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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
  • A Medical Emergency
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Gastroenteritis Treatment

Call 911 if:

  • The person experiences signs of dehydration.
  • The person may have food poisoning from eating a canned food.

Know the Signs of an Emergency:

Signs of dehydration:

  • Little to no urination
  • Extreme thirst
  • Lack of tears 
  • Dry mouth 
  • Sunken eyes 
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Rapid breathing and heartbeat
  • Lack of alertness

Signs of food poisoning from eating a canned food:

  • Blurred or double vision 
  • Trouble swallowing or breathing
  • Muscle weakness

1. Prevent Dehydration

  • Give a child an oral rehydration solution. Call your health care provider for age-appropriate dosing specifics.
  • Give an adult as much clearfluid as possible.
  • The person should drink fluids slowly in frequent, small amounts. Drinking too much too fast can worsen nausea.

 

2. When to Call a Doctor

Seek medical help if:

  • Vomiting in an adult or a child age 2 or older lasts more than 1 day or a fever or severe diarrhea (large amounts of loose stool every 1 to 2 hours) lasts more than 2 days.
  • A child under age 2 has vomiting or diarrhea for more than 12 hours or has a fever with vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Vomit or diarrhea turns bloody or tarry.
  • The person has kidney, liver, or heart disease and must restrict fluid intake.
  • The person develops sudden, severe abdominal pain.
  • Dehydration symptoms develop.
  • Symptoms fail to resolve after a week.

 

3. Follow Up

  • Gradually ease food back into the person's diet.
  • Start with bland, easy-to-digest food such as crackers, bananas, toast, rice, and chicken.
  • Avoid dairy, caffeine, and alcohol until recovery is complete.
  • If medical treatment is necessary, the person may receive fluids intravenously and anti-nausea medications.

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on September 27, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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