Category: First aid blog

An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is a medical device used to help victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) who are collapsed and not breathing. The AED analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if...

Puncture wounds, such as stepping on a nail or being stuck with a tack, don’t bleed much, and the wound often closes up quickly.  However, these wounds can be especially dangerous due to the...

A febrile convulsion is a fit or seizure as a result of a fever (high temperature) and is very common in babies and young children. Unfortunately, many parents and carers know relatively little about this condition...

All of us have experienced a minor cut or wound at some point in our lives. Minor cuts and scrapes usually don’t require a trip to the emergency room. However, proper first aid home treatment...

Domestic pets are responsible for most animal bites. In general, dogs are more likely to bite humans than cats. However, cat bites are more likely to become infected. The correct first aid treatment is...

Calling for emergency assistance quickly is vital in many first aid situations. We all know how to call for help in our home country, but what about when travelling? Most countries have emergency numbers...

First aid is the immediate, basic, medical assistance given to an injured or suddenly ill person. It provides a stop-gap until the victim can receive professional medical care. Anyone can give first aid to...

At some time in the future, you may be called on to assist with childbirth. This activity is a most rewarding one for a first aider/first responder, and there is no need to be...

CPR is a medical acronym which stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.  CPR is used when a person suffers a cardiac arrest where the heart stops pumping blood around the body. A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency requiring...

An unconscious patient is at risk of blocking their airway and suffocating. The main reason for this occurring is due to the tongue. An unconscious patient loses all their muscular tone, and this includes...

The majority of bleeding noses can be treated at home with simple first aid steps. Nosebleeds are common and rarely serious. However, it’s important to know the correct first aid treatment for dealing with...

All open wounds are at risk of becoming infected. An infected wound can cause complications such as scarring, delayed healing and even blood poisoning (sepsis). Early medical treatment is vital to fight the infection....

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is sometimes called the “invisible killer”,  and here’s a good reason for this. Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels (for example, coal or...

Giving rescue breaths is an important component of conventional CPR. Although some guidelines now promote ‘Hands-only CPR’ (chest compressions only), rescue breaths remain taught as part of conventional CPR. There is increasing evidence of...