Category: First aid blog

Heat stroke occurs from the sudden loss of the body’s ability to control its core temperature. Heat stroke is a medical emergency which first aiders should be able to recognise and summon early advanced...

The British Standard BS 8599 sets out the requirements for first aid kits in the workplace. The rules can seem confusing for some organisations and employers. In this first aid blog post we explain...

In this blog post we discuss the anatomy of the spinal cord for first aiders and first responders.  The spinal cord is a collection of nerve fibres connecting the brain to nerves which pass...

Pain is a complex phenomenon, a sensation ranging from mild discomfort to agony. The sensation of pain may be localised or systemic (widespread) and is subjective (varies from person to person). It is caused...

Hypovolemic shock occurs as a result of fluid loss from the circulatory system. This can be due to: Blood loss from external or internal bleeding Fluid loss with burns Fluid loss with severe vomiting...

The skeletal system consists of a rigid framework of bones (206 in the adult) that perform many functions. They: provide structural support for the body protect vital body organs (e.g. brain, heart, lungs) provide an...

Shock is the term used to describe the condition of a casualty when the oxygen supply to the tissues is inadequate to meet the needs of the body. First aiders and first responders should...

The respiratory system can be divided into two sections: upper and lower. The upper respiratory system includes the nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, pharynx (throat) and larynx (voice box). The throat is a common passageway...

Emergency scene management is a vital skill for all first aiders and first responders. So what does emergency scene management mean and how does it work? The safety of rescuers is the first priority...

Universal precautions (also commonly called standard precautions) are the basis of an approach to infection control which treats all human blood and materials as potentially infectious, and include: engineering controls administrative controls which include workplace...

Fractures and dislocations are common injuries to our musculoskeletal system. Most of us will break a bone in our lifetime! So what’s the difference between a fracture (broken bone) and dislocation? What is a...

The Apgar score is a standardised way of checking the health of a newborn baby. It was named after its creator, Dr Virginia Apgar, Professor of Anesthesiology at Columbia University in the USA, who died...

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a bleed beneath the surface of the eye (known as the conjunctiva). The most common cause is a burst blood vessel underlying the conjunctiva.  The blood vessels which supply the...

Oropharyngeal (OP) airways are curved plastic devices that assist in the maintenance of an adequate airway in the unresponsive casualty. The OP airway by itself does not replace correct airway management practices and should...