First aid topics

Dog bites can produce nasty injuries. As well as the obvious injury caused, dog bites carry an extra risk from infection. One of the most well-known diseases carried by dogs is rabies. You can learn more about Rabies from the World Health Organization...

What is a heart attack? The heart is a muscle which pumps blood around the body. Like every other muscle in the body, it requires a good blood supply to ensure enough oxygen & nutrients are delivered and waste metabolic products (such as Carbon...

There are numerous reasons why someone may have a seizure (convulsion / fit). One of the most well known causes is a medical condition called Epilepsy, where there is a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain (Learn more about Epilepsy ). However...

On average, one person every 40 seconds has a stroke in the United States [1]. Early medical treatment can significantly improve the outcome of a stroke, therefore being able to recognise the signs & symptoms of a stroke is incredibly important. What...

In 2009, an estimated 17.5 million adults in the United States suffered from asthma [1]. Most of us have heard of this common medical condition, but what exactly is it? What is Asthma? The body has a system of tubes (known as airways) to carry air...

Most of us are allergic to something whether it be pets, pollen in the air or certain foods. Normally, our allergic reaction consists of mild discomfort and irritation and doesn't cause severe problems. However, an increasing number of people suffer...

The average person has around 8 - 10 pints of blood in their body. Our blood is vital to life. It carries Oxygen to all the cells in our body and removes waste products such as Carbon Dioxide. Damaging an artery (and even a vein) can lead to severe...

What is a cardiac arrest? A Cardiac Arrest is when your heart stops beating. This is not the same as a "heart attack ", although a heart attack may lead to a cardiac arrest. There are numerous causes of cardiac arrests, including: A heart attack...

There are a wide variety of chemicals and substances which can cause chemical burns. These can range from household chemicals such as bleach, cleaning products, pesticides to strong industrial chemicals used in the workplace. Chemical burns can be incredibly...

Choking occurs when an object obstructs our 'airway' - the pipe that takes air from our mouth/nose to our lungs. Babes & children are the highest risk group for accidental choking, often on small household objects or food. Any  object can cause ...

We've all had them, simple cuts and grazes are a common first aid problem. There are some simple steps you should take: Step 1 : Stop any bleeding. You can elevate the wound or apply direct pressure using a sterile gauze swab/pad. Step 2 : Clean...

What is diabetes? Broadly speaking, diabetes is a problem with the body's control of blood sugar levels. The body produces a variety of hormones to control blood sugar. The most important is insulin which is released by the pancreas. Insulin acts to...

Most of us will have experienced a faint at some point in our lives, but what exactly causes this phenomenon? A faint is a brief and sudden loss of consciousness, normally due to a reduction in the blood flow to the brain. Normally, a faint results...

Generally, you can have several categories of fractures: > Open fracture:  This is where the bone has pierced the skin and caused an open wound which may bleeding. There is a high risk of infection with these injuries > Closed fracture:  A f...

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperate drops below 35 degrees Celsius (95 farenheit). Our body temperature is normally maintained between about 36.5 - 37.5 degrees Celsius. This is the optimum temperature for our body's processes to work. Any c...

An open wound is an easy entry point for a whole range of nasty bugs and micro-organisms. As result, open wounds can often become infected. Prevention is better than cure  - always clean open wounds immediately after injury. Keep wounds covered with s...

We've all suffered a burn at some point in our lives. These injuries, though small, can be painful and incredibly annoying. Many items around the home can cause burns; from the hot water in your kettle to the ice in your fridge. If you ever suffer...

Every parents favourite injury, a nose bleed! The nose has an abundant blood supply to help warm and moisten air when we breath in. However this makes it prone to bleeding, especially if it is bumped or knocked. First aid for nosebleeds Step 1:  ...

Just about anything can be poisons if taken in big enough doses (even carrots !). There are a variety of routes by which poisons can enter our bodies. Poisons could be Inhaled - breathed in Absorbed through the skin or other exposed surfaces ...

Snake bites, whilst rare, can be lethal. Therefore its useful to know the correct first aid for a snake bite, especially if you work/live/are visting an area known to be home to snakes. If someone suffers a snake bite, follow these simple first aid...

Knowing what to do when someone is unconscious could save their life. Read on to find out all about unconsciousness! What is unconsciousness? When someone is unconscious they are totally unaware of their surroundings. They won't be able to speak, s...

There's nothing more annoying than a wasp sting - especially at a summer BBQ. Luckily, the first aid for a wasp sting is incredibly simple...read on to find out how to deal with a pesky sting! First aid for wasp stings Step  1:  Watch for any signs o...