Category: First aid blog

Meningitis refers to the infection of the meninges, the layered membranes that support and protect the brain and spinal cord. It most commonly strikes infants and children between the ages of one month and five...

The rash caused by contact with the poison ivy, oak and sumac plants is perhaps the most common form of allergic contact dermatitis. Almost everyone whose skin brushes up against these plants may experience...

When the body fails to replenish the water lost each day in urine, sweat, and feces, dehydration occurs. Although dehydration can result from inadequate intake of water, it is more commonly caused by abnormal...

This is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that occasionally spreads among large numbers of children in day care, schools and camps. It occurs most frequently in the summer months and in areas with...

Scarlet fever is characterized by high fever and a bright, red rash covering the entire body. Scarlet fever occurs in conjunction with about 10 percent of cases of streptococcal respiratory infection, or strep throat....

Also known as varicella, chicken pox is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever (usually mild) and a rash (sometimes severe) consisting of tiny blisters or vesicles. Caused by one of a group...

Injuries from bites and stings range from trivial to fatal, depending upon the source of the bite and the child’s response to it. For example, a bee sting is usually a minor, albeit painful,...

Inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids and covering the eyeball (conjunctivitis) is one of the most common eye conditions affecting both adults and children. Symptoms frequently begin in one eye but usually spread...

When a child has a serious injury or infection, the body may react by going into shock. Shock occurs when the body tried to redirect blood to the brain and other important internal organs....

Nosebleeds can be caused by a blow to the nose, picking or poking nostrils or blowing too hard. Sometimes a nosebleed has no obvious cause. Whatever the cause, the bleeding may seem heavy because...

A burn is the damage caused to skin and deeper body structures by heat (flame, scald, contact with electricity), chemical agents or radiation. The main risk in the early phase of burn injury is...

Children are the victims in more than half of all significant burn injuries in the United States. Burns may be caused by heat, flame, hot liquids or metals, steam or hot water, sun, chemicals...

Effective first aid is vital in order to help a victim who is bleeding severely. Major blood loss can rapidly cause shock and death, therefore effective control of bleeding is vital whilst awaiting for...

The signs of a stroke are often subtle and easily missed. For example, the victim suddenly finds that his face, arm or leg is limp or numb, often on the same side of the...