Fractures of the pelvis often cause life threatening internal blood loss are one of the most serious musculoskeletal injuries. The SAM Sling is a non-invasive, easy to use, single-use device, which can be applied...

In this first aid blog post we explain some of the science behind electrical injuries and the different patterns of injuries that occur.  The overall outcome of an electric shock to an individual depends...

Fractures (broken bones) are common injuries for first aiders to have to deal with.  The correct first aid management of fractures is important as this will reduce pain and promote fracture healing.  When treating all...

Asthma, one of the commonest medical conditions, is a disease in which the airways become blocked or narrowed. The young and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. The effects of asthma are reversible, but they...

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...