BASIC FIRST AID & CPR CERTIFICATION
Course 4: Responding to Medical Emergencies
Estimated Reading Time: 25–30 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner
Mandatory for All Aron Helps Workers
Important: This course is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical training. In any life-threatening emergency, contact your local emergency medical services immediately.
Introduction
Not all emergencies involve visible injuries. A person may suddenly experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, a seizure, low blood sugar, or a severe allergic reaction.
As an Aron Helps worker, recognising these emergencies early and responding appropriately can prevent serious complications and save lives.
In this course, you will learn how to recognise common medical emergencies and provide basic first aid while waiting for professional medical help.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Recognise the signs of a heart attack.
- Identify symptoms of a stroke using the FAST method.
- Respond to asthma attacks.
- Recognise diabetic emergencies.
- Help someone having a seizure.
- Identify severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
- Respond safely to poisoning.
- Recognise heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration.
Lesson 1: Heart Attack
A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked.
Common Signs
- Chest pain or pressure.
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, shoulder, or back.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweating.
- Nausea.
- Pale or clammy skin.
- Sudden weakness.
Not everyone experiences severe chest pain. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes may have less typical symptoms.
First Aid
✔ Call emergency medical services immediately.
✔ Help the person sit in a comfortable position, often upright.
✔ Encourage them to remain calm.
✔ Loosen tight clothing if needed.
✔ Stay with them until help arrives.
If the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally, begin CPR if trained.
Lesson 2: Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted.
Quick treatment can reduce permanent brain damage.
Remember FAST:
F – Face
Ask the person to smile.
Does one side of the face droop?
A – Arms
Ask them to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech
Ask them to repeat a simple sentence.
Is their speech slurred or difficult to understand?
T – Time
Call emergency medical services immediately.
Every minute matters.
Lesson 3: Asthma Attack
Some people carry inhalers because they have asthma.
Signs
- Wheezing.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Persistent coughing.
- Chest tightness.
- Difficulty speaking.
First Aid
✔ Help the person sit upright.
✔ Encourage slow, calm breathing.
✔ Help them use their prescribed reliever inhaler if they request assistance or are unable to use it independently.
✔ Call emergency services if symptoms are severe, worsen, or do not improve after using their prescribed medication.
Never give another person’s medication unless instructed by a healthcare professional or emergency dispatcher.
Lesson 4: Diabetic Emergencies
People with diabetes may experience:
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
Signs include:
- Sweating.
- Shaking.
- Hunger.
- Confusion.
- Irritability.
- Dizziness.
If the person is awake and able to swallow safely:
✔ Offer a fast-acting source of sugar, such as glucose tablets or a sugary drink, if available.
✔ Follow with a snack once they improve, if appropriate.
If the person is unconscious or cannot swallow safely:
❌ Do not give food or drink.
✔ Call emergency medical services immediately.
High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycaemia)
Symptoms usually develop more slowly and may include:
- Excessive thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
Encourage the person to follow their diabetes care plan and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or worsening.
Lesson 5: Seizures
A seizure is caused by sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Signs
- Collapse.
- Muscle jerking or stiffening.
- Loss of awareness.
- Confusion after the seizure.
First Aid
✔ Stay calm.
✔ Protect the person’s head.
✔ Move dangerous objects away.
✔ Time the seizure.
✔ Turn them onto their side after the seizure if they are breathing normally and there is no suspected spinal injury.
Do NOT:
❌ Hold them down.
❌ Put anything in their mouth.
❌ Give food or drink until they are fully alert.
Call emergency services if:
- The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
- Repeated seizures occur.
- The person is injured.
- It is their first known seizure.
- They have trouble breathing afterwards.
Lesson 6: Allergic Reactions & Anaphylaxis
Some allergies can become life-threatening.
Common triggers include:
- Peanuts.
- Shellfish.
- Eggs.
- Bee stings.
- Medicines.
- Latex.
Mild Allergy
Signs:
- Rash.
- Itching.
- Mild swelling.
Monitor the person and seek medical advice if symptoms worsen.
Severe Allergy (Anaphylaxis)
Signs:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat.
- Hoarse voice.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Collapse.
- Loss of consciousness.
First Aid
✔ Call emergency medical services immediately.
✔ Help the person use their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen®) if they have one and need assistance.
✔ Keep them under close observation.
If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, begin CPR.
Lesson 7: Poisoning
Poisoning can occur through:
- Medicines.
- Household cleaning products.
- Chemicals.
- Carbon monoxide.
- Certain plants.
First Aid
✔ Remove the person from the source if it is safe.
✔ Call emergency medical services or your local poison information service.
✔ Keep the product container if possible.
Do NOT:
❌ Force the person to vomit unless specifically instructed by a medical professional.
❌ Give food or drink unless advised.
Lesson 8: Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke
Heat Exhaustion
Signs:
- Heavy sweating.
