Drug poisoning can be accidental or intentional. This happens because sometimes drugs are prescribed, but sometimes they are sold illegally or are also freely available in the market today. The symptoms of drug poisoning vary and depend on the medicine taken.

First Aid for Drug Poisoning
First aid for helping a person out with drug poisoning includes the procedure below:

• Keep safe and away from the victim if he turns violent as illegally sold drugs can sometimes lead to irrational behavior and aggression in people
• Call 911 and explain the circumstances (they would take a call on whether police should be involved or not)
• If it is safe for you monitor the victim’s airway and breathing
• Remove all obstructions from the mouth
• Be ready to resuscitate if need arises
• If the person loses consciousness place him or her in recovery position
• Call 911 and stay there till they arrive
• Try looking for proof for drug poisoning to hand over to the medical staff

Even if you find a suspected empty container of pills pass it on to the medical team to assess the situation and cause of poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning results from what is commonly referred to as alcohol abuse, which is the excessive intake of alcohol. Drinking is not injurious to heath unless it is unrestricted which has a severe impact on the central nervous system which controls all senses, thoughts and feelings. The initial stage of drinking gives one the kick and gradually one begins to lose reason and thought with successive drinks. As the consumption increases, one’s capacity to breathe decreases till he or she finally stops breathing.

The risks associated with alcohol poisoning therefore include – injury, vomiting, choking, hypothermia, decreased and eventually no breathing.

First Aid for Alcohol Poisoning
You should always be prepared to resuscitate a person for alcohol poisoning and if he or she becomes unconscious place in a recovery position.

• Monitor the breathing and airway
• If unconscious place in recovery position
• If he vomits remove the vomit from the mouth or it could also lead to choking
• If conscious make the person stay still
• Check for external injuries and treat
• Keep the person warm as high intake of alcohol dilates the blood vessels making him or her more vulnerable to cold
• If you are confused about the condition of a person call 911 at once

Alcohol poisoning should not be underestimated say experts. The effect of alcohol varies from person to person and depends on various factors such as body weight, intake history and body fat.

Miscarriage is a terrible loss for a couple, especially the mother. Giving the right kind of assurance and medical attention can save her the trauma. A miscarriage is characterized by the loss of a child in the mother’s womb within the first 24 weeks. Many causes can be detected but sometimes it remains a mystery. Most of the reported miscarriages have occurred before the twelfth week itself.

The symptoms of miscarriage include bleeding (spotting or sudden heavy flow), cramp like pain in the abdomen, shock caused by bleeding and passing fetus with other products which may seem like a big plot of blood.

First Aid and Treatment for Miscarriage
If you are assisting a person having gone through a miscarriage, follow the procedure below:

• Give assurance to the person because she is going to be highly distressed and scared at that moment. Get another woman’s help or her partner’s to assist you in bringing her to a private position, if need arises.
• In case of excessive bleeding, pain and shock call 911 at once
• Reassure again and again and offer her whatever she needs like a towel, sanitary pad, etc
• Anything that has passed out has to be examined by the medical staff but keep it away from the patients view

Group therapy works well for mother’s who have lost their babies to share and come to terms with their loss. Doctors should assist in finding support groups.

An asthma attack occurs when the muscles of the airway go into a spasm and make it very difficult for the person to breathe, particularly to exhale air. Asthma attacks can be a result of stress, accident or an allergy. Sometimes, the causes cannot be identified. However, the incidence of asthma attacks has been on the rise.

First Aid for Asthma Attack
First aid tips for helping someone with an asthma attack are listed below:

• Reassure the person as that could calm the person down and ease breathing
• Make the person sit and bend a little forward to aid in breathing
• If the person has an inhaler to control the asthma attack, then help him or her reach it
• If the person is still in distress call an ambulance
• Help the person take medication/inhaler every 5-10 minutes before medical assistance arrives (the medication does not work within 5 whole minutes for a person who is suffering his or her first asthma attack)

A person is usually exhausted after an asthma attack. If the breathing improves, medical help may not be needed. However, referring the attack to a doctor is always advisable to detect the cause of the asthma attack. A spacer (medication is put at the end from where the child just breathes in) is recommended for children instead of an aerosol inhaler which is commonly used by adults.