Chest injuries
Chapter 25. Chest injuries Deaths following injuries to the thorax usually result from a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) or lack of circulating blood volume (hypovolaemia). Injuries may be blunt or…
The sports arena
Chapter 46. The sports arena Sport-related deaths Most deaths that occur at sporting events are from natural causes such as myocardial infarctions. Occasionally, congenital heart diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy…
Rescue from remote places
Chapter 47. Rescue from remote places Rescue teams require specialist training, equipment and physical conditioning for working in the remote or austere environments. Paramedics must be fully trained team members,…
Electrocution
Chapter 43. Electrocution • Approximately 20% of reported electrocution injuries are fatal • Generated electricity accounts for over 90% of the deaths, the rest being due to lightning strike •…
Heat illness
Chapter 42. Heat illness Heat illness does occur in the summer months and is frequently associated with strenuous activities such as sport or military exercises. As with other environmentally produced…
Near drowning
Chapter 41. Near drowning ‘Wet’ drowning The individual aspirates water into the lungs, after an episode of breath holding until the victim cannot hold the breath any longer. On inspiration,…
Care of the elderly
Chapter 39. Care of the elderly The proportion of the population that is over the age of 70 is rising. Old age may bring a combination of factors rendering the…
Hypothermia
Chapter 40. Hypothermia Hypothermia is defined as having a core temperature below 35°C. Clinically, it can be divided into three categories: • Mild: 32–35°C • Moderate: 30–32°C • Severe: below…
The paediatric history
Chapter 34. The paediatric history A paediatric history is made up of two elements: • The account of what has happened • Background information about the child which might affect…
