Emergencies

Severe Chest Pain

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?
• Is the pain a crushing pain like a band around the chest?
• Is the pain moving into the jaw or arms?
• Does the patient feel sick?
• Is the patient sweating or clammy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Unconscious

• Is the patient unconscious?

Semi-Conscious (or ‘floppy’ baby or child)

• Is the patient semi-conscious or floppy with any other of the following symptoms
• Difficult to wake? Stiff neck? Severe headache? Child with a high pitched whimpering cry? Purple or blood coloured rash? Photo-phobic?
• Is the patient a diabetic? Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient having chest pains?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?

Overdose and Semi-Conscious

• Is the patient unconscious or very drowsy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Overdose and Fully Conscious

• Is the patient having breathing difficulties
• Is the patient a danger to himself?
• Is the patient a danger to others?

Severe Breathlessness Or Collapse

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient blue around the lips?
• Has the patient inhaled anything or choked on anything?
• Has the patient got chest pains?
• Is the patient unable to speak in sentences?
• Has the patient ever had a severe allergic reaction?

Severe Bleeding And Collapse

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient semi-conscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?
• Is the bleeding uncontrollable?

Serious Head Injury / R.T.A.

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient fitting?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?

Epilepsy / Fitting

• Is the patient still fitting? Is this the patient’s first fit?
• Has the patient received a serious injury to the head?