Spring 2013 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

First (Aid)ThingsA longtime Emergency Department physicianshares lifesaving tips that can turn you into a heroBystanders trained in first aid canmean the difference between lifeand death. Emergency proceduresstarted by trained individualshave saved the lives ofmany victims. And, conversely,many more could have beensaved if immediate care had beenavailable. Becoming a bystanderwho makes a difference is simple:Learn first aid. There are many organizationsthat offer training, most notably the American RedCross (redcross.org). If you sign up for a course, you canuse your hands to save a life instead of wringing them.Meanwhile, Mark Walsh, M.D., FACEP, a longtime EmergencyDepartment physician at Memorial Hospital of South Bend,answers some of the most common first-aid questions.What’s the first thing I should do in anQ: emergency?A: Evaluate scene safety. Your safety is top priority. If youbecome injured, you will double the need for resourcesand delay treatment for the victim. Before approachingan emergency scene, take a moment to check for hazards,such as fire, downed power lines, toxic material andunstable vehicles. If you are unable to approach safely,call 911 and wait for professional help.Q: Is compression-only CPR effective?A: Yes. Experts have recognized that bystanders are oftenreluctant to begin CPR because of concerns about mouthto-mouthresuscitation. After figuring some CPR was betterthan no CPR, experts wrote new guidelines advocatingcompressions only. “Then a funny thing happened; researchdemonstrated good or better success with chest compressionsalone,” Dr. Walsh says. “It seems that with compression-onlyCPR, you still get some air into the lungs, and thecontinual compression without breaks for breaths keepsblood delivering oxygen to the brain.”My child just ingested a poison. Should I makeQ: him vomit?A: No. Induced vomiting was once the accepted treatmentfor poisoning—so much so that every ED and householdkept syrup of ipecac on hand. If you still have a bottle,flush it. “A lot of things children swallow are more dangerouswhen they come back up,” Dr. Walsh says. “A goodexample is gasoline; if we make them vomit it can be aspiratedinto the lungs and then it’s very, very dangerous.”So what should you do? If your child is unconscious orhaving trouble breathing, call 911 immediately. Otherwise,remove the item from your child’s mouth and make yourchild spit out any remaining material. Call Poison Control(800-222-1222) with the container available so you canread the list of chemicals ingested. If you’re instructed togo to the hospital, be sure to take the container with you.My friend is coughing and clutching his throat.Q: Should I perform the Heimlich maneuver?A: No. Coughing is a sign that the airway is only partiallyblocked. Do not interfere, but be ready to step in if thesituation worsens.Should I take an aspirin if I think I’m having aQ: heart attack?A: Yes ... unless there is a medical reason not to, such asan allergy. “Anyone who suspects a heart attack should chewa non-coated adult aspirin as soon as possible,” Dr. Walshsays. “This will start working on the clot that’s causing theheart attack while the patient gets to the hospital.”Mark Walsh, M.D.Here When You Need UsMemorial provides cutting-edgecare with immediate availability ofphysicians, nurses, technologiesand support services 24 hours aday. Call 574-647-6800 for moreinformation.18 PULSE | Memorial Hospital of South Bend • 574.647.6800