- Weakness.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
First Aid
✔ Move the person to a cool place.
✔ Loosen clothing.
✔ Cool them with damp cloths or a fan.
✔ Offer cool water if they are fully alert and able to drink.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
Signs:
- Very high body temperature.
- Confusion.
- Hot skin.
- Collapse.
- Loss of consciousness.
Call emergency medical services immediately and begin cooling the person while waiting for help.
Lesson 9: Dehydration
Dehydration is common among:
- Young children.
- Older adults.
- People working outdoors.
- People with vomiting or diarrhoea.
Signs
- Dry mouth.
- Dark urine.
- Dizziness.
- Tiredness.
- Thirst.
Encourage regular fluids if the person is alert and able to drink.
Seek medical attention if dehydration becomes severe.
Lesson 10: Knowing Your Limits
A good first aider knows when to ask for professional help.
Your role is to:
✔ Recognise emergencies.
✔ Provide safe first aid.
✔ Call for help promptly.
✔ Stay with the person until help arrives.
Never diagnose illnesses or prescribe medicines unless you are qualified and authorised to do so.
Real-Life Scenario
James is caring for an 80-year-old client.
During breakfast, the client suddenly drops their spoon. One side of their face begins to droop, and their speech becomes slurred.
James immediately remembers the FAST test.
He recognises the signs of a stroke, calls emergency medical services without delay, notes the time the symptoms began, and stays with the client until paramedics arrive.
Because James acted quickly, the client receives urgent treatment that improves their chances of recovery.
Medical Emergency Checklist
If someone suddenly becomes seriously ill:
✅ Stay calm.
✅ Ensure the area is safe.
✅ Identify the symptoms.
✅ Call emergency medical services if necessary.
✅ Follow the person’s emergency care plan if one exists.
✅ Stay with the person.
✅ Record what happened afterwards.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
❌ Ignoring chest pain.
❌ Delaying emergency calls during a stroke.
❌ Putting objects into the mouth of someone having a seizure.
❌ Giving food or drink to an unconscious person.
❌ Forcing someone to vomit after poisoning.
❌ Assuming severe allergic reactions will resolve without treatment.
❌ Trying to diagnose medical conditions instead of seeking professional help.
Summary
Medical emergencies often occur without warning. By recognising the signs early and responding calmly, you can help protect someone’s life until healthcare professionals arrive.
Remember:
Recognise the emergency, call for help quickly, and provide safe first aid within the limits of your training.
Knowledge Check
1. The FAST test is used to recognise:
A. Asthma.
B. Stroke.
C. Diabetes.
D. Burns.
Answer: B
2. During a seizure, you should:
A. Hold the person down.
B. Put a spoon in their mouth.
C. Protect them from injury and time the seizure.
D. Give them water immediately.
Answer: C
3. Someone with severe chest pain and shortness of breath may be having:
A. A sprained ankle.
B. A heart attack.
C. A headache.
D. Food poisoning.
Answer: B
4. If a person with low blood sugar is unconscious, you should:
A. Give them sweets.
B. Pour water into their mouth.
C. Call emergency medical services immediately and do not give food or drink.
D. Ask them to walk around.
Answer: C
5. Which of the following is a sign of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)?
A. Mild itching only.
B. Difficulty breathing and swelling of the throat.
C. Dry skin.
D. A small bruise.
Answer: B
Practical Assignment
You are working as a live-in caregiver for an elderly couple.
During one afternoon:
- The husband develops sudden chest pain and begins sweating heavily.
- Shortly afterwards, the wife develops slurred speech and weakness in one arm.
- Their grandson, who has asthma, starts wheezing after playing outside.
For each emergency, explain:
- How you would recognise the condition.
- The immediate first aid you would provide.
- When you would call emergency medical services.
- What information you would give to emergency responders.
Congratulations!
You have completed Basic First Aid & CPR – Course 4: Responding to Medical Emergencies.
In Course 5, you will learn:
- Home and workplace safety.
- Fire and electrical emergencies.
- Gas leaks and chemical safety.
- Childproofing and fall prevention.
- Safe lifting techniques.
- Incident reporting.
- Professional emergency communication.
- Psychological first aid.
- Final certification assessment.
Recommended YouTube Videos
1. St John Ambulance – Medical Emergencies & First Aid
https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnambulance
2. American Red Cross – Emergency Response
https://www.youtube.com/@americanredcross
3. British Red Cross – Stroke, Seizures & Medical Emergencies
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=British+Red+Cross+medical+emergencies
4. Epilepsy Foundation – Seizure First Aid
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Epilepsy+Foundation+seizure+first+aid
5. American Stroke Association – Recognising Stroke
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=American+Stroke+Association+FAST
Aron Helps Professional Tip
Many lives are saved not because someone knew advanced medical procedures, but because they recognised the warning signs early and called for help immediately. As an Aron Helps professional, your greatest strengths are observation, calm decision-making, and acting quickly within the limits of your training.
