Most Common First Aid Emergencies in Qatar

Common medical emergencies such as cuts, amputations, burns, strokes, seizures, overdoses, choking, allergic reactions, and heart attacks may require immediate care before reaching a hospital or can be treated by basic first aid techniques. Many health emergencies can occur anywhere; at home, in the workplace, or in public spaces and the first few minutes make the difference between life and death.

Between January and October 2024, HMC’s Ambulance Service received more than 331,190 calls, increasing more than the total number of emergency calls in 2023. To ensure the fastest response for life-threatening emergencies, the public is urged to use 999 only for severe medical cases.

The community in Qatar plays a key role in helping the Ambulance Service reach people in need without delay. In any medical emergency, every second matters. The Ambulance Service’s mission is to deliver fast, life-saving care to those facing serious illness or injury and ensure safe transfer to the right hospital emergency department. In accordance with the statement expressed by Mr. Ali Darwish, Assistant Executive Director of HMC’s Ambulance Service and Mr. Abdulaziz Alyafei, Assistant Executive Director of Emergency Healthcare Coordination for HMC Ambulance Service.

By learning the basic first aid techniques, anyone can rescue and sustain someone’s life longer.

1. Severe bleeding
Action: Apply direct and firm pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or dressing.
Emergency: Call 999 if bleeding is heavy or does not stop. 

2. Choking
Action: If the person can cough, encourage them to do so. For severe choking, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts.
Emergency: Call 999 if the airway remains blocked after attempting to clear it. 

3. Burns and scalds
Action: Cool the burn immediately with cool or lukewarm running water for at least 20 minutes.
Caution: Do not apply creams, lotions, or ice.
Emergency: Seek medical help for severe burns or if the skin is broken or blistered

4. Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
Action: Move the person to a cool place, have them lie down, and give them plenty of water.
Emergency: Call 999 for heatstroke, which involves confusion, a high temperature, and hot, red skin. 

5. Cardiac arrest
Action: If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions immediately.
Emergency: Call 999 immediately. An automated external defibrillator (AED) should be used if available. 

6. Fainting, Seizures & Stroke
Action: Remember the F.A.S.T. method to identify a stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services.
Emergency: Call 999 immediately. The sooner a person receives treatment, the better the outcome.

7. Fractures and sprains
Action: Keep the injured limb still and provide support. Apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling.
Emergency: Call 999 for severe pain or a suspected back or neck injury, and do not move the person. 

8. Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
Action: For a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), help the person use their Epipen if they have one.
Emergency: Always treat anaphylaxis as a medical emergency and call 999 immediately.

 

!! TAKE NOTE: This is intended for awareness and basic understanding purposes shared by medical sources BUT proper training of practical skills and readiness should be learned accordingly. !!

Source: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), Gulf Times