Urgent Care

What is it about ?

Emergency care is the first aid given in crisis situations and in case of acute illness. Care can be provided in a facility, such as intensive care in a hospital setting, by a general practitioner or by ambulance staff.

First and foremost, the victim’s level of consciousness is assessed on a scale ranging from normal consciousness to unconsciousness.

Once the assessment of the airways, respiration and blood circulation is completed, the level of consciousness is then assessed by the Glasgow score, which is an international measuring instrument for rating the state of mind from 1 to 15. consciousness of a person, ranging from deep coma to a perfectly conscious person.

How is the diagnosis made?

The following steps are important during first aid:

A. (Air) To begin with, clear the airways by lifting the victim’s chin or jaw, and remove any foreign objects. If necessary, a mouthpiece is placed, or the victim is intubated.

B. (Breathing) The victim receives oxygen and is possibly ventilated. The cause of a respiratory distress (choking) (fluid in the lungs, pneumonia, asthma, etc.) is processed.

C. (Circulation) Bleeding should be stopped by compression. The victim is put on a drip. The heart rhythm disturbances life threatening must be treated before the victim can be transported.

D. Other: the level of consciousness is determined with precision using the Glasgow score. Prevent further trauma by supporting the body and limiting heat loss. Pain relievers can be given.

E. If there is no chance that the victim can be saved, no treatment is started.

What can you do ?

Notify emergency services if you witness a serious accident or if someone has an acute health problem.

Once there, the emergency services decide whether they should transport the victim to hospital as quickly as possible or whether they should take care of them first on the spot.

The victim must be quickly transported to hospital (” load and go “) In the following cases:

• penetrating trauma caused by a gunshot or stab wound to the trunk or neck area;
• blunt trauma with suspicion of uncontrolled bleeding into a body cavity;
• other uncontrolled bleeding and / or signs of shock;
• pulmonary embolism massive (when blood flow to the lungs is blocked);
• Stroke acute.

Before being able to be transported, the victim must be stabilized in place (” stay and play “) In the following cases:

• the intensive care is necessary ;
• the respiratory problems, the rhythm disturbances and decreased state of consciousness can be treated on the spot.

Sources

Foreign clinical practice guide ‘Prehospital emergency care’ (2000), updated on 15.06.2017 and adapted to the Belgian context on 14.04.2019 – ebpracticenet