Recognizing Signs of a Medical Emergency

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
August 2011

Medical emergencies can happen any place and at any time. Those who are preparing for long-term disasters need to familiarize themselves with signs of medical distress. Recognizing these signs when they first appear can help take the appropriate next steps in a timely fashion.

You can help the individual you support to learn these warning signs and symptoms of some common medical emergencies listed below:

Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more
Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness, seizure
Possible serious bone fractures
Major burns
Changes in vision
Difficulty speaking
Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior, difficulty waking
Any sudden or severe pain
Head pain that lasts longer than five minutes
Uncontrolled bleeding
Shock symptoms, e.g., confusion, disorientation, cool/clammy, pale skin
Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
Coughing or vomiting blood
Unusual abdominal pain
Suicidal or homicidal feelings

Knowing these signs and acting quickly could save the individual’s life. Get treatment promptly. For many medical emergencies, time is very important. Some people experience the symptoms of an emergency, such as a stroke or a heart attack, but do not get help right away. A delay in treatment could lead to a more serious illness.

Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper's Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals. When a catastrophic collapse cripples society, grocery store shelves will empty within days. But if you follow this book's plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply, your family will have plenty to eat for weeks, months or even years. Visit her web site at ReadyNutrition.com.

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition

Author: Tess Pennington
Author's Web Site: http://www.readynutrition.com
Made Available By: Ready Nutrition
Date: August 11th, 2011

Related Categories: Emergency Checklists, Health and Safety, Medical Emergencies