- Conscious? If not:
- Check Airway/Breathing/Circulation
- Call 911
- CPR if necessary
- Check for MedicAlert info
- Head/Neck injury
- Universal Precautions (Gloves/Padding)
- Direct Pressure
- Elevation of bleeding area
- Pale, dizzy, sweating, weak, confused
- Lie flat and elevate feet
- Closed soft tissue
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate)
- Open wound
- Universal precautions, cleanse, and cover
When should I call 911?
- No breathing or pulse.
- Loss of consciousness that does not resolve right away, or
leads to confusion or amnesia (all loss of
consciousness does require prompt medical attention!).
- Shock symptoms that do not resolve quickly with rest
- Major injury such as unstable fracture or rapid bleeding.
- Seizures that do not stop.
- Head Injury (information from Cecilia Ramos, R.N., of Grass
- Concussion Grade 1: confusion, no amnesia, no loss of consciousness
- Evaluate, rest and observe at least 20 minutes for
being 100% symptom-free before return to activity.
- Concussion Grade 2: confusion with amnesia, no loss of consciousness
- Evaluate, rest and observe 24 hours (medical
attention required), return to activity after one week
- Concussion Grade 3: any loss of consciousness
- Immediate medical attention required, return to
activity after 2-4 weeks symptom-free depending upon medical
- It may be difficult to differentiate too high blood sugar
from too low blood sugar in some people. In the dojo it is safe to
assume that the rapid onset of symptoms that may include pallor,
sweating, weakness or confusion associated with exercising is caused by
too low blood sugar. Position as for shock and administer sugar,
either in the form of glucose tablets from the first aid kit, or by
fortifying any liquid with a lot of sugar. If the person cannot take
oral sugar due to weakness or loss of consciousness, call 911.
- Evaluate all injuries for deformity, inability to bear weight,
decreased range of motion, and pain (swelling and bruising may not be
severe initially). Complex splinting and transport issues should not
arise in the middle of a city with 911 functioning. Provide
immobilization to the affected area and keep the person quietly
resting until paramedics arise or, as may be done in the case of
smaller bones such as wrists or feet, other transport is arranged.
- Neck Injury
- If a neck injury is suspected due to the type of accident, the angle
of the head, or any symptoms such as numbness of the extremities or
difficulty with movement, do not move the person unless it is
mandated by another emergency such as fire or falling debris. Provide
reassurance, and immobilize the person's head and neck exactly as
they are by sandbagging with anything available until the paramedics
arrive. If a disaster necessitates moving the person, the head and
neck must be supported/maintained exactly as they are to avoid risk
of further injury to the spinal cord.
- Shock symptoms may be caused by diabetes or other low blood sugar
situations (see above), by illness, by blood loss, by dehydration, by
overexertion, by massive allergy reaction or by heat. Pallor, with or
without sweating; weakness, dizziness, confusion would be primary
things to look for; sometimes there may be flushing instead of
pallor. Lying down and then elevating the feet to above heart level
is the key; provide fluids if the person is awake enough to swallow
safely. If shortness of breath or labored breathing predominate, the
person may only feel relief if supported sitting up, leaning somewhat
forward. Any shock-like symptoms that do not resolve within a few
minutes should be considered an emergency.
- The mat or carpeted floor is a safe place. Prevent harm during the
seizure by removing objects from the vicinity but do not attempt to
restrain the person except if needed to prevent harm; i.e. from
banging into something. Do not attempt to force anything between the
teeth. Sleepiness or confusion afterwards may be normal for some