Different medical conditions, their characteristics and the action which should be taken
| Medical Condition |
Presentation |
Provoking Factors |
Action |
| Asthma |
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Difficulty speaking
|
- Cold
- Exercise
- Allergen, e.g. pollen, animals
- Stressful situations
- Can be worse at night
|
- Asthmatics should always carry their medication
- Consider terrain and climate
- First aid involves keeping the person comfortable, sitting them up, reassuring them and allowing them to use their inhaler. Seek medical help if needed.
|
| Diabetes and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) |
Emergency tends to be hypoglycaemic attack, with a sudden onset. They will:
- Be weak, faint, hungry
- Behave oddly
- Sweat
- Have cold, clammy, pale skin
- A deteriorating response
|
Provoked by:
- Excess exercise
- Excessive alcohol
- Lack of food
- Illness
- May also accompany heat exhaustion, hypothermia and epileptic fit
|
Consider:
- Medical history
- Access to emergency services. Oral sugar will need to be given if conscious
- Regular mealtimes
- Storage of medication, e.g. insulin in fridge
- Person to be responsible for making provision for syringe disposal and emergency sugar supply
- Consider hygiene if insulin-dependent
|
| Epilepsy |
Seizures may be a brief 'absence' or major when there is sudden collapse, stiffening of the muscles and jerking of the limbs. Alarming to witness but usually not life-threatening and often brief. Following a rest they can resume normal activity. |
- Excess tiredness
- Hypoglycaemia
- Stress
|
- Safety of location depending on stability of the epileptic, e.g. working near cliff, water etc.
- If unstable, consider buddy system/supervision
- Access to emergency services
- Person may need recovery time and place
- Person should take medication with them
|
| Musculoskeletal disorders, e.g. arthritis, back pain |
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Reduced stamina
|
- Negotiating difficult terrain
- Long working sessions
- Driving
- Sitting
|
- May need to modify visit if terrain difficult
- Consider using additional transport
- Incorporate rest periods
|
| Lung and kidney conditions |
- Fatigue
- Reduced stamina
- Frequent absences
|
- Terrain
- Length of work sessions
|
- May require privacy and facilities for treatments
- May need to modify visit if terrain difficult
- Consider using additional transport
- Incorporate rest periods
|
| Heart conditions, e.g. angina |
- Chest pain
- Reduced stamina
- Fatigue
- Breathlessness
|
- Difficult terrain
- Worse on exertion
- Cold conditions
|
- Consider terrain and climate
- Person should carry medication
- Access to emergency services
- Incorporate rest periods
|
| Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) |
- Extreme fatigue
- Reduced stamina
- Frequent absences
|
- Arduous terrain
- Strenuous work
- Lengthy work sessions
|
- May need to modify visits if terrain difficult or person unable to participate
- Consider using additional transport
|
| Mental health problems |
- Stress
- Depression
- Aggression
|
- Loss of familiar surroundings and friends
- Travel anxiety
- Shared room
- Drugs and excessive alcohol
|
- Student 'buddy' support
- Select room mate carefully
- Pre-visit discussion with counsellor
- Mechanisms in place to allow early student return
|
In compiling the above tables the authors would wish to acknowledge the major role played by Joan Fletcher (Health & Welfare Unit, University of Plymouth) and by Ros Catlow (South West Regional Academic Centre, University of Plymouth). Our thanks to them both.