The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a scoring system used to assess patients with a reduced level of consciousness. In this blog post, we’ll look at how to calculate a GCS score for a...

Bronchodilators open up constricted airways by relaxing the smooth muscle that lines the airway. It does this mainly by stimulating beta-adrenergic receptors on the smooth muscle. (A drug that stimulates a receptor is called...

In this post, we’re going to look at cardiac arrhythmias. What exactly is an arrhythmia? The normal heartbeat is initiated at the sinoatrial (SA) node. An irregular heartbeat is known as an arrhythmia including...

Approximately 4.6 million people in the US are affected by congestive heart failure (CHF). First aiders and first responders may encounter a patient with CHF. In this blog post we’ll look at CHF in...

First aiders and first responders may encounter patients with a variety of different eye conditions. In this blog post we’ll discuss some of the most common eye conditions and what causes them. Cataracts Cataracts...

Airway obstruction occurs when children are unable to breathe normally because food or other objects block their internal airways (choking); materials cover or block their external airways (suffocation); or items become wrapped around their...

Both the Box Jellyfish and the Portuguese Man-of-War have long tentacles with stinging nematocysts, that deliver a powerful, painful sting, sometimes causing scarring, and in some very rare cases, cardiac arrest. Most beaches will...

Having a simple first aid kit is vital for hikers and backpackers. A good hiking first aid kit will contain essential items to treat common minor injuries and ailments, whilst being lightweight and waterproof....

This first aid coffee mug is a great present for all first aid enthusiasts!  Here in the office we’ve been searching for a high quality first aid mug. This one is the best we’ve...

Commonly known as “the flu,” influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. A typical influenza infection causes fever, respiratory symptoms, such as cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat, headache,...

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lifesaving medical device that delivers an electrical shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Early defibrillation is critical in order to provide the best chances of survival from...

911 is the universal emergency number in North America. Dialing 911 will connect you to the local emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, mountain rescue etc.). It is important to understand when to dial 911,...

Every parent should know basic first aid skills. A baby first aid kit is a must-have item for both new and seasoned parents. Bumps and scrapes are a normal part of growing up so...