Immobilizing a fracture is an important skill for first aiders and first responders. Good immobilization will reduce pain and reduce the chance of further complications.  Various types of splints and immobilisation materials are available, commonly encountered...

Spinal immobilization is performed in order to reduce the chance of further damage occurring to the spinal cord. First aiders and first responders may be taught a variety of different methods to immobilize the...

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the result of damage to myelin, the protective sheath surrounding the nerve fibres of the central nervous system. Myelin works like insulating cable helping to...

Taking a manual blood pressure (using a sphygmomanometer) can be more accurate than using an electronic blood pressure machine.  The following method, should be used to measure blood pressures with manual sphygmomanometers. The cuff...

Performing a thorough head to toe assessment (sometimes called a ‘body check’) is an important step in the secondary survey.  Systematically searching the patient, region by region, first aiders should make a note of all...

Chest pain is an important symptom for first aiders and first responders to be able to assess and manage. Chest pain can have serious causes (such as a heart attack) which are important not...

Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of accidental death and injury worldwide. The injuries caused by road accidents vary depending on the mechanism of injury involved in the collision. To identify the possible...

Car accidents are, unfortunately, a leading cause of both non-fatal and fatal road traffic injuries. According to the WHO, between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, while around 1.3 million people have...

Are you studying for an upcoming Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) course? Confused by the pre-course reading material?  We’ve put together some questions and answers for learners taking a Provide First Aid course. These questions...

The best method for assessing a casualty in an emergency situation is to perform a quick primary survey followed by a more thorough secondary survey. A primary survey is a quick assessment of a casualty...

Burns and scalds are common household injuries. It is important for first aiders to be able to accurately assess a burn and call for prompt medical help early if required.  One method of assessing...

A defibrillator is a lifesaving piece of medical equipment which delivers an electrical shock to a cardiac arrest victim.  Defibrillators are found in many public places including shops, public transport stations and government buildings....

COWS is a method of assessing a victim’s level of response when dealing with a collapsed victim.  Although a slightly unusual memory aid, it does remind first aiders of the importance of assessing the...

Are you preparing for a first aid or CPR exam/test? Here’s some common exam questions and answers to help you prepare for your upcoming exam! How many beats per minute should the speed of...