Illnesses

Information
Clear airways are required for well-functioning breathing. 
Foreign bodies (for example food or toys) can close the airways completely or partially. Closed airways pose an immediate threat to life. Particularly in infancy and early childhood, great attention must be paid to avoid such situations by keeping swallow able small parts away from children.

Recognition

• Not normal breathing, gasping or already a respiratory arrest.
• Unsuccessful attempts at breathing by the patient.
• Facial expression of fear and panic.
• Increasing blue discoloration of lips and skin.
• Frequently matching accompanying circumstances (emergency happens when eating for example)
• In advanced stages, loss of consciousness and collapse.

Action

• As first immediate measure back blows between the shoulder blades.
• If necessary, Heimlich maneuver with the affected person still awake.
• If the breathing disorder persists and the affected person becomes unconscious and collapses, start chest compression and ventilation.
• If the measure was successful and normal breathing begins, the affected person is repeatedly checked until the arrival of EMS.
   

Information
Causes of shortness of breath – apart from obstruction of the airways by foreign bodies – are mainly diseases that directly affect the respiratory organs (e.g. asthma), but also other diseases such as a heart attack. For this reason, it is difficult for first responders to make a distinction here. The sole aim of the measures taken on the patient should be to facilitate breathing or to make the shortness of breath more bearable. Supporting the patient is the primary objective.

Recognition

• Clearly recognizable abnormal breathing.
• Very fast or very slow breathing.
• Unnatural breathing sounds (e.g. whistling, gurgling or bubbling).
• Affected person appears clearly strained.
• Facial expression of fear and panic.
• Increasing blue discoloration of lips and skin.
• In advanced stages, loss of consciousness and collapse.

Action

• Alerting EMS.
• Positioning: support the patient in the most comfortable position for them; in case of respiratory distress, this will usually be upright or seated.
• Opening of constricting clothing.
• Supply of fresh air, e.g. by opening a window.
• Reassure the patient and do not leave him / her alone.

Information
Allergies are inappropriate reactions of the body to foreign substances (allergens). Common allergens are pollen, animal dander, food, drugs (especially antibiotics), insect venoms, latex and many others. Allergies can cause local or generalized reactions and can be life-threatening. 

Recognition

• Mild allergies are often "only" noticeable by rhinitis and itching. 
• Skin reactions such as redness, swelling and itching are common at first.
• More severe reactions can lead to shortness of breath and circulatory reactions.
• The affected person may carry an allergy card with them.

Action

• In case of respiratory distress all measures as described above.
• In addition, the affected person should be helped to take any mediations he or she may be carrying and, if available, to use an Epipen®.

Information
The cause of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a blockage in the blood supply to the heart. Influenceable risk factors are high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, overweight and others. This means that the probability of a heart attack can be influenced by a conscious lifestyle. A heart attack is a potentially life-threatening condition and a common cause of death. Immediately alerting EMS can be life-saving for the person affected.

Recognition 

• Chest pain with a feeling of tightness in the chest, pain sometimes radiating to the left arm, upper abdomen or back.
• Often shortness of breath.
• Anxiety, restlessness, cold sweats.
• Paleness, nausea,  vomiting.

Action

• Calm down the patient.
• Encourage patient to avoid further exertion.
• Open constricting clothing / supply fresh air.
• Assist the patient in positioning according to his or her own comfort or need.
• If possible, prepare for the deteriorating situation (request defibrillator, first aid kit, make room).
• If aspirin is available, administer after consultation with the emergency call center as long as the patient has no known gastrointestinal bleeding and there is no known allergy to aspirin.

Information
Impaired consciousness can result from injury, illness or poisoning. The greatest danger in cases of impaired consciousness is suffocation. This happens when the unconscious patient's tongue sinks back and blocks the airway, or when stomach contents enter the lungs unnoticed.

Recognition

• Person lies motionless on the floor.
• Person does not respond.
• No opening of the eyes.
• No other movements.
• Normal breathing recognizable.

Action

• Stable recovery position – the most important thing is that the airways are kept clear.
• Keep the patient warm, for example by using a first-aid blanket from the first-aid kit. 
• Afterwards, stay by the patient's head and keep checking that breathing remains normal until EMS arrives.

