sorry bout this it is a little rant with a question. last week i had an asthma attack whilst at uni. my friends were great and got my neb and everything for me. as routine they have to phone the site secrity people if some one goes to hospital. when i got out my mate told me that i went unconscious and site secrity tried to put me on my back with my feet in the air- i was just wondering if there is any logic to this?? in all my first aid training i have never heard of this and was wondering if anyone had suggestions why they might do this. my firends have gone to the head of the security people to complain because they tried to put me in the recovery postition and were over ruled by the security guy. i am a bit concerned because i dont want them dealing with me if i have an attack again if they are not doing things right.
i was just wondering what other people thought of this r if there is any logic to it?? any comments would be much appreciated.
""An unconscious casualty who is breathing but has no other life- threatening conditions should be placed in the Recovery Position.
Turn casualty onto their side.
Lift chin forward in open airway position and adjust hand under the cheek as necessary.
Check casualty cannot roll forwards or backwards.
Monitor breathing and pulse continuously.
If injuries allow, turn the casualty to the other side after 30 minutes.
Hi Olive.
Sorry to hear you've been unwell. Putting you on your back and raising your legs is all well and good if you've fainted but not much use when you're having an asthma attack as being in such a position isn't very helpful to your breathing. That said, I'm not sure of the proceedure when an asthmatic slips into unconciousness during an attack as on the few occasions this has happened to me I obviously haven't been aware of what's been going on around me. I'd be interested to know though if other people here on the forum have been told they were laid down as I suppose there isn't much else anyone can do! I would've thought it would be a better idea to prop you up in a sitting position and have someone around to make sure you don't topple over but to the best of my knowledge being laid down will do you no good at all.
Anyone else out there who feels they should correct me though can feel free as I'm really not 100% sure here!
For a simple faint, yes the legs should be elevated to get the blood back to the vital organs. This is OK if the unconciousness if brief and the casualty comes round very quickly but if left like this it can compromise breathing!
BUT if the casualty is unresponsive and fails to come round quickly or there is another reason for unconciousness then the person should be placed in the recovery position. This is the safest position for someone uncosious because it ensures the airway stays open, lifts part of the chest off the ground easing breathing and also if they vomit they won't choke. This is the correct thing to do if a person having an asthma attack becomes unresponsive. First check for responce then Breathing, (Circulation if no breathing after rescue breaths etc ) then recovery position. Continue to monitor ABC!
(not all unconsious young females have simply fainted!)
I would also check to see if the security bods have a valid first aid certificate !!!
If you want both you and your friends go on a basic life support first aid course with one of the volunatry bodies ( st John is a good one!)
I do have a First aid at work certificate and these are the instructions we and everyone else in the UK is taught.
Hope this helps
Love
Kate
XXX
PS Fluffy, our posts have just crossed! Sorry but....
never prop up anyone who is unconsious, see notes above! Take care XXX
PPS Thanks Wheezer for the instructions too! BTW you can download a first aid course to an IPOD thingy from their web site!
Thanks Kate.
It just goes to show that I should not be listened to and as the patient rather than the doctor I should say nothing! Ignore my last post everyone - I am crap and should not be allowed to speak to people.
Lots of love to everyone,
Fluffy. x x x
hi everyone
thank you for your replies. i have done first aid courses doing sports injury first aid which incompasses basic first aid. i have asked my friendsabout what happened they said my lips and round my mouth had gone blue and was like that unitl the ambulance arrived about 15 mins. so i am pretty sure i did not faint. i think it was lack of oxygen cause of the attack. i am going to go myself speak to the security people and ask them about thier first aid because it must have been quite obvious i was ahving an asthma attack rather than fainting.
thank you for all you words of wisdom and hopefully it wont happen again. will let you know what happens when i speak to them- i would not want this to happen to anyone else.
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