In case of emergency . . .




 

 

The next time you slip in the tub, take a fall or face an emergency at home alone, you might want to have this column somewhere close by: It might just save your life.

A few weeks back, I wrote about choking, wondering if I might be found alone and dead because I didn’t know how to react properly.

A number of readers shared their own stories. Lana S. recount a slipping incident: “I . . . fell so fast, I was on the ground before I knew it,” she wrote. “Luckily . . . it was not a serious fall, but it scared the heck out of me! I have wondered on many occasions if I was knocked out, or worse, how long it would take someone to find and help me.”

Several readers suggested medical alert devices. Michelle K. of Calabasas said she discovered one by MobileHelp that alerts paramedics and a designated person by the push of a button.

Some local experts also weighed in, like Ken Madan, president/CEO of InterimHealthcare.com in Westlake Village. He shared his own choking incident: “Panic completely took over and my mind went into overdrive, which is normal behavior in a situation like this.”

He also offered some tips for singles, like establishing a buddy system “especially if there is a medical vulnerability,” he said. “Have a close friend or family member become an emergency resource,” discuss some emergency strategies with them in advance and set up a Plan B if this person is not available for extended periods of time. Also, post a list of medicines, allergies, medical conditions somewhere visible, and keep a charged cellphone by the bed at night, he said.

Andy Bourgeois, an emergency physician at Simi Valley Hospital, said, “Arming yourself with knowledge and preparing ahead of time can make the difference between a minor accident or injury and a trip to the emergency department, or worse.

“ Here are a few common conditions for which people visit the emergency department that can be either avoided or treated at home if done correctly, as well as some reasons to visit (the ER),” Bourgeois said.

“I think the public is pretty well informed about symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, but sepsis isn’t on many people’s radar even though it is much more deadly.”

Sepsis, or blood poisoning, he said, “is the most common cause of death in hospitalized patients. . . . It occurs “when an infection causes an overwhelming inflammatory response in the body,” and “any infection can cause sepsis if it goes untreated. The most common causes are pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Symptoms include fever, increased heart and breathing rates and confusion.”

He advises seeking medical advice early if exhibiting symptoms. “FYI,” he added, “doctors define a fever as greater than 100.4 F and an increased heart rate as greater than 90 beats per minute.”

To avoid falls, he suggests: “Remove . . . things on the floor that create a small lip to trip over. Create wide walkways around furniture. . . . Dogs are also a big culprit. . . . Seek medical attention for any fall causing significant pain or inability to move a joint. The adage ‘If you can move it or walk on it, it’s not broken’ is not true.”

With regard to burns, Bourgeois said, “the biggest culprits are hot liquids.” Minor burns can be treated at home if kept clean with soap and water and a topical antibiotic applied until healed. Seek medical attention where the skin is thinner, he added, like the face, hands, feet and genitals as there are more potential complications.

For cuts or abrasions, “the key is good cleaning. Wash the wound with plenty of water as soon as possible.

. . . Wash daily with soap and water and apply topical antibiotic ointment until the wound heals. Seek medical attention for any spreading redness from the wound, pus draining or fever—these are signs of infection. Draw an outline around the red area so you can easily see if the redness is spreading.”

Bourgeois also suggests keeping a list of medications, medical problems, physician’s name and an emergency contact in your wallet or purse because if you end up in the emergency room, it’s much easier to hand them your list than try to remember the names and doses of medications. “You may also forget to mention a part of your medical history that seems insignifi cant,” he added, “but could greatly change your treatment or point the doctor to the cause of your symptoms.”

Good medicines to have at home, he suggested, include: ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fevers, sprains, aches; Benadryl for allergic reactions, “but seek medical attention for any trouble breathing or feeling like the throat is closing”; topical antibiotics like Neosporin to treat minor cuts and scrapes; and hydrocortisone cream for itchy rashes and bug bites.

I wish I had more space as there is lots more information available; however, the key seems to be to anticipate and prepare as much as you can in advance, and if something happens, don’t panic.

For comments on this or suggestions for future columns, email eLindsay@theacorn.com.


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