What Is an Emergency

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?

An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation. Examples include unconsciousness, heavy blood loss, suspected broken bones, stab/deep wounds, suspected heart attack, difficulty breathing, severe burns, and allergic reactions.

In such cases 999 should be dialled immediately but remember; stay calm, never put yourself in danger, give clear/detailed instructions for the ambulance and follow the instructions the ambulance service gives you.

DIARRHOEA

Symptoms include:

• Stomach pains • Sickness • Fever

• Headaches • Loss of appetite

What to do:

• Drink lots of fluids (if vomiting, take small frequent sips)

• Consult your pharmacist regarding re-hydration drinks e.g. dioralyte

• Eat food as soon as you can that is high in carbohydrates e.g. bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes (if you cannot eat, it will do no harm but continue drinking)

• Anti-diarrhoea medicines relieve symptoms (available from the pharmacy)

Contact the surgery if:

• Symptoms persist • There is blood in your stool

SORE THROATS

What to do:

• Take paracetamol or Ibuprofen

• Pastilles, lozenges (available at the pharmacy). Diabetics can usesugar free pastilles

• Drink warm drinks to wash away infection- honey is very effective but should not be given to babies under 12 months)

• Gargle salt water (1 teaspoonful in a glass of warm water)

SPRAINS/STRAINS

Symptoms include:

• Pain around the affected joint • Bruising

• Unable to use the joint normally • Inflammation

What to do:

• RICE – Rest the joint for 2 days – put an Ice pack on the area for 10-30mins – Compress or bandage the injured site to limit swelling – Elevate (raise) the injured area to a comfortable height especially at night – you should see a progressive improvement.

•You should NOT wear any type of bandage whilst in bed/resting or wear the bandage too tightly (if your fingers/toes go blue take it off IMMEDIATELY)

Contact the surgery if:

• You heard a popping sound

• You cannot put any weight on the joint/it gives way when putting weight on it /you cannot move it at all

• The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (not swelling)

• You have numbness in the affected area

• The pain has not improved after 4 days of self treatment

BACK PAIN(although painful it’s not normally serious)

What to do:

• Stay as active as possible doing normal, non-strenuous tasks will help even if you are in a lot of pain

• If the pain is very strong then rest for a few days

• Apply a cold compresses initially to reduce swelling

• Apply heat to ease pain

• Use over the counter painkillers (ask your pharmacist)

• Try and do some back strengthening exercises

Contact the surgery: if you experience any of the following with the back pain:

• Weight loss • Fever• Swelling on the back

• Pain travels to chest/high up in back/down legs/ below knees

• Numbness around the genitals/buttocks

• You have had a recent trauma

• You have loss of bowel/bladder control/unable to pass urine

• The pain developed slowly but gets increasingly worse.

To avoid re-occurrence:

• Lift heavy objects correctly- back straight/bend your knees

• Stand correctly- stand straight/tuck in bottom and abdomen

• Work at correct height- work surface should be level with hip when standing

• Sleep on a firm bed

• Sit correctly- back and thighs should be well supported

• Avoid being over weight / exercise regularly

• Relax- relaxation reduces tension and therefore pain.

Contact the surgery if:

• Symptoms get worse or new ones develop

MIGRANE

Can be triggered by:

• Blue cheeses • Chocolate • Red Wine • Stress • The Weather • Hormonal Changes

Symptoms include:

•Seeing spots • Feeling weak • Feeling sick • Lack of concentration

What to do:

• Continue with normal everyday activities

• Lay in a darkened room

• Use over the counter painkillers

Contact the surgery if:

• Symptoms continue / worsen / or new ones develop

BITES

What to do:

If you have been bitten by an animal or human you should:

• Clean the wound thoroughly with antiseptic to avoid infection

• Contact the surgery

• Go to A&E immediately if there is increased redness/swelling, the area gets more painful, you develop a high temperature or become lethargic.

With insect bites symptoms can begin a week later and include • redness/swelling • painful • there may be discharge • fever/shivers • small lump

They can be treated using • a cold compress to ease itching/reduce swelling • taking pain killers such as paracetamol/ibuprofen or antihistamines.

You should see your GP if • it doesn’t disappear after about 2 days • a rash develops • you have swollen glands • you experience flu like symptoms • you have breathing difficulties.

VOMITING

If you are vomiting you may have food poisoning, especially if you have loose bowel movements as well.

There is not a lot the doctor can do to help but there are a number of things you can do to help:

What to do:

• Only take small sips of clear liquid/re-hydration fluids available from your pharmacy and build up to cupfuls over a period of 12 hours • 12 hours after you last vomited, start eating bland foods e.g. dry biscuits, toast, avoid milk.

Contact the surgery if:

•New symptoms develop

COLDS AND FLU

Although flu is generally worse and develops over a couple of hours compared to a couple of days with colds, NEITHER can be treated with anti-biotics. Unless the patient is very old, frail or has another serious condition you DO NOT need to see your doctor.

Symptoms include:

For colds, • sneezing • blocked nose • runny nose • sore throat • pain when swallowing • mild fever • mild earache • tiredness • headache • coughing.

With flu, you will experience body aches as well as the above.

What to do:

• Take painkillers to bring down your temperature • ask your pharmacist about decongestants • increase liquid intake to keep yourself hydrated (warms drinks can be soothing) • rest and avoid strenuous activity • let fresh air circulate the room • avoid being around smoky environments • raise your head with pillows when lying down to reduce coughing • flu jabs are also available for patients who are elderly or who have chronic illness i.e. diabetes, asthma.

Flu Injections:

Don’t forget, if you are aged 65 and over or have chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Heart Conditions, COPD etc. Please contact the surgery between September – March for a Flu jab. Ask at reception if you qualify for a flu jab.

MENINGITIS

Symptoms include:

• Fever/cold hands, feet • Stomach cramps/diarrhoea • Vomiting • Dislike of bright lights

• Spots/rashes • Drowsy/difficult to wake • Severe headache • Confusion irritability

• Stiff neck • Severe muscle pain

What to do:

• Take an ordinary clear glass (or plastic) tumbler
• Place it on the skin next to the spots
• Roll it onto the spots, applying firm pressure. Note that the normal skin under the glass goes white as the blood is pushed out of the tiny surface blood vessels
• If the spots fade when the glass is rolled over them, the rash isn’t serious
• If a spot doesn’t fade, then seek urgent medical attention

Beechwood Surgery

Warley, Brentwood

Tel: 01277 212 820

MINOR ILLNESSES

FOR ADULTS

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE GP.