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UNCONSCIOUS UNCONSCIOUS
UNCONSCIOUS
Unconscious
casualty
Unconsciousness
is a state of unrousable unresponsiveness where the casualty is unaware of
their surroundings and no purposeful response can be obtained.
Levels
of Consciousness
-
ALERT
- awake and orientated.
-
DROWSY
- all responses
are slowed down.
-
STUPOR
- very difficult to rouse. May respond to pain.
-
COMA
-
not responding to
anything. - cannot maintain own airway
Remember
- ASSESS THE LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS BY THE TOUCH AND TALK METHOD.
Causes
of Unconsciousness
Head
Injuries
Signs
and Symptoms that may occur:
Fractured
Base of Skull
Asphyxia
- lack of oxygen to the brain
Bleeding
- lack of blood supply to the brain
Heart Conditions - pump fails to get blood to the brain
Fainting
- temporary loss of consciousness
Stroke - bleeding or a clot inside the brain causes pressure which
may then cause paralysis in the body
Diabetes - a disturbance in the level of sugar in the blood
Shock
- Allergic, Electrical
Drunkenness
- alcohol affects the brain
Poisons - affect the function of the brain
Extreme heat or cold - the temperature regulator in the brain is
affected
Seizures - messages to the brain become confused and like a big
switchboard the brain shorts out
Convulsions
- seizures usually due to high body temperature in
children
Signs
of Unconsciousness
The
casualty may have all or some of these signs.
-
Unresponsive
to verbal and tactile stimuli. When a casualty fails to respond to a
simple command "open your eyes, squeeze my hand, let it go",
they should be managed as if unconscious.
-
May
be breathing noisily - indicates partially blocked airway
-
Colour
may be going blue
-
No
rise and fall of the chest
-
No
movement of body parts
Management
of Unconscious Casualty
The
unconscious casualty has priority over someone who is conscious because they
have lost two important reflexes: the ability to swallow (gag) and the
ability to cough.
-
Turn
the casualty on their side and place in the lateral (coma) position.
This position allows vomit and other body fluids to be drained from the
mouth and keep the airway open for air to enter.
-
Manage
the casualty's airways.
-
Check
constantly for signs of life in the casualty - if absent immediately
commence CPR
-
Seek
medical aid
-
Place
women in advanced pregnancy on their left side, unless prevented by
injuries, to avoid unnecessary distress to the foetus.
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