What to do when somebody collapses in front of you?

[dfdgfdfdgs]

Twice now I've seen it happen in Thailand, once at a market and once at a train station.

 

Both times there's been plenty of people around so that my involvement was not necessary.  Which is just as well because I would have no idea what to do other than maybe put them into the recovery position.

 

This last time the woman appeared to be having weak convulsions throughout her whole body.  A man gave her what appeared to be a couple of pills - was that aspirin maybe?  Did she have a heart attack or a stroke?  I read somewhere aspirin is good to unblock arteries or something.

[sirocco]

These are epileptic seizures.
Be careful that this person does not hurt himself. It calms itself.
Nothing to give him, otherwise, she chokes. 

[DipStick]

The basics are I believe, roll to the recovery position, ensure all airways are free, ensure tongue is not swallowed, remove dentures, place a soft pillow.like object under head and cover with a Coat or similar.

if things deteriorate then CPR would likely be necessary 

[jacko45k]

I would not suggest administering anything unless the ailment can be diagnosed. Aspirin, as a blood thinner, could be the wrong thing under some circumstances where bleeding is involved.

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

"Chuay noy!!!" Would be what I would call out... I would not try and administer anything... but I am not a trained health pro...

 

from the sound of it, I would avoid walking in front of you - -  

[krabi local]

I would suggest you enroll on a basic first aid course.

They are usually just one day and then will have a good idea of what to do.  The previous times both were strangers, what if it had been a friend or relative ?  You would really want to help in some way.

[sanuk711]

It is important...While the wife was in the kitchen cooking breakfast last year I suddenly heard a loud thud. Running in I found her collapsed on the floor & not breathing. I was in a blind frenzy, I had no idea what to do.

.

Then I remembered, Witherspoon do an all-day breakfast for just £3.99..............

 

[sirocco]

Sure, I'll get you started. And maybe even, I'll give you a big kick.
It messes up a person lying on the ground.
In the case described, it is a person who had epileptic seizures. But, it is difficult to diagnose without seeing. So my consultation stopped there.

I am not a doctor, but a rescuer and instructor with the diploma that goes with it.
Everyone should take first aid classes at any age.
It's free.
We learn what saves and what not to do.

It is useless to traumatize a victim even more with reckless gestures.
I remember the young Thai, straddling a victim who was leaning against his chest, without mouth to mouth and without checking, once, whether he was breathing or not.
It was better than nothing, but if it had been a child or a small person, with so much frenzy, it broke the ribs that pierced the lungs.
 

[dfdgfdfdgs]

54 minutes ago, krabi local said:

I would suggest you enroll on a basic first aid course.

They are usually just one day and then will have a good idea of what to do.  The previous times both were strangers, what if it had been a friend or relative ?  You would really want to help in some way.

With Youtube and suchlike I really don't see the need to pay anybody any money for courses (of any type) in 2018, unless you want a paper qualification I guess.

 

I was really just looking for a diagnosis on what happened to the woman.  I suppose I should take my own advice and go and look on youtube.

[Belzybob]

Just be careful you don't trip over them.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

 

[Sheryl]

Do not attempt to do more than you have adequate training for.

 

If you have no training then that means call 1669 for an ambulance, and stay with the person for reassurrance until help arrives. Nothing more unless the person is obviously in harm's way (for example, fell on the road with oncoming traffic) in which case move them to safety.

 

If you want to expand the range of what you can do, take a basic first aid and/or CPR course. These are not terribly lengthy but the content is more than can be conveyed effectively in a forum like this.

 

 

[Ulic]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I would not suggest administering anything unless the ailment can be diagnosed. Aspirin, as a blood thinner, could be the wrong thing under some circumstances where bleeding is involved.

 

 

If it is a heart attack, aspirin is appropriate. If experiencing a stroke there are two causes. Clot and bleed.

If it is a clot,(most are) aspirin is appropriate if it is a bleed it will be devastating. If it were me. I would want someone

to give me an aspirin if I suffered a stroke. Either it would help me or finish me off. I would not want to be in between.

[sirocco]

No, no, djdrdljhdhjdg, there is a misunderstanding.
In my country, we follow classes for free (there is only the first aid book to pay). This can be done by firefighters or the Red Cross or others.
If you do not have your first aid diploma, it does not matter.
This is necessary for people who want to pass their instructor diploma.
But really, go to classes, it's very nice, there is a great atmosphere, and people are not grumpy like those in the forum.
We do not learn well on the internet. It's too superficial.

[Foxy52]

I once attended a mandatory 18-hour first aid course given by the St John's Ambulance Brigade. When a doctor came to examine us, we were told to remember the CPR but forget everything else and if possible call an ambulance. "These St John's people mean well, but if you go bandaging people up and so on, you'll likely do more harm than good," he said in front of our instructor.

 

[jenny2017]

Considering that there can be many reasons why somebody collapsed, I'd make sure that professional help arrives and stay with the person and try to calm the person down if not incautious. 

 

  

[Goanna]

From what I see lately, others rush in to apply kicks to the head/ face. Also stomping until death is certain. But this only applies if you are thai.

[cat handler]

What to do if someone collapses in front of you

 

steal their wallet

check for jewellery 

[Belzybob]

My earlier comment was 'tongue in cheek', but more seriously I'd suggest being very wary of getting involved in such situations in Thailand. By all means render assistance to a fellow farang , but in any other situation leave it to the locals. You may even run the risk of being suspected as somehow involved in what has happened (even a potential cash cow opportunity), you most probably don't speak the language and are likely oblivious to any cultural issues that may arise.

 

Hardened and Thai speaking ex-pats may be a different proposition.

