The 4 life-threatening emergencies in adults are:
The 4 life-threatening emergencies in adults are: -Choking -Cardiac arrest -Stroke -Severe bleeds
Airway obstruction
The airway may be blocked by the tongue, food, vomit, or liquids. It may also be obstructed by foreign bodies such as dentures,blood,or vomit. Strangulation or hemorrhage (accidental or due to injury) may also block the airway.
Severe bleeding
If you’re bleeding heavily, it means you’re losing a lot of blood and it could be life-threatening. external bleeding can come from anywhere on your body, but internal bleeding is when the blood leaks from your veins or arteries inside your body. You might not be able to see or feel internal bleeding, but it can still be serious.
There are four main types of severe bleeds:
- arterial bleeds: these are the most serious because they’re usually fast and continuous. They often happen after an injury, such as a car accident, where an artery has been damaged. The bleed will be bright red and you might feel a pulse in the area.
- venous bleeds: these are usually slower than arterial bleeds, but can still be serious. They often happen after a cut or scrape where a vein has been damaged. The bleed will be dark red and you might not feel a pulse in the area.
- capillary bleeds: these are the smallest type of bleed and often happen from a cut or scrape on the surface of your skin. The bleed will be bright red and might ooze or seep rather than flow in a steady stream.
- internal bleeds: these are the most dangerous because they’re often not detectable until they’ve caused serious damage. They can occur anywhere in your body, but are most common in the brain, abdomen, or lungs. You might not see or feel any symptoms until the bleeding is severe enough to cause organ damage or failure.
Shock
Shock is a condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. This can be due to blood loss, heart problems, or fluid loss. Shock can be fatal if not treated immediately. Symptoms of shock include pale skin, weak pulse, fainting, and confusion.
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is when the spinal cord is damaged. This can lead to a loss of function, sensation, and/or mobility.
SCIs can be caused by many things, including car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. They can also be caused by gunshot wounds or knife wounds.
SCIs are very serious and can be life-threatening. They require immediate medical attention.
There are four types of SCIs: complete, incomplete, paraplegia, and tetraplegia.
Complete SCIs mean that there is no movement or sensation below the level of the injury. Incomplete SCIs mean that there is some movement and sensation below the level of the injury.
Paraplegia is when the paralysis is in the legs only.
Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) is when the paralysis is in both the arms and legs.