What are the signs and symptoms of a seizure? Seizures can present in many different ways: Involuntary twitching Sudden change in consciousness Unusual eye movements A vacant stare Numbness or inability to use a...

What are the symptoms and signs of a headache? Babies and toddlers may not be able to tell you that they have a headache. Some other symptoms and signs that may accompany a headache...

Splints are common injuries, especially in those undertaking outdoor activities or DIY. If a splinter is embedded deeply, difficult to remove or on a joint then leave it in place and seek medical attention. ...

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that breaks down the sugar that we digest, so that it can be used by the cells of the body or...

Anaphylaxis is an extremely dangerous life-threatening allergic reaction. The name ‘anaphylaxis’ means ‘without protection’ and indeed, the condition is caused by a massive over-reaction of the body’s protection (immune) system. Luckily, severe anaphylactic reactions are...

Choking is a common cause of accidental death and often preventable. Objects such as food, sweets or small objects can easily become lodged in the airway if they are accidentally ‘breathed in’ rather than...

Head injuries are a common and potentially life-threatening. It is important for first aiders to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a serious head injury and seek early medical advice. In...

A heart attack occurs when a blood vessel supplying the heart becomes blocked causing a lack of oxygen to reach the heart. A heart attack is a medical emergency and requires prompt emergency treatment in...

First aiders and first responders need to have a basic understanding of medical terminology. Here’s our list of common medical terms and what they mean. Please leave a comment on this post if you...

Are you preparing for a Basic First Aid exam or written test? Here are fifteen practice first aid questions to help you revise. The answers to these practice questions are at the end of...

Are you preparing for an upcoming CPR or AED written exam? Here are some practice written questions to help you improve your performance. They are all multiple choice and the answers are at the...

Chest compressions are the most important component of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). They work by manually ‘squeezing’ the heart and pushing blood around the body in order to keep vital organs alive. In order for...

The very first thing you should do if you find someone collapsed is to assess the situation for any hazards to yourself or bystanders. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. It is important...

ELITE is an acronym used to remember the different aspects of a manual handling risk assessment. So what does ELITE stand for? Environment Consider the environment where the manual handling task is taking place. Are...