A fractureAnother term used for a broken bone is the same as a broken bone and the two terms can be used interchangeably. A fractureAnother term used for a broken bone can occur for many reasons, often due to trauma or excess force being placed on the bone. Some rare medical conditions can also lead to an increased risk of fractures.

Generally, you can have several different types of fractures in first aid:

> Open fractureAnother term used for a broken boneA fractureAnother term used for a broken bone where the skin has been broken by the injured bone.: This is where the bone has pierced the skin and caused an open wound which may bleeding. There is a high risk of infection with these injuries

> Closed fractureAnother term used for a broken bone: A fractureAnother term used for a broken bone which has not caused an open wound

> Complicated fractureAnother term used for a broken bone: A fractureAnother term used for a broken bone which damages nerves and blood vessels, this can cause permanent nerve damage or loss of blood supply to a limb.

> ‘Greenstick’ fractureAnother term used for a broken bone: Common in children as their bone’s are more “bendy”, therefore their bones are less likely to fully break. Instead the bone splinters.

Signs and symptoms of fractures

If someone has a fractureAnother term used for a broken bone / broken bone, you may see any of the following:

> Pain

> Loss of movement of the limb / area

> Angulation

> Swelling & bruising (this may not occur immediately)

> Tenderness over the area

Fractures may not always be incredibly painful, the pain may take a few hours to develop.

First aid for fractures

If you suspect someone has a fractureAnother term used for a broken bone, then you should follow the first aid steps below:

1) Keep the area as still as possible, ask the person not to move it

2) Expose the site of injury to check for any bleeding or open wounds. If there is a bone through the skin then do not move it, instead cover with a sterile dressing if available. If bleeding apply gentle pressure around the wound.

3) Pad around the injured area with blankets / clothing. If the person has hurt their arm then ask them to hold it in the most comfortable position possible

4) Quickly arrange transport to the nearest hospital.

Call an ambulance if:

> You cannot move the person (for example, because they have hurt their leg)

> They have fractured a limb and it is turning blue / cold, this indicates a loss of blood supply to the limb which needs correcting urgently

> The casualty is in severe pain

> You suspect they may have other serious injuries

Most people do not know the number to call in the event of an emergency on holiday in Europe, a survey suggests.

The Foreign Office poll of more than 2,000 people in the UK found that just 14% were aware the 112 number could reach the emergency services.

Some 12% thought it connected to directory enquiries, while others believed it was a brand of perfume, the number of a bus or type of jeans.

Source: BBC News

112 is the European emergency number, it works in every European Union country. Today (11th February) is European 112 Day, an event aimed at highlighting this international emergency number.

People calling 112 are connected to an operator. Depending  on the national civil protection system, the operator (who may  be part of the police) will either deal with the call directly or transfer it to the appropriate emergency service (ambulance, fire brigade, etc.). In many cases, operators are able to answer in more than one language.

112 is free across the European Union, and some countries have adopted it as their main emergency number – worth remembering next time you’re heading off on holiday!

Learn more about the European emergency number

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperate drops below 35 degrees Celsius (95 farenheit). Our body temperature is normally maintained between about 36.5 – 37.5 degrees Celsius. This is the optimum temperature for our body’s processes to work. Any change in this temperature can cause life-threatening problems.

What causes hypothermia?

There are many reasons why someone may suffer from hypothermia. Most obviously, being exposed to the cold for a long period of time will cause the body temperature to decrease. Other factors such as “wind chill” and water can cause an incredibly rapid loss of heat. Our body can compensate up to a point for heat loss – we start to shiver and blood is diverted away from our limbs. However, when these compensation mechanisms start to fail our ‘core’ temperature starts to drop – Hypothermia.

Hypothermia doesn’t have to occur outside, an elderly person in a cold house can easily slip into hypothermia as they can’t compensate for the heat loss as well. In addition, babies are also at risk from the cold.

The signs and symptoms of hypothermia

If someone is suffering from hypothermia they may:

> Look pale

> Have ‘cyanosis’ – blueness around the lips and fingers

> Be shivering (not always – shivering stops in late stage hypothermia)

> Appear disoriented and lethargic

> Have a slow pulse and breathing rate

First aid treatment for hypothermia

If you suspect someone is suffering from Hypothermia then follow the steps below:

1) Take the casualty to a sheltered place (if outdoors), make sure any wet clothing is removed and replaced

2) Cover the casualty in several layers of blankets (or improvise – sleeping bags etc.)

3) Encourage the casualty to eat high energy foods and have a warm drink (not boiling, just warm)

4) Call an ambulance if hypothermia is serious

Your aim is to warm the casualty slowly, using blankets/hats/sleeping bags will do this. Do not be tempted to suddenly warm the casualty (e.g: by placing them in a hot bath) as this could cause blood to be diverted away from the vital organs.

Discuss all aspects of first aid, prehospital care and first aid training with people from all over the world.

Registration is totally free and only takes a couple of minutes, join now!

But who exactly are they? What do they do?

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is made up of three components:

1) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

2) Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

3) National Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies

Overall, these make up the international Movement which is the world’s largest humanitarian group. For this reason, the Movement is sometimes referred to the world’s “life support machine”. The IFRC estimates the Movement has nearly 100 million “members, volunteers and supporters”

The Movement is guided by 7 fundamental principles which underline all its work. These principles are:

> Humanity

> Impartiality

> Neutrality

> Independence

> Voluntary service

> Unity

> Universality

Or HINIVUU for short!

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The ICRC is a private organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ICRC’s mission is to protect victims of armed violence and conflict around the world and deliver humanitarian aid to areas affected by violence.