[DipStick]

1 hour ago, Belzybob said:

My earlier comment was 'tongue in cheek', but more seriously I'd suggest being very wary of getting involved in such situations in Thailand. By all means render assistance to a fellow farang , but in any other situation leave it to the locals. You may even run the risk of being suspected as somehow involved in what has happened (even a potential cash cow opportunity), you most probably don't speak the language and are likely oblivious to any cultural issues that may arise.

 

Hardened and Thai speaking ex-pats may be a different proposition.

Very sad to note  your views on trying to  save / comfort a fellow human being in distress have racial implications. Hope you sleep well and hope to god in your hour of need you are not surrounded by racialistic prat’s such as yourself

[BigT73]

Last time I did the First Aid course they have changed how you would approach a stituation.  Due to all the std's mouth to mouth is no longer the norm and if the victim is bleeding and you have a cut not to touch them either. The other issue they said unless you know exactly whats wrong they could have a broken kneck or back and rolling into recovery wasnt advised either unless you couldnt hear them breathing.  

Sad to think someone could die due to uknowns.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

I think there's a difference between getting involved in a dispute and getting involved when somebody collapses and is heaving on the floor.  I think  people and especially farang being held responsible for medical bills is largely barstool talk although I did read an article that was highlighting this issue in China, people are reluctant to help there because they worry they will have to cover the hospital bills, supposedly.

 

This thread was considering the possibility of somebody collapsing with nobody else around to help.  In that situation a a human being I have to assist them and it wouldn't occur to me to just walk past.

[nickmondo]

it its a Thai person, dont do anything, just keep on walking, because you will probably get the blame for it and they will try to get money from you

[Belzybob]

18 hours ago, DipStick said:

Very sad to note  your views on trying to  save / comfort a fellow human being in distress have racial implications. Hope you sleep well and hope to god in your hour of need you are not surrounded by racialistic prat’s such as yourself

Nothing racial about what I wrote, it related to the situation of a tourist in a foreign country getting into potentially adverse situations.

 

I like your handle by the way, very appropriate.

[Sheryl]

In my experience you are no more likely to get blamed or extorted for assisting someone here in Thailand than you would tbe in he West, maybe even less so since Thailand is nowhere near as litigation-prone a society as some others. And even in those, it is a  rare occurrence.

 

People with any sense of decency will not refrain from helping  on this ground. I find that there are people who by nature are disinclined to help others and quick to come up with reasons why one should never do so. These same types feel a need to criticize anyone else who acts altruistically. Ignore them.

 

However, it is important not to inadvertantly do harm, so either (1) limit what you do to moving the person out of harm's way (if necessary), giving emotional reassurrance and calling for help, or (2) get basic first aid training.

 

 

 

 

[chubby]

On 4/24/2018 at 6:27 PM, Sheryl said:

Do not attempt to do more than you have adequate training for.

 

If you have no training then that means call 1669 for an ambulance, and stay with the person for reassurrance until help arrives. Nothing more unless the person is obviously in harm's way (for example, fell on the road with oncoming traffic) in which case move them to safety.

 

If you want to expand the range of what you can do, take a basic first aid and/or CPR course. These are not terribly lengthy but the content is more than can be conveyed effectively in a forum like this.

 

 

But even if you Do  know CPR, and are maintaining the biannaul recertification,  Thailand probably has no Good Samaritan law,  and you been  a foreigner,  you might not want to do actual CPR,   depends  what "collapse" means,

 

Back in the day with a seizure they advised to put something in their mouth to keep them from hurting their teeth or biting themselves, but that was long time ago,  aspirin  is for long term  'thinning of the blood' not going to do anything short term,  something  like   sublingual nitroglycein  might  help with  Angina/chest pain ; 

[HaleySabai]

On 4/25/2018 at 10:37 AM, dfdgfdfdgs said:

With Youtube and suchlike I really don't see the need to pay anybody any money for courses (of any type) in 2018, unless you want a paper qualification I guess.

 

I was really just looking for a diagnosis on what happened to the woman.  I suppose I should take my own advice and go and look on youtube.

There you go...just answered your own question.

 

The thing about medical or safety procedures; it is helpful to actually go and get real-person instruction because these new 'skills' need to be implanted in such a way that they can be applied in a real-world "life-threatening" situation. Having them reinforced through hands-on instruction is direct and more likely to retain the skill for when YOU or someone else really needs it.

 

Not to say the medium (internet) is not useful, it obviously is. Your own interest and intent will make right use of it.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2018 by HaleySabai

[dfdgfdfdgs]

On 4/26/2018 at 8:01 AM, chubby said:

aspirin  is for long term  'thinning of the blood' not going to do anything short term,

I'm hardly an expert but I think this is wrong info, based on everything I've read online.

[coxyhog]

I have some recent experience of this,having passed out in the street in Jomtien a couple of months ago.

I'm pretty certain I was dehydrated after a session in a non airconditioned gym.

I was walking down the road with a mate & I suddenly felt faint,which I told my buddy about.

The next thing I recall was waking up & there's a complete stranger holding my legs in the air.

My mate had told this guy that I was feeling faint & I guess the idea was to get blood to my brain & get me conscious again.

Finished with a trip to Pattaya Memorial for some sutures in my bonce.

[MaeJoMTB]

On 4/25/2018 at 5:31 PM, DipStick said:

Very sad to note  your views on trying to  save / comfort a fellow human being in distress have racial implications.

I'm not a racist, I'll walk past sick white, black or brown people. As my wife says ...... If it's not my family, then it's not my business.

 

@coxyhog

If you feel faint, sit down. Then you don't have so far to fall.

Edited May 31, 2018 by MaeJoMTB