[Sca-cooks] NOT off topic, asthma, was Olwen, was new question

[Kirsten Houseknecht]

very good advice indeed... I wish more people followed it <sigh>

all SCA cooks (all cooks in general) should be familiar with allergy attacks
and have some clue how to react.

for the record.. as far as I know (and I could be wrong) epinephrine (epi
pens and such) are only good for severe allergy attacks.. NOT for asthma.
epi usually makes asthma worse.  since panic can cause an asthma attack....
it may deal with the allergy that triggered the asthma attack, but its
severe overkill in most cases!

asthmatics usually HAVE medication that has been prescribed for them.. now
if you can ascertain that *your* meds are the same as *their* meds and your
meds are closer.. well that's ok... but first you have to verify that.
people can be allergic to weird things, and I know at least one lady who is
deathly allergic to one of the common asthma inhalers!

*I* do not have asthma.. I have allergies that can cause anaphylaxis ( among
other things my throat swells shut).  unfortunately many people *think* its
asthma, and try to give me their asthma meds.

in addition to being really stupid (don't give anyone unknown meds) it
doesn't help me, and all they do is throw me into a panic by blocking my
airway more.

treatments for me are: fresh air, removing the allergen, keeping people from
further panicking me or blocking my air, anti-histamines, and if none of
that works get my epi-pen.

********** oh, and a note for most cooks!!!!!
something  you should have in your first aid kit is *liquid* benedryl. the
easiest way to carry it is liquid gel caps.   if someone has a serious
allergy attack, and they are *conscious* they can bite the capsule to
release the liquid directly under their tongue.  you can do the same with
powders, but its harder to find them.
when the liquid or powder is released from its time release or slow to
dissolve coating directly onto the mucus membranes, some of it is absorbed
NOW.. this can keep an airway open while the ambulance arrives.
***but they have to be awake enough to let you know whether this is a good
medicine for them, and so they can swallow.****
Kirsten
kirsten at fabricdragon.com
http://www.fabricdragon.com

"Did you vote?  No?   Then don't come whining to me...."
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phlip"
> Ah, jeeze. If someone is having breathing problems, the LAST thing you
need
> to do is hand them random meds.
>
> First thing to do is calm the situation down- talk to them in a calm
voice,
> try to determine the problem, and get the panicking/helpful idiots out of
> the way.
>
> If it's choking (partial) encourage them to cough. If it's any form of CLD
> (chronic lung disease) get them to their oxygen- if that doesn't relieve
> them, call 911, but for Heavens Sakes, keep things calm.
>
> If it is an asthma attack, again, keep things calm. Assist with THEIR
> LEGALLY PRESCRIBED MEDS (epi-pen, inhaler, or whatever) and KEEP THE
> SITUATION CALM!!!!!
>
> Holding, smelling, and even drinking hot coffee IF THEY"RE CAPABLE will
> help, while 911 is on the way.
>
> BUT, DON'T BE HITTING THEM WITH RANDOM MEDS!!!!
>
> And, calm everything down.
>
> Stress is a major trigger and aggravator of most CLDs. Reduce the stress,
> and you're reducing the problem- much of the stress can be caused by the
> person's embarrasment at "causing a scene", and isn't helped by people
> jumping around and getting excited- panic is contagious.
>
> As things calm down, gentle loosening of constrictive clothing and jewelry
> is a big help, but jumping at them to tear their clothing apart isn't.
>
> SPECIFICLY SCA- if a lady is wearing one of those tight bodices, loosening
> it will help, but if you suddenly open it, by cutting the laces, you might
> put them into shock- you'll be dropping their blood pressure in a hurry.
>
> At Pennsic a couple of years ago, a lady had an asthma attack during the
> Hell party. Before I got there, since she hadn't brought her meds (dumb)
> someone not only gave her theirs (dumber) but gave her an overdose(
utterly
> blanking stupid) on the priciple that if a little was good, more must be
> better. Since the medication in question was epinephrine (adreniline, for
> those of us pharmacologically ignorant) which, among other things, is
> responsible for the fight or flight reaction, the lady was dealing with
not
> only an asthma attack, but a chemically enhanced panic attack. Eventually
> she was fine, but for a while it was...interesting.
>
> For those of you who aren't trained in at least First Aid, the best thing
> you can usually do is dial 911, answer their questions, then shut up and
sit
> down, or remove yourself or any panicking people from the scene. Above
all,
> appear to be calm, even if you're scared to death.
>
> Phlip
>