First aid guide – How to treat insect bites and stings
In most people, an insect bite or sting causes only a painful swelling with redness and itching at the site of the sting. But some people are severely allergic to these stings and being...
Author: John Furst
What does FISH SHAPED stand for in first aid?
If you’ve ever been on a first aid course the chances are you’ve been taught the first aid mnemonic FISH SHAPED. Its a slightly strange mnemonic but a very popular one amongst first aid trainers...
The primary survey for children and babies: DRAB
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation where a child or baby is ill or injured then you will need to perform a primary survey. The primary survey is a quick way to assess...
How to place a baby or child into the recovery position
If the child / baby is breathing normally but unconscious then you need to protect their airway by placing them into the recovery position. The recovery position involves rolling the casualty onto their side with...
How to perform CPR on a baby or child
If the baby / child is not breathing, you should call an ambulance and start rescue breaths and chest compressions immediately. You do not need to check for a pulse, as this often wastes valuable time....
A guide to shock for first aiders
What is shock? A lack of oxygen and essential nutrients reaching the tissues Shock is a medical emergency which can be caused by severe blood loss. The casualty does not receive enough oxygen and other...
A step by step guide to the recovery position
If a patient is unconscious but breathing normally, then you should place them in the recovery position in order to protect their airway. Knowing how to place someone in the recovery position is a vital...
Incident management for first aiders and responders
Incident management refers to the skills required to manage the scene of an emergency. First aiders may be ‘first on scene’ at an incident so need to know basic principles of incident management. The...
Infection Control for First Aid and CPR
As a first aider it is important to have a good understanding of infection control. Infection control is an important for two reasons: To protect yourself! Remember you are the most important person in any first...
First aid treatment for a febrile seizure
A febrile seizure, or febrile convulsion, is a fit/seizure which happens when a child’s body temperature is raised. Febrile seizures are common and often affect children aged between 18 months and 3 years. Most...
Should I give aspirin to someone having a stroke?
Aspirin is a drug often mentioned in the first aid treatment for a heart attack. Giving Aspirin can save someone’s life if they are having a heart attack, but what about a stroke? Should...
How Does Aspirin Help in a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a common medical emergency which occurs when a blood vessel supplying the heart with blood becomes blocked. This causes the heart muscle to become starved of oxygen and vital nutrients....
First aid for a panic / anxiety attack
A panic attack (sometimes called anxiety attack) is an episode of intense fear and anxiety often accompanied by physical symptoms. Most episodes last between 5 – 30 minutes although they can occur for longer periods. During a panic...
The importance of “FAST Test” in case of stroke emergency
World Stroke Day – Observed on 29th October every year – is an annual reminder to think about those who are affected by stroke. This day reminds us that stroke is one of the...
