How to Respond to a Medical Emergency at Home or at Work

Medical emergencies are always a tough and scary situation to be in, no matter where you are. Every second counts when responding to a medical crisis, whether it be at home or at work, which is why it’s important to remain calm and follow proper procedures. Doing this can help improve outcomes and enable emergency services personnel to save more lives.

With that said, here’s a guide on what to do during a medical emergency at home or work.

1. Assess The Situation

The first step in responding to a medical emergency is to properly check the situation. There are some instances that might require urgent attention but don’t need an ambulance or a call with emergency services. In particular, minor injuries or illnesses that are not life-threatening can be resolved with the right supplies.

If the affected individual is dealing with a mild allergic reaction or infection, you can get the proper medication with an online medicine delivery Philippines households trust. This is a great option if you don’t have the right medicines on hand but don’t want to leave the patient alone in case their condition changes. If a medical situation occurs at work, you can also help the patient with getting home safely so they can properly rest at home. 

However, if the situation is a major injury or illness, call emergency services as quickly as possible.

2. Secure the Scene

Securing the scene is important especially in injury-related medical emergencies to avoid any additional incidents. Check the area carefully for any dangers. If they can be removed from the scene, do so; otherwise, it may be better to move the affected individual to a safer location and start emergency treatment there. The last thing you want is for you or someone else to get injured while trying to handle an emergency situation.

3. Call Emergency Services Immediately

Major medical emergencies are easily recognizable through their warning signs. If the affected individual is experiencing symptoms such as sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or seizures, it’s time to call emergency services.

Before you call, remember to prepare your responses in advance. They will likely ask for your name, the affected individuals’s details such as name and age, the details of what happened, the symptoms, and any treatment that was already given. This paints a clear picture to first responders so that they can help you stabilize the individual until they can arrive at the site. A smooth call with emergency services means quicker professional help for the patient.

4. Stay Calm

First responders will give you instructions on how to properly care for the affected individual and other important things to take care of while they make their way to you. While it is easier said than done, staying calm during a medical emergency will allow  you to listen and follow these instructions better. Taking a few seconds to do some calming exercises, such as breathing and muscle relaxation, will save much more time in the long run and decrease the risk of making any mistakes. If there are other people around during the emergency, see if they are willing to take over so that you can take a few minutes to calm yourself down.

5. Get Additional Help

Capable bystanders can help with managing the area of the accident and providing emergency care. These can be other family members if the emergency happened at home, or coworkers if it happened at work. If you’re not trained in first aid, you can ask for help from someone who is more knowledgeable, and they can work with emergency response to stabilize the individual until emergency services arrive. Even if this is not the case, other bystanders can still help with smaller tasks such as blocking the area off from other people or getting medical equipment and supplies.

6. Report the Situation and Learn From It

If the medical emergency occurred at work, you will likely be asked to prepare an incident report. Make sure to include all the relevant information, including when exactly the emergency happened, who handled it and how, when the emergency responders arrived (if they were called), and when it was resolved.

Also, whether it happened at home or in the office, it’s important to learn from the emergency so that you can be better prepared in case something happens again. Did you have a fully stocked first-aid kit? Did you know who to call? Was there something that triggered the accident, say a stray electrical cord that tripped the person? Answering these questions can help you address future emergencies better, and even minimize their occurrence.

Be Prepared for Future Medical Emergencies

While we can hope that you’ll never need to respond to a medical emergency, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You can prepare yourself for any medical emergency by learning first aid. It’s also best to keep a stock of medical supplies both at home and at work. Through proper training and ensuring that you have the right supplies, you can provide faster emergency support that can save lives.