The primary goals of first aid
In this blog post we describe the primary goals of first aid – the three Ps and the three Bs! The 3p’s – The Primary Goals of First Aid There are three primary goals...
Category: First aid blog
What does PQRST stand for in first aid?
PQRST is a really useful first aid mnemonic to use when assessing pain. At firstaidforfree.com we love our first aid mnemonics and we’ve tried to compile a list of the best first aid mnemonics...
How to prevent hypothermia
What is hypothermia? Hypothermia is usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold. When more heat is lost than the body can generate, hypothermia can result. It is accelerated by wet or damp clothing or...
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...
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 first aid classification of burns
In this blog post we look at the different ways of classifying different burns in first aid. Burns can be classified by their type and depth. Classifying burns is an important skill for first aiders and first...
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 aiders and first responders
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 aid...
How to take a respiratory rate in first aid
The respiratory rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. Knowing how to take a respiratory rate is an important skill for first aiders and first responders. The rate is usually...
