Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) comprises of chest compressions and rescue breaths. A common question from learners is if CPR can be performed on a bed (Eg: at home). The aim of CPR is to keep...

Sprains and strains are common injuries which a first aider may encounter. So what is the difference between a sprain and a strain? Sprain  A sprain occurs when a ligament is torn at or near a...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia which affects millions of people.  Atrial fibrillation occurs when the electrical activity in the heart becomes disrupted and the chambers of the heart stop beating in synchrony....

A 12 lead ECG/EKG (electrocardiogram) is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. Some advanced first responders may be trained in recording 12 lead ECG/EKGs.  Electrical activity of the heart Electrical impulses...

An ECG/EKG is a tracing of the electrical activity of the heart. In this blog post we’ll take a basic look at the components of an ECG trace.  The diagram below shows a the...

Blood pressure is the force or pressure which the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels.  When the left ventricle contracts and pushes blood into the aorta, the pressure produced is called...

Measuring a pulse rate is an important skill for first aiders and first responders to acquire.  When we feel the patients pulse at the wrist, we are feeling the pressure generated in the artery...

What is shock in medical terms? The best way to describe shock is that the body has lost blood (or another fluid) which carries oxygen around the body. If this blood is lost, sufficient...

Casualties are placed in the recovery position whenever they are found to be unconscious and breathing. This is a stable position and maintains a clear airway. The recovery position allows fluids to drain freely...

It is important to ensure that strict standards of hygiene are observed during CPR practice. There is the potential for infection to be passed from student to student when practicing rescue breaths on resuscitation...

The aim of the jaw thrust is to open the airway with minimal movement of the cervical spine. It should be performed by trained first aiders when there is a suspicion of a spinal...

Listening to breath sounds (auscultation) can provide important information about a variety of respiratory conditions. Advanced first responders may be trained in chest auscultation depending on their local protocols. In this blog post we...

The respiratory system is made up of the nose, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi (air passages) and alveoli.  The lungs are protected by the rib cage. Normal respiration depends on the...

In this first aid blog post we’ll look at some of the different terms used to describe seizures and what they mean.  Tonic – clonic seizure Tonic means stiffening.  Clonic means jerking. In these...