This is a resource for providing first aid to common ailments seen at camp.  This Is not to be taken as medical advice.  If ever in doubt, please escalate to a medical professional or call 911.

Most epileptic seizures are over so quickly that you don’t really have much time to do anything. After it’s over, you simply make sure that the child wasn’t injured.

Tonic-clonic seizures are the most dramatic and frightening of the seizures, and they usually last longer than other seizures. Here are some suggestions for handling them:

• Move things out of the way so the child won’t injure him or herself.
• Loosen any tight clothing around the neck.
• Put a pillow or something soft under the head.
• Lay him or her on one side.
• Time the seizure.

Call an ambulance about a seizure if: 

• The child was injured during the seizure
• The child may have inhaled water
• The seizure lasted longer than five minutes
• There is no known history of seizures

Things not to do during a seizure:

• Don’t put anything in the mouth. First of all, despite what you’ve heard, it’s impossible to swallow your tongue and choke. While the child may bite his or her tongue during a seizure, trying to cram something in the mouth probably won’t work to prevent this. You may also get bitten, or you may break some of the child’s teeth or your child may break the object and choke or aspirate..
• Don’t try to hold the child down. People, even children, have remarkable muscular strength during seizures. Trying to pin a child with a seizure to the ground isn’t easy and it won’t do any good, anyway.
• Don’t give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the seizure is over. After the seizure has ended, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the person is not breathing.
• Don’t call an ambulance during a typical seizure. For a lot of people, the first response to seeing a seizure is to call 911. But for the vast majority of seizures, that isn’t necessary. It’s also frightening for a child to spend an afternoon in the hospital unnecessarily. Instead, only call for medical help if the child is injured during the seizure, if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, or if it seems like one seizure is immediately following the previous one.

This is a resource for providing first aid to common ailments seen at camp.  This Is not to be taken as medical advice.  If ever in doubt, please escalate to a medical professional or call 911.

Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. Symptoms include:

• Weakness or feeling tired
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Headache
• Hunger
• Feeling uneasy, nervous, or anxious
• Feeling cranky
• Trouble thinking clearly
• Double or blurry vision
• Fast or pounding heartbeat 

Sometimes blood sugar may be too low even if symptoms are not present. If it gets too low, a person may faint, have a seizure, or go into a coma.

The most common causes of low blood sugar are:

• Taking insulin or diabetes medicine at the wrong time
• Taking too much insulin or diabetes medicine
• Not eating enough during meals or snacks after having taken insulin or diabetes medicine
• Skipping meals
• Waiting too long after taking medicine to eat meals
• Exercising a lot or at a time that is unusual
• Not adjusting insulin dose before exercising
•  

What to Do When Blood Sugar Gets Low

If possible, check blood sugar whenever symptoms of low blood sugar are present. If blood sugar is below 70 mg/dL, treat person right away.

1. Eat something that has about 15 grams of carbohydrates. Examples are: 
   • 3 glucose tablets
   • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice or regular, non-diet soda
   • 5 or 6 hard candies
   • 1 tablespoon of sugar, plain or dissolved in water
   • 1 tablespoon of honey or syrup 
2. Wait about 15 minutes before eating any more. Be careful not to eat too much. This can cause high blood sugar and weight gain.
3. Check blood sugar again.

Source: A.D.A.M. http://printer-friendly.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=117&pid=60&gid=000085&c_custid=815

This is a resource for providing first aid to common ailments seen at camp.  This Is not to be taken as medical advice.  If ever in doubt, please escalate to a medical professional or call 911.

Learning to recognize a serious head injury and give basic First-Aid can save someone’s life. For a moderate to severe head injury, CALL 911 RIGHT AWAY. 

Get medical help right away if the person:

• Becomes very sleepy

• Behaves abnormally

• Develops a severe headache or stiff neck

• Has pupils (the dark central part of the eye) of unequal sizes

• Is unable to move an arm or leg

• Loses consciousness, even briefly

• Vomits more than once

Then take the following steps:

1. Check the person’s airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.

2. If the person’s breathing and heart rate are normal but the person is unconscious, treat as if there is a spinal injury. Stabilize the head and neck by placing your hands on both sides of the person’s head. Keep the head in line with the spine and prevent movement. Wait for medical help.

3. Stop any bleeding by firmly pressing a clean cloth on the wound. If the injury is serious, be careful not to move the person’s head. If blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it. Place another cloth over the first one.

4. If you suspect a skull fracture, do not apply direct pressure to the bleeding site, and do not remove any debris from the wound. Cover the wound with sterile gauze dressing.

5. If the person is vomiting, to prevent choking, roll the person’s head, neck, and body as one unit onto their side. This still protects the spine, which you must always assume is injured in the case of a head injury. Children often vomit once after a head injury. This may not be a problem, but call a doctor for further guidance.

6. Apply ice packs to swollen areas. 

Follow these precautions:

• Do NOT wash a head wound that is deep or bleeding a lot.

• Do NOT remove any object sticking out of a wound.

• Do NOT move the person unless absolutely necessary.

• Do NOT shake the person if he or she seems dazed.

• Do NOT remove a helmet if you suspect a serious head injury.

• Do NOT pick up a fallen child with any sign of head injury.

 

A serious head injury that involves bleeding or brain damage must be treated in a hospital.

For a mild head injury, no treatment may be needed. However, watch for symptoms of a head injury, which can show up later. 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or local emergency number right away if:

• There is severe head or face bleeding.
• The person is confused, tired, or unconscious.
• The person stops breathing.
• You suspect a serious head or neck injury, or the person develops any signs or symptoms of a serious head injury. 

