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What can I do daily to improve my on-the-spot cognitive abilities?

Hey all I just came across an emergency situation irl that I felt useless in because of how slowly I was thinking. Basically it was someone getting an epileptic seizure and I had the info in my head for what to do but I did end up freezing a bit before I did anything. Really didn’t like it. The person is fine now but if I had reacted faster, we might have been able to prevent a couple problems.

I’ve been in other emergencies before where I had to call the shots but I guess I want to think faster and keep it consistent at a higher level, and I want to improve on it for future scenarios, but what can I do to do that?

Edit: Just wanted to say thanks for everyone’s replies, I’ll be looking into a routine to acclimate myself with these kinds of situations

DrRatso ,

Don’t feel bad, this is the reaction most people will have in a medical emergency.

As others have said, you need actionable knowledge and practice. Experienced emergency providers don’t have to think much to stabilise a patient, its all ingrained and practiced, almost like a reflex. A good team can deal with most emergencies efficiently without communication (not that they should).

Of all the interventions you could do during an emergency, heres the most important ones, find a way to practice them:

  • Assess safety (this includes not touching blood with bare hands) and Call for help. Even experienced providers forget this, because noone practices this. Your first instinct should be this in any emergency. When you practice, you should always practice this step too even if you just audibly day “I check for safety and look for help”, ideally you practice yelling for help.
  • Quality chest compressions, minimise downtime. Mouth to mouth is great, but not as important and not mandatory for bystanders, although it becomes more important in drowning and in younger people.
  • Asphyxiation - back slaps (strong, not pats) and abdominal thrusts.
  • Applying pressure to a bleeding wound. With gloves or the sole of your shoe on dressing.
  • Stable side laying position - in any unconscious person without the need for any of the above. This is the one and only thing you do during epileptic seizures too. Do not shove things into unconscious peoples mouths…
  • Ideally you know how to free up an airway via chin lift.

If you can practice these, you can actually save a life in an emergency.

snausagesinablanket ,
@snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world avatar

Smoke less weed.

Alborlin ,

All the replies telling you to practice for the situation, but its too vague. The best way to be prepared for the almost anything mentally is to be aware.It only comes through meditation. You need to be aware of your surroundings and yourself. You can think straight if you teach yourself. Sit in a room without any sound or anything. Close your eyes and let thoughts comes to mind , but don’t dwleve into each of them let them breeze through. It’s very hard , but you need to practice a lot… Your brain will learn this and you will be aware

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