Category: First aid blog

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First aid for heat exhaustion and heat stroke

In this first aid blog post we discuss two important heat related conditions – heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion normally happens gradually. Working in high temperatures, medication and drugs (for...

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What is a pneumothorax? A first aid guide

‘Pneumo’ means air (as in pneumatic) and ‘thorax’ means chest, so pneumothorax simply means ‘air in the chest’. However it is not air in the normal anatomy of the air passages, but air in...

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What is hypovolemic shock?

Hypovolaemic circulatory shock is a clinical state in which blood supply to the body’s tissues is rendered inadequate by loss of blood, fluid or the loss of plasma in burns. It may be caused...

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The best first aid training videos

Showing videos during first aid training is a great way to make first aid classes more fun and interactive! Videos also help highlight some key first aid points such as the importance of early...

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The top 5 abdominal emergencies

Abdominal emergencies usually present with abdominal pain in association with other signs and symptoms. Even in hospitals with a wide range of diagnostic facilities it can be difficult to rapidly assess and diagnose an...

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Recognition and signs of Meningitis

Meningitis refers to the inflammation of the membranes (also called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by a viral, bacterial or rarely a fungal infection.  Whether meningitis is mild or life-threatening...

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What does DCAP-BTLS stand for?

When conducting physical examinations and head to toe surveys the acronym DCAP-BTLS can help in your discovery of injuries. Although not everyone likes acronyms, DCAP-BTLS is a useful way to structure your thinking when...

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What is Mechanism of Injury (MOI)?

First aiders should be aware of how to assess a mechanism of injury (MOI). Mechanism of injury describes how energy of motion is transferred to an individual resulting in injury. A classic example is...