Medical Emergencies

What are the signs of a heart attack?

• ASudden weakness on one side of the face, arm weakness and slurred speech
• BChest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and feeling faint✓
• CWheezing, a persistent cough and difficulty breathing out
• DHot, dry skin, a high temperature and confusion

Answer: Signs include central chest pain (often described as crushing or pressure), shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and feeling faint or light-headed.

What is the appropriate first aid for a suspected heart attack?

• AGive water to drink
• BHave them walk about or exercise gently to get the blood flowing through the heart again, then drive them to hospital yourself
• CSit or lie the casualty down, call 999, give aspirin if available and not allergic, and provide reassurance✓
• DApply heat to the chest

Answer: Sit or lie the casualty down, call 999 immediately, give aspirin if available and not allergic, and reassure them while monitoring their condition.

What is FAST for recognising stroke?

• AFever, Anxiety, Sweating and Tremor, checked in that order before calling for help
• BFace drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 999✓
• CFast heartbeat, Alert response, Stiffness in the limbs, and Time since the symptoms began
• DFeel, Alert, Sensory and Test the limbs

Answer: FAST is a stroke recognition tool: Face drooping on one side, Arm weakness on one side, Speech difficulty or slurring, Time to call 999 immediately.

What is the appropriate first aid for a suspected stroke?

• AApply an ice pack to the head, keep them walking and monitor their speech
• BHave them walk up and down the room and squeeze a ball in each hand to work out which side is weaker
• CCall 999 immediately, note the time of onset, lie them down, and monitor their condition✓
• DGive them food and a hot sweet drink to keep their strength up while you wait for the ambulance

Answer: Call 999 immediately (time is critical for stroke treatment), note when symptoms started, position safely, and monitor until paramedics arrive.

What are the signs of a seizure?

• ASudden severe headache, stiff neck and a rash that does not fade under a glass
• BPins and needles in the fingers after sitting still for a long time
• CCrushing chest pain spreading to the jaw, with sweating
• DLoss of consciousness, convulsions, jerking movements, muscle rigidity, and possible incontinence✓

Answer: Signs include sudden loss of consciousness, muscle jerking and convulsions, body stiffness, possible foaming at the mouth, and loss of bladder/bowel control.

What should you do during a seizure?

• AMove them away from danger, protect their head, do not restrain, and place in recovery position when the seizure ends✓
• BPut something soft between their teeth to stop them biting their tongue, and hold their arms and legs still until the jerking stops
• CLeave them alone
• DRestrain the person firmly

Answer: Do not restrain the person. Move furniture away, protect their head with something soft, position them safely, and place in recovery position after the seizure.

When should you call 999 for a seizure?

• AOnly if the person has injured themselves during the seizure and is bleeding
• BOnly for seizures lasting longer than twenty minutes, or more than five in a row
• CAt no point, because a seizure always stops by itself and the person simply needs rest
• DAlways for a first-time seizure or if seizure lasts more than 5 minutes✓

Answer: Call 999 immediately for a first-time seizure or if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus). Always call for someone with unknown seizure history.

What are the signs of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)?

• AExtreme thirst, dry skin, fruity-smelling breath and deep, rapid breathing that develops over days
• BWheezing, a raised itchy rash and swelling of the lips and tongue soon after eating nuts
• CA slow pulse, pinpoint pupils and very slow breathing
• DShakiness, sweating, fast heartbeat, confusion, slurred speech, and possible loss of consciousness✓

Answer: Signs include trembling, sweating, anxiety, fast heartbeat, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech, and confusion. Severe cases can lead to unconsciousness.

What is the appropriate first aid for hypoglycaemia?

• AApply ice, lie them down and wait for the episode to pass
• BGive insulin immediately
• CIf conscious, give sugary drink or food, let them rest, and monitor✓
• DExercise to raise blood sugar

Answer: If the person is conscious, give a sugary drink (e.g., regular cola, juice) or fast-acting carbohydrate, let them rest, and recheck. Call 999 if they lose consciousness.

What are the signs of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar/diabetic emergency)?

• ASweating, shaking, hunger and a fast pulse that improve quickly after a sugary drink
• BThirst, dry skin, fruity-smelling breath, rapid breathing, confusion, and lethargy✓
• CPale, cold, clammy skin with a rapid weak pulse after an injury
• DA sudden severe headache, a stiff neck and dislike of bright light

Answer: Signs include extreme thirst, dry mouth and skin, fruity-smelling breath, rapid breathing (Kussmaul respirations), confusion, and lethargy.

What is anaphylaxis?

• AA severe, life-threatening allergic reaction affecting breathing, circulation, and consciousness✓
• BAn infection of the airways caused by bacteria, treated with a course of antibiotics
• CA mild allergic reaction that produces a rash and some itching, without affecting breathing or circulation
• DA rash and mild swelling, which settles without treatment

Answer: Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid-onset allergic reaction that causes breathing difficulty, cardiovascular collapse, shock, and can be fatal within minutes.

What are the signs of anaphylaxis?

