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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person on long-term steroids or with known adrenal problems has sudden severe weakness, vomiting, low blood pressure, or confusion.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Severe fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person on steroids for asthma, arthritis, or adrenal disease — especially if recently sick or missed doses.
Scene hazards: Shock and collapse, Vomiting with aspiration risk
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say suspected adrenal crisis on steroids.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay person flat. Raise legs 12 inches unless vomiting — then side position.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they have an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit — help use it per their written plan.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cover with blanket. Monitor breathing and responsiveness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Report steroid-dependent patient, vomiting, and low blood pressure signs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bring steroid emergency kit and medication list to hospital.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — IV hydrocortisone and fluids are required — this is not manageable at home once crisis starts.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Anyone on long-term steroids should carry an emergency card and injection if prescribed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT stop their regular steroids without medical advice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume it is just a stomach bug — adrenal crisis mimics flu.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Missing a few steroid pills is never serious
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People on long-term steroids can have adrenal crisis during illness or missed doses — it can be fatal.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Treating life-threatening adrenal crisis as a minor stomach illness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The adrenal glands cannot produce enough cortisol during stress, infection, or missed steroid doses.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Without cortisol, blood pressure drops and the body goes into shock.