Source: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000028.htm

It is essential to provide a written copy of this information to the Parent (either via email or a paper copy).

Notice of Head Injury

Today during camp your child sustained a head injury. Please observe your child and seek medical help if needed.  Below is a list of suggested warning signs to seek medical help; however you should use your own best judgment for the health of your child.

Get medical help right away if your child experiences the following:

• Becomes very sleepy

• Behaves abnormally

• Develops a severe headache or stiff neck

• Has pupils (the dark central part of the eye) of unequal sizes

> Please record the injury in the AIW Injury Log Form when you have a moment <

This is a resource for providing first aid to common ailments seen at camp.  This Is not to be taken as medical advice.  If ever in doubt, please escalate to a medical professional or call 911.

Be prepared. Know which students have asthma and where their medicine is kept. 

Be alert for students who may have asthma symptoms. Symptoms can become progressively worse and lead to severe, even life-threatening asthma attacks. Treating symptoms promptly can prevent this and allow the student to resume school activities.

Common symptoms of an asthma episode include one or more of these things: Coughing, wheezing (which can sound like noisy breathing or whistling in the chest), difficulty or discomfort when breathing, tightness in the chest (a sensation of heavy weight on the chest or chest pain), shortness of breath, and breathing hard and/or fast. 

If a student has asthma symptoms or complaints and needs your assistance,* take these steps.

• Quickly evaluate the situation. Call 911 if the student is struggling to breathe, talk, stay awake, has blue lips, or asks for an ambulance.
• NEVER LEAVE A STUDENT ALONE. Have an adult accompany the student to the health room or send for help from a school nurse or designee. Do not wait.
• Stop the student’s activity. If the episode began after exposure to an allergen or irritant,** remove the student from the allergen or irritant, if possible. Help the student be calm and in a comfortable position.
• Help the student locate and take his/her prescribed quick-relief inhaler medicine.
• Contact the parent/guardian. 
• Repeat quick-relief inhaler medicine in 20 minutes if student is still having trouble breathing. 

Call 911 if any of the following occur: 

• If the student is struggling to breathe, talk, stay awake, has blue lips, or asks for an ambulance.
• If the student doesn’t improve after two administrations of quick-relief medicine, and nurse/designee or parent/guardian is not available.
• If no quick-relief medicine is available, the student’s symptoms have not improved spontaneously, and nurse/designee or parent/guardian is not available.
• If you are unsure what to do.

Remember:

* Many students who carry their own medicine may be able to self-manage asthma episodes. They should follow the school protocol. Provide support as needed. 

** Common asthma allergens and irritants include tobacco smoke, pollens, furry animals, cockroach droppings, dust mites, chalk dust, or strong odors (for example, from cleaning products, paints, or perfume). 

Source: National Heart Blood and Lung Institute; http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/resources/lung/asthma-steps-to-follow-no-nurse-html 

6 things to do if you’re caught without an inhaler during an asthma attack

Asthma needs constant care and proper management at all times. Your very life depends on it. However, should you be caught without your inhaler due to unforeseen circumstances, you could try these coping techniques:

• Sit upright. Stop whatever you are doing and sit upright. Bending over or lying down can constrict your breathing even more.

• Take long, deep breaths. This helps to slow down your breathing and prevent hyperventilation. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth.

• Stay calm. Staying calm may prevent further tightening of your chest muscles and make your breathing easier.

• Get away from the trigger. The asthma attack could be triggered by dust, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, or the smell of chemicals (e.g., ammonia, chlorine gas, sulphur dioxide). Get away from the trigger as soon as possible and go to an air-conditioned environment or any place with clean air.

• Take a hot caffeinated beverage. Hot caffeinated drinks like coffee can help to open up the airways slightly, providing some relief for an hour or two. 

• Seek emergency medical help. If the wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulty do not subside after a period of rest, seek immediate medical attention.

Source: Healthxchange.com; http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/ManagingChronicIllnesses/Pages/How-to-Survive-an-Asthma-Attack-if-Youre-Caught-Without-Your-Inhaler.aspx 

This is a resource for providing first aid to common ailments seen at camp.  This Is not to be taken as medical advice.  If ever in doubt, please escalate to a medical professional or call 911.

• Sit up straight, and tip your head slightly forward.

Note: Do not tilt your head back. This may cause blood to run down the back of your throat, and you may swallow it. Swallowed blood can irritate your stomach and cause vomiting. And vomiting may make the bleeding worse or cause it to start again. Spit out any blood that gathers in your mouth and throat rather than swallowing it. 

• Use your thumb and forefinger to firmly pinch the soft part of your nose shut. The nose consists of a hard, bony part and a softer part made of cartilage. Nosebleeds usually occur in the soft part of the nose. You will have to breathe through your mouth.
• Apply an ice pack to your nose and cheeks. Cold will constrict the blood vessels and help stop the bleeding.
• Keep pinching for a full 10 minutes. Use a clock to time the 10 minutes. It can seem like a long time. Resist the urge to peek after a few minutes to see if your nose has stopped bleeding.
• Check to see if your nose is still bleeding after 10 minutes. If it is, hold it for 10 more minutes. Most nosebleeds will stop after 10 to 20 minutes of direct pressure.
• Do not blow your nose or put anything else inside your nose for at least 12 hours after the bleeding has stopped. 
• Rest quietly for a few hours.