Circulation

If the heart stops beating, blood flow to the brain and other vital organs ceases. With each heartbeat blood surges through the arteries, giving a pulse or throb which can be felt at various points on the body Normal pulse rate is 60-80 beats per minute in adults; in...

Crush Injuries

Severe crush injuries cause extensive damage to skin, muscle, nerves and bone. There may be internal and external bleeding, or blood supply to a limb may be cut off for some time. Large quantities of plasma may leak from the blood vessels into the damaged tissues,...

Cyanocrylate Glues

These are fast-setting, ‘superglue’ adhesives that bond anything, including human skin, in seconds. In rare cases a large drop will cause a burn (see Burns and scalds), since cyanocrylates heat up as they set. Immerse the bonded sections of skin in warm...

Dental Operations

If a tooth socket starts to bleed after extraction, encourage the person to spit the blood out rather than swallow it. Place a clean pad of gauze over the socket and ask the person to bite on it for 15-20 minutes. Once the bleeding has stopped, rinse the mouth with...

Diabetic Coma

Both diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus can, if incorrectly managed, lead to unconsciousness and even death. The symptoms of hyperglycemia (too much blood sugar) come on gradually, while those of hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) can be sudden and dramatic....