• ADifficulty breathing, throat tightness, swelling of face/lips, rash, and shock✓
• BItching of the skin, with normal breathing and no swelling of the face or lips
• CItchy, watery eyes and sneezing, as with seasonal hay fever
• DA rash alone, with no other symptom present

Answer: Signs include difficulty breathing, throat/tongue swelling, wheezing, rapid weak pulse, severe itching, rash, feeling faint, and shock.

What is the appropriate first aid for anaphylaxis?

• AGive a glass of water and monitor the casualty
• BGive an antihistamine tablet only, and then wait for the reaction to settle down on its own before calling for any further help or seeking any medical advice
• CApply ice, lie them flat and wait to see whether the reaction settles
• DCall 999 immediately. Use the adrenaline auto-injector if available (outer thigh). Lie the person down unless they have breathing difficulty, in which case let them sit up with legs extended. Monitor breathing; be prepared for CPR.✓

Answer: Call 999 immediately, as anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Use an adrenaline auto-injector if available, injected into the outer thigh. If symptoms persist five minutes later, give a second dose of adrenaline, ideally in the opposite leg. Lie the person down to help maintain blood flow, unless they have breathing difficulty — in which case allow them to sit up with legs extended to ease breathing. Monitor breathing closely and be prepared to start CPR if they stop breathing normally or become unresponsive.

What are the signs of a severe asthma attack?

• ACrushing central chest pain spreading to the left arm, with sweating and nausea
• BRapid shallow breathing with tingling fingers after a sudden fright
• CSevere difficulty breathing, wheezing, inability to speak, and cyanosis (blue lips)✓
• DA barking cough and a hoarse voice in a young child at night

Answer: Signs include severe shortness of breath, wheezing, inability to complete sentences, peak flow meter readings, cyanosis, and silent chest (no air moving).

What should you do for a severe asthma attack?

• AApply firm pressure to the chest wall to help push the trapped air out of the lungs
• BSit them upright, call 999, use inhaler, and loosen tight clothing✓
• CLay them flat on their back with a pillow placed under both shoulders
• DGive them water, lie them flat and keep the room warm

Answer: Sit them upright in a comfortable position, call 999, help them use their reliever inhaler (if available), loosen tight clothing, and keep them calm.

What should you never do with an asthma sufferer?

• AReassure them calmly and stay with them until their breathing has settled again
• BLeave them alone during a severe attack or expose them to known triggers✓
• CCall the emergency services on their behalf
• DHelp them to use their own reliever inhaler and stay with them while they do

Answer: Do not leave them alone during a severe attack, as they may lose consciousness. Do not expose them to known triggers, and do not panic as this increases their anxiety.

What are the signs of anaphylactic shock (different stages)?

• AShivering, then confusion and slurred speech, then loss of consciousness
• BHeavy sweating and cramps, then a high temperature and confusion
• CInitial rash, followed by breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, and cardiovascular collapse✓
• DShaking and hunger, then confusion and drowsiness, eased by sugar

Answer: Anaphylaxis can progress rapidly: skin reactions (urticaria, flushing), respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal signs, loss of consciousness, and cardiovascular collapse.

What is the correct position for someone experiencing a severe allergic reaction with difficulty breathing?

• AStomach position
• BLying flat on their back with both legs raised above the level of the heart
• CSitting upright or semi-recumbent position to ease breathing✓
• DLying flat

Answer: Position the person sitting upright or in a semi-recumbent position (propped up) to make breathing easier. This is also used for asthma and breathing difficulties.

What should you do if a diabetic person is unconscious and you are unsure if they have high or low blood sugar?

• ADo nothing at all until the ambulance crew arrive and can test the blood sugar
• BPlace them in recovery position, call 999, and do not give anything orally✓
• CGive them glucose gel or a sugary drink straight away in case it is low blood sugar
• DPlace sugar under the tongue, then put them in the recovery position

Answer: If unsure of the blood sugar level in an unconscious diabetic, place in recovery position and call 999. Do not give anything by mouth.

What signs indicate that a heart attack casualty's condition is improving?

• APain decreases, they become more alert, and colour improves✓
• BBreathing becomes more difficult and the casualty grows restless and anxious
• CThe chest pain grows steadily worse but the casualty's breathing settles down
• DThe skin becomes paler and clammier, and the pulse becomes weaker

Answer: Improvement signs include reduction in chest pain, improved breathing, better skin colour, and increased alertness. However, continue monitoring closely.

An infant under one year is choking and cannot cry or cough. What should you do?

• AUp to five back blows, then up to five chest thrusts, repeating the cycle✓
• BUp to five back blows, then up to five abdominal thrusts, as for an adult
• CHold the infant upside down by the ankles and shake until the object clears
• DPut a finger into the mouth to sweep the object out before doing anything else

Answer: An infant gets back blows and then CHEST thrusts — the two-thumb encircling technique on the breastbone, sharper than a compression. Abdominal thrusts are never used on an infant: the liver and spleen sit low and unprotected and can be torn. Do not do a blind finger sweep, which can push the object further down. Call 999 and keep going until it clears or the infant becomes unresponsive, at which point start CPR.