The ICRC is also responsible for monitoring adherence to the four Geneva conventions which lay out basic rules of war. The Geneva conventions seek to protect those not taking part in hostilities, such as medical personnel and wounded soldiers.

 ”The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.”

National Societies

Currently, there are 186 National Societies in existence. They predominantly work in their own country, providing services and humanitarian relief.

Each National Society will differ in terms of the services it provides. For example, the American Red Cross handles blood donations whereas the British Red Cross does not.

People interested in volunteering or working for the Movement will normally become a volunteer / staff member with their National Society. You can find a list of National Societies along with contact details on the IFRC’s website.

Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The IFRC is the umbrella organisation for the 186 National Societies. The IFRC works to co-ordinate humanitarian responses to natural disasters. It also plays a role in helping strengthen and develop the activities of National Societies.

The IFRC’s vision is…”To inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”

Whilst the IFRC does not accept volunteers directly from National Societies, it does employ members of staff in an co-ordination and advisory role.

Just fill out the form on the website in order to be sent your freebies! Apologies for international visitor but unfortunately these are only available for UK residents, sorry!

St Andrew’s First Aid have also released a great video as part of their campaign which aims to promote first aid skills amongst young people, worth a watch!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you haven’t heard of STFA, they are a first aid charity based in Scotland, UK with a mission to “provide everyone in Scotland with the highest standards in First Aid skills, services and volunteering opportunities”. They provide first aid cover at events throughout Scotland and run first aid training courses for businesses and members of the public.

Unfortunately, most people wouldn’t. This is a situation known as the bystander effect.

Wikipedia defines the bystander effect as:

 social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present

In effect, we conform to the social norm. No one else is helping so neither will we. In fact, you chances of being helped actually decrease if there are more people around. So you are less likely to receive help in a busy shopping street than you are in a secluded alleyway.

This seems hard to believe, surely people wouldn’t be left to suffer on their own?

Take a look at the following video on the bystander effect, it’s shocking:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

So what can we do about it? Simple first aid training can help increase your confidence if you ever have to help someone in public.

Have you ever had to help someone in public? Did other people walk on by?

- Good communication skills. Communicating with sick and injured people can be a challenge. Therefore you should choose someone who has excellent communication skills and a natural ability to talk to people. Communication is key to good casualty care and is very important when passing the casualty onto the next level of care. For instance if an ambulance has been called, a first aider will have to give a handover to the paramedic.

- Ability to work in a team. First aiders are often required to work alongside members of the emergency services, especially the ambulance service. You should look for someone who is a good team player.

- Ability to work under pressure. First aid situations can range from the mundane (a cut finger), to incredibly stressful and demanding (a cardiac arrest). A first aider should be able to keep their ‘cool’ under pressure and be able to manage tasks whilst having an awareness of the overall situation. If they panic, then they’re likely to make the situation much worse and cause the casualty further distress.

- Leadership. A first aider may have to take command of a potentially volatile situation. He or she may be looked upon by his/her colleges to provide leadership during an emergency. A first aider may also have to organise bystanders to assist in various tasks, such as carrying out a spinal log roll.

- Know their own limits. A key skill of first aid is being able to recognise someone who needs quick emergency help. A first aider should know the limits of their skills and knowledge and be able to call for further help when required rather than try to ‘go it alone’.

Overall, when choosing a first aider, remember that you are making an investment in your business/company. This person will be responsible for the health and welfare of your staff in an emergency. Make sure you choose wisely!

First aid acronym list

AEDA device that delivers a controlled electrical shockInadequate oxygen reaching the tissues. Can have various causes such as severe blood loss, burns or allergic reactions to the heart in order to restore its normal rhythm.: Automated external defibrillatorA device that delivers a controlled electrical shockInadequate oxygen reaching the tissues. Can have various causes such as severe blood loss, burns or allergic reactions to the heart in order to restore its normal rhythm.

ALS: Advanced life support

AVPU: Alert / Voice / Pain / Unresponsive

BLS: Basic life support

BM: Boehringer Mannheim – Blood sugar levels

BP: Blood pressure

CFR: Community first responder

CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

DNR: Do not resuscitate

DVT: Deep vein thrombosis

ECP: Emergency care practitioner

EMT: Emergency medical technician

FAST: Face / Arms / Speech / Time

GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale

GTN: Glyceryl trinitrate

KO: Knocked out

LoC: Loss of Consciousness / Level of consciousness

MI: Myocardial infarction (heart attackBlockage of an artery in the heart (coronary artery) causing severe chest pain and damage to heart muscle)

MIU: Minor injuries unit

NKDA: No known drug allergies

PEARL: Pupils equal and reacting to light

PMDI: Pressurised metered dose inhaler

PRF: Patient report form

PT: Patient

TB: Tuberculosis

TIASame as a strokeA blood clot or bleed in the brain causing symptoms such as loss of movement and facial droop., except symptoms resolve within 24 hours. Sometimes called a “Transi Ischaemic Attack” (TIA): Transient Ischemic Attack

VF: Ventricular fibrillation

VT: Ventricular tachycardia

Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis

We’re all familiar with ‘traditional’ first aid – helping people with a physical problem (whether it be an injury, illness or medical condition) before they seek professional medical attention.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an extension of the ‘first aid’ concept into helping people suffering from a mental health crisis (or at risk of developing one). The course is often run over a weekend and helps participants gain an understanding of various common acute mental health conditions and what ‘first aid’ steps they should take.

Mental Health First Aid originated in Australia, you can read more about the original programme on the MHFA Australia website.

MHFA programmes have spread all over the world, here are some links to national programmes:

> MHFA England

> MHFA Scotland

> MHFA Wales

> MHFA Canada

> MHFA USA

Have you ever been on a Mental Health First Aid course? Was it any good? Would you recommend it to others?