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Chemicals Inhaled

If there are poisonous substances in the air, these will be breathed in. Thick smoke causes the muscles lining the airways to go into spasm; the victim begins to choke and suffocate. Carbon monoxide (from vehicle exhausts) replaces oxygen in the blood, causing oxygen...

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries usually fall into one of three categories: penetrating wounds, blast injuries, and broken bones. Penetrating wounds allow air from the outside to enter the lungs directly. This causes breathing difficulties similar to those of Asphyxia; blood may be...

Choking

Food, vomit, and the tongue itself can obstruct the airway to the lungs and cause choking. The signs of choking are difficulty breathing and speaking, and sometimes coughing. If the obstruction cannot be removed, the person will turn blue and clutch at the throat,...

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 soapy water....