MEPX
Chapter 7 of 10All chapters
  1. 1First principles
  2. 2Someone unresponsive
  3. 3CPR and defibrillators
  4. 4Choking
  5. 5Bleeding and wounds
  6. 6Burns and scalds
  7. 7Medical emergencies
  8. 8Everyday injuries
  9. 9Kit and preparation
  10. 10Knowing your limits

Chapter 7 of 10

Medical emergencies

Recognising the pattern.

Stroke and heart attack

For stroke, use FAST: facial droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call. For a suspected heart attack, sit them down, call, and give aspirin if available and not contraindicated.

  • Both are time-critical; calling early matters more than certainty.
  • Symptoms in women and older adults are often less typical than the textbook picture.

Anaphylaxis and seizures

For severe allergic reaction, use the adrenaline injector without hesitation and call. For a seizure, clear the space, cushion the head, time it, and do not restrain or put anything in the mouth.