First Aid for Unconsciousness
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A state of instability in which a person is
receiving no impressions from his sight, hearing, or other senses is
called unconsciousness.
Unconsciousness can be brief, as in fainting, or
prolonged, as in severe head injuries. " It can range from
stupor, in which the person is semiconscious and can be roused with
difficulty, to coma, in which the person is profoundly unconscious and
cannot be roused at all."
Unconsciousness may result from injury,
illness or physical or emotional disturbance. Some of these conditions
are relatively mild. Fainting, for instance, is a temporary loss of
consciousness which usually occurs when too little oxygen is reaching
the brain. It has many causes, including fatigue, pain, infection,
anemia, heart disease, and emotional upset.
The person who faints should be placed on his back
and his clothing loosened. He will usually recover consciousness very
quickly, but should stay down for at least ten minutes, and then get
up gradually.
Severe shock, on the other hand, can also cause loss
of consciousness, and is serious. The layman is more likely to see a
person in traumatic shock, caused by wounds, broken bones, or burns.
In shock the blood is not circulating normally and the skin becomes
pale, cold, and clammy. Any person who has been severely injured
should be treated for shock by being kept quiet, lying down, and
covered, if necessary, to prevent loss of body heat until medical
assistance arrives. (See SHOCK)
In some cases, such as a person suffering electric
shock or carbon monoxide, alcohol, or drug poisoning, when his
breathing either stops or is inadequate, artificial respiration can
save his life. (See ARTIFICIAL
RESPIRATION)
Drunks & Drugs
Acute alcoholic intoxication is a familiar cause of
loss of consciousness. Usually the person has alcohol on his breath,
his breathing is deep and noisy, and the pupils of his eyes are
dilated but equal in size. It should be remembered, however, that the
heavy drinker is liable to fall and injure his head; that his
unconsciousness may have some other cause such as a stroke; and that
alcohol, when combined with barbiturates, can lead to coma and death.
An overdose of drugs can also result in
unconsciousness. With barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, the pupils
are dilated and breathing is first slow and quiet, then slow and
shallow, then noisy. With opiates, such as heroin, the pupils contract
to a pinpoint and breathing is profoundly depressed. With both groups
of drugs, there may be cyanosis-a bluish tinge to the skin. Inhaling
model airplane glue (glue sniffing), lighter fluid, and similar
substances can also lead to unconsciousness-and to smothering if the
substance is being inhaled inside a plastic bag.
All these situations are emergencies requiring
prompt medical help. If the victim's breathing has stopped, artificial
respiration should be given. (See ARTIFICIAL
RESPIRATION)
Accidents & Injuries
A head injury should be suspected in any accident
involving force, such as a traffic accident. The victim may lose
consciousness slowly or suddenly. His pupils are usually unequal in
size, and there may be bleeding, or swelling on the head. His
breathing may be slow and irregular. The injured person should lie
down quietly until medical help arrives. If his face is flushed, put a
pillow under his head and shoulders; if he is pale and ashy, omit the
pillow and keep him lying flat. (See BLEEDING)
Heatstroke is another serious emergency, occurring
more often in older people and those with a systemic illness. It is a
reaction to high air temperature and humidity. The victim loses
consciousness and his temperature rises, possibly as high as 110° F.
in some cases of prolonged exposure to the sun. He should be undressed
immediately and sponged with alcohol or lukewarm water until medical
help arrives. (See HEAT ILLNESSES & HEAT EXHAUSTION)
Electrical shock can be caused by lightning or by
contact with live current. Shock from household wiring is more likely
to occur if a person has a damp skin, is standing on a wet floor, or
is touching a metal object that is in contact, directly or indirectly,
with the ground. The first step in this emergency is to shut off the
house current or to separate the person from the source, using a long,
dry, wood pole, or a length of rope, or a cloth. If a high tension
wire is involved, telephone the electric company immediately and ask
them to shut off the current, then try to rescue the victim. If he is
not breathing, artificial respiration should be given; it may need to
be continued for several hours.
Gas poisoning, another cause of loss of
consciousness, can occur in an enclosed, unventilated place where the
air contains carbon monoxide or other poisonous gases, or does not
contain enough oxygen. Carbon monoxide gas usually comes from
automobile exhaust fumes, or from a faulty heater. It is odorless,
unfortunately. The victim can be pulled out of the gas-filled room or
garage, if the rescuer can do so without breathing, or taking only a
few breaths. If the victim is not breathing, or is breathing
inadequately, artificial respiration should be given. (See ARTIFICIAL
RESPIRATION, POISONING)
Other gases may be explosive, and rescue attempts
can be risky. The police or fire department should be called in any
case. They are equipped to handle emergencies of this kind.
Other Disorders
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, may cause a
sudden loss of consciousness. The stroke victim's pupils are usually
unequal in size. His skin may be flushed or bluish, and his face may
be distorted by paralysis on one side. He should be placed flat on his
back, with his head turned to one side so that secretions can drool
from his mouth. Cover him lightly to prevent a chill, and call a
doctor.
Diabetic acidosis is a medical emergency resulting
from insufficient insulin. The diabetic's loss of consciousness is
gradual. His skin is dry and his face flushed. His breath smells
fruity. Usually nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and deep rapid breathing
are followed by coma. Here again a doctor should be called.
A diabetic can also suffer from hypoglycemia, the
name for an abnormally low blood sugar level caused by too much
insulin or not enough food. It usually occurs some hours after the
diabetic has eaten. He may feel dizzy, chilled, weak, and faint and,
if the condition is severe and is not treated, can go into convulsions
and coma. If the patient can swallow, he should be given orange juice,
sugar, or candy. If he is in coma, a doctor should be called.
Hypoglycemia can also occur too when tumors cause an overproduction of
insulin in the body. When an overdose of insulin causes a sudden drop
in the blood sugar level with a failure of circulation, the condition
is called hypoglycemic shock, or insulin shock. (See SHOCK,
DIABETES MELLITUS)
Loss of consciousness also takes place in epilepsy,
in association with convulsions, and in a number of other severe
physical disorders. (See EPILEPSY)
Homoeopathic Remedies
Alcoholic:
Nux Vom 30C,
200C, 1M in frequent doses.
Epilepsy: Bufo 30C, 200C, 1M; Opium 30C
Diabetes:
Belladonna 30C, Opium 30C
Stroke:
Arnica 1M ,Opium 30C, Plumbum Met 1M or higher
Sunstroke:
Belladonna 30C, 200C; Glonine 200C,1M; Opium 30C
Bleeding:
China 30C
Sudden Unknown Reason:
Hydro Acid 30C, Cocca 30C & Laur 30C
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