Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate XIII · Medical Emergencies · 07

Seizure and stroke

During a seizure, move instruments and objects away, do not restrain the patient or put anything in the mouth, time it and then use the recovery position. Call EMS for a seizure longer than 5 minutes, repeated seizures, injury or a first seizure. Recognize stroke with BE-FAST, note when symptoms began and call 911, because clot-dissolving therapy works only within hours.

High-yield facts · 6

  1. Seizure: remove instruments, move objects away, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth; time the seizure; recovery position afterward.T8
  2. Call EMS for a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus), repeated seizures, injury, or a first seizure.T8
  3. Stroke recognition: BE-FAST or FAST (balance, eyes, face droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911). Note the time symptoms began.S26
  4. Clot-dissolving therapy for ischemic stroke works only within a few hours of onset, so speed matters.S26
  5. Local anesthetic toxicity can present as a seizure; stop the injection, protect the patient, give oxygen, call EMS.S14T8
  6. Epinephrine overdose (or intravascular injection) causes anxiety, tremor, palpitations, headache and high BP, usually brief.S14

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.