracture site. Use splints, parts of the body, or other rigid elements to immobilize the affected area.

Functional Positions for Joints
  • Shoulder: Bend the arm of the affected shoulder and place it against the chest.
  • Elbow: Bend the elbow at a right angle and keep it close to the body.
  • Forearm: Bend the arm at a right angle and hang it from your neck (using a sling).
  • Wrist: Extended position.
  • Fingers: Half bent, as if closed around a tennis ball.
  • Hip: Extended position.
  • Legs: Extended position.
  • Ankles: Held at right angles.

Spinal Injuries: Critical Handling

The spine is a very delicate area. Even moving it a little bit can cause paralysis. Never bend the spine or the neck. Carefully tie the victim on top of a hard, flat surface, like a door or rigid board. If the victim vomits and needs to be turned, the entire surface must move with the victim to maintain alignment.

Dislocations (Joint Separation)

A dislocation is an injury in which the bones in a joint are forced apart and out of their usual positions.

Dislocation Symptoms

  • The area may be swollen or look bruised.
  • You may notice that the area is red or discolored.
  • It may also have a strange shape or be deformed as a result of the dislocation.

Dislocation Treatment

  • You need to get medical help immediately.
  • NEVER try to put the joint back yourself.
  • Cool the injured area and, if possible, elevate it. Both of these actions will help reduce swelling.