Category: First aid blog

Febrile seizures are a relatively common childhood condition, referring to a child having a seizure when they have a high temperature most usually as a result of an infection. Although febrile seizures may be...

Cerebral compression occurs when there is a build up of pressure inside the skull. Cerebral compression can be caused by bleeding into the skull or swelling of the brain tissue after a head injury. It...

SOCRATES is a mnemonic which can be used by first aiders and healthcare professionals to assess pain.  Pain is a complex symptom with lots of different dimensions and characteristics. Asking about and documenting a...

The heart is a very complex organ, made up of many specialised structures designed to work in unison. The heart can suffer from a variety of problems with the most common being a heart...

Schizophrenia is a mental health illness affecting 1 in 100 people. It is due to excess of a brain hormone called dopamine. The cause is still being investigated but researchers believe that it may be related...

AEIOU TIPS is a mnemonic used to remember common causes of altered level of consciousness (sometimes called Altered Mental State – AMS). First aiders and first responders would not be expected to be able to...

SEEP is a first aid mnemonic used to remember the key steps for dealing with major bleeding. It stands for Sit or lay, Examine, Elevate and Pressure.  Sit or lay Your first action should...

Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions. Across the world, an estimated 300 million people are living with asthma. It is very common in childhood with around 1 in 7 children suffering from...

Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the meninges which are the protective layers of the brain. It is caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses. Viral meningitis is rarely contagious and is usually...

Diabetes is a disease resulting in high blood sugar levels in the body. It is due to a problem with the body’s production or response to insulin. Insulin is the hormone which controls the level of...

A normal temperature ranges from 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. A fever may indicate an infection or an illness. People often use a thermometer to measure their body temperature at home when feeling ill....

A heart attack is caused by a sudden obstruction of the blood supply to a section of heart muscle. It is usually caused by a blood clot (thrombus), which leads to a blockage in...

Angina is characterised by chest pain, which comes on with exercise or emotion and is relieved by rest. It is caused by narrowing of the coronary artery network, such that when the heart muscle is...

A fracture (broken bone) is a common injury often caused by excessive force being applied to a bone. There are many different types of fractures and some are more serious than others. The first...