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For a diabetic emergency, particularly when someone is experiencing either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), the following steps can be taken:

1. Assess the Situation: Approach the person calmly and assess the situation. Determine if the person is conscious and responsive.
2. Check Blood Sugar Levels: If the person is conscious and able to communicate, ask if they have a glucose meter and if they have checked their blood sugar levels recently. If not, and if you have access to a glucose meter, you may check their blood sugar level if they consent.
3. Recognize Symptoms:
   • Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Symptoms may include confusion, dizziness, sweating, weakness, trembling, irritability, or loss of consciousness.
   • Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Symptoms may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, fruity-smelling breath, nausea, vomiting, or confusion.
4. If Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar):
   • Give them a fast-acting carbohydrate source immediately, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice, honey, or sugar candies.
   • Avoid foods with fat as they can delay the absorption of sugar.
   • Recheck their blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it remains low, repeat the treatment.
5. If Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar):
   • Encourage the person to drink water to stay hydrated.
   • Monitor their condition closely. If they have high blood sugar levels and exhibit symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication of diabetes, seek medical help immediately.
6. Stay with the Person: Monitor their condition closely. If they become unconscious, call emergency services immediately.
7. Seek Medical Help if Necessary: If the person’s condition doesn’t improve or if they lose consciousness, call emergency services immediately.
8. Provide Support: Offer reassurance and support to the person throughout the process.

Remember, it’s crucial to act promptly and seek medical assistance if needed, especially if the person is unconscious or if their condition doesn’t improve with initial treatment. If you’re unsure about the appropriate steps to take, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional medical help. For more information, be sure to take a first aid course!

Quickly providing care to a victim who is in respiratory or cardiac arrest is very important. Allowing too much time to pass before care is provided can make the difference if a victim survives respiratory and cardiac arrest.  Some lifeguard programs advocate providing ventilations in the water before the victim is removed. This is based on guidelines from the 2011 United States Lifeguard Standards Coalition.

With that stated, the 2011 USLSC clearly states the survival rate is increased in open water settings.  The studies cited advocating in-water ventilations were conducted in open-water settings where victims were minutes away from shore.  No research has been shown (or done that we can find) to show in-water ventilations improves outcomes for drowning victims in swimming pools.  Unless you are a lifeguard with specific training in this skill, responders should remove the victim from the water and provide care.

If you employed by a facility and are operating within the standard of care that has sufficient staff trained to properly remove a victim from the water, we cannot see the time spent providing in-water ventilations vs removing a victim and providing care to have a meaningful improved outcome.  This makes the skill unnecessary in a pool setting.  Care can certainly be provided more effectively on land-especially for CPR and airway management. 

A more updated review of in-water ventilations, as well as, other resuscitation interventions for drownings, have found the efficacy of in-water ventilations to be inconclusive.  In fact, the study most cited by advocates of the skill from Brazil “was assessed as providing very low certainty evidence.”

For more information, be sure to take a CPR class today!

Hands-only CPR, also known as compression-only CPR, is a method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that focuses solely on chest compressions without the incorporation of rescue breaths. It’s designed to simplify the process of CPR for untrained bystanders in case of an emergency. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends hands-only CPR in certain situations, particularly for adults who suddenly collapse in an “out-of-hospital” setting. Here’s a brief guide on how to perform it:

1. Check the Scene and the Person: Ensure the scene is safe before approaching the person. Check if the person is responsive by shouting at them and shaking their shoulder gently. If there is no response and the person is not breathing or only gasping, call for emergency medical services (if you’re alone, use a mobile phone on speaker mode so you can continue to assist the person).
2. Position Your Hands: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person’s chest (on the lower half of the breastbone). Place your other hand on top of the first hand, interlocking your fingers.
3. Start Chest Compressions: Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands. Use your body weight to help you administer compressions that are at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep, but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm), at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. The AHA suggests compressing to the beat of a familiar song that matches this tempo, like “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
4. Continue Compressions: Keep performing chest compressions until professional help arrives or an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available and ready to use. If you become exhausted, try to find someone else to take over compressions.

Hands-only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR (which includes breaths) in the first few minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest in adults. This method is not recommended for infants or children, victims of drowning, drug overdose, or people whose cardiac arrest is due to respiratory problems. In those cases, conventional CPR with breaths is more appropriate.

The simplicity of hands-only CPR increases the likelihood that bystanders will take action in an emergency, which can significantly improve the survival rates of individuals experiencing cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting.

If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call your emergency number immediately (such as 911) and seek immediate medical attention.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides general guidance on recognizing the signs of a heart attack and what to do:

1. Call for Emergency Help: If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack, call your local emergency number immediately. In the United States, it’s 911.
2. Chew Aspirin, if Recommended: If you have been prescribed aspirin by a healthcare provider, and you’re not allergic to it, chew it while waiting for emergency medical services. Aspirin can help thin the blood and improve blood flow to the heart.
3. Stay Calm and Rest: Try to stay as calm as possible. Rest in a comfortable position while waiting for emergency personnel.
4. Do Not Drive Yourself: It’s generally not advisable to drive yourself to the hospital during a heart attack. Emergency medical services can provide faster and more appropriate care.

Remember that early intervention is crucial during a heart attack. The above steps are general guidelines, and individual cases may vary. Always follow the advice of healthcare professionals and seek immediate medical attention if you suspect a heart attack.