Information
A stroke is caused by the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. – A stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate alerting of the EMS is therefore of utmost importance for the person affected.

Recognition 

• Facial paralysis: Affected person cannot whistle.
• Hemiplegia: Affected person cannot hold arms outstretched to the same side.
• Speech disorders: Affected person cannot talk or speaks unclearly, slurred.

Action

• Alert EMS
• Calm patient and care for patient until arrival of EMS.
• Support patient in positioning according to his or her own needs.
• In case of unconsciousness and normal breathing, keep patient in stable recovery position and check breathing closely. 
   

Information
All cells of the body need energy to do their work. The most important energy supplier is sugar (especially glucose). Threatening hypoglycemia occurs mainly in diabetics, in whom there is a mismatch between insulin supply and demand.

Recognition

• In the initial stage, possibly ravenous hunger
• Changes in behavior (from quiet to aggressive)
• Confusion
• Cold sweats
• Disturbances of consciousness up to deep unconsciousness
• Possibly seizures

Action

• Alert EMS
• Pay attention to self-protection with aggressive patients.
• In case of unresponsive patient, keep the patient in a stable recovery position and perform a close-meshed respiratory assessment. 
• If sugar deficiency is suspected, give the patient sugared drinks while he or she is still conscious and able to swallow.
   

Information
The brain coordinates all activities of the body. Seizures can occur due to various disorders. Possible causes may include: epilepsy, brain injury, poisoning, high fever, hypoglycemia, alcohol or drug withdrawal. 

Recognition

• Impaired consciousness
• Fixed gaze, without reaction when approached / addressed.
• Abnormal breathing and breathing sounds (e.g. snoring)
• Twitching movements of the extremities and possibly the trunk of the body.
• Discoloration of facial color to reddish to bluish.
• Possibly fall
• Possibly tongue bite with bleeding
• Possibly foam in front of the mouth
• Deep sleep state after the seizure for a few minutes

Action

• Alert EMS
• Do not hold affected person during seizure.
• Protect patient from self-injury (fall, create space, remove objects).
• Do not bite or manipulate the mouth during a seizure.
• Place unconscious person with normal breathing in recovery position after seizure.
• Check breathing.
   

Information

A "drug" is any substance that affects the central nervous system (perception, feelings, emotions, motor skills) and alters consciousness. The effects depend primarily on the substance and the amount taken, but also on the age, sex, weight, height, state of health and personality of the user. Danger for first responders is posed by infectious diseases and change of character of the affected person. A distinction is made among intoxicating drugs: 

• Uppers (stimulating) such as alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines.
• Downers (sedative) such as heroin, GHB, opium or cannabis.
• Hallucinogens such as LSD, magic mushrooms or datura

Recognition

• Changes of consciousness like euphoria and confusion up to loss of consciousness
• Agitation, aggressiveness, hallucinations, delusions.
• Possibly seizures
• Change in heart rate and blood pressure with increased risk of heart and cerebral infarction – cardiac arrhythmias.
• Often very large or small pupils.

Action

• Alert EMS
• Place the unconscious patient in a lateral position and do not allow him/her to "sleep" unattended.
• Monitor breathing continuously ("snoring" sounds indicate obstruction of the airways!)
• Protect from weather and heat loss
• Swiss Toxicological Information Center (Tel. 145) can provide information on substances, consequences and first aid measures.
• If necessary, look for tablet blisters / drug residues and give them to the Emergency Medical Service.

Information
Most of the human organs are located in the abdomen and chest. Due to different disturbances, starting from these organs, diseases and pain can occur. The exact location of the disorder is practically impossible to identify for lay personnel, but it is also not necessary for first aid.

Recognition

• Sudden often cramping, stabbing or burning abdominal pain.
• Nausea, possibly with vomiting.
• Paleness, possibly cold sweats.
• Shallow and rapid breathing.
• Often typical protective posture (hunched over, legs drawn up, hands on the abdomen).

Action

• Calm the patient.
• The patient has usually already determined the most comfortable position for him/herself and is supported in this by the first aider. Positioning the patient lying down with the upper body raised and possibly a pillow or blanket roll under the knees often relieves pain.
• No eating, drinking or smoking.
• Alert EMS.
• If the victim becomes unconscious, keep him/her in recovery position and monitor the breathing closely.