Arthritis is a common medical condition affecting the joints. The two major subtypes of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). So what is the difference between them? The term ‘Arthritis’ means disease...

Cheyne-Stokes respiration or Cheyne-Stokes breathing is an abnormal type of breathing. It is characterized by irregular breathing patterns that start off with long and difficult breaths followed by rapid and shallow breaths and moments...

Hypothermia is a state of low body temperature. It is important for first aiders to be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. These depend on how cold the patient is. In...

Hypothermia is the lowering of core body temperature to 35°C (95°F) or below. This is an important medical emergency for first aiders and first responders to recognise.  Commonly encountered causes of hypothermia include: overwhelming...

A stroke is a medical emergency which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted (either by a blood clot or bleed into the brain). Assessment of patients believed to be having...

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary episode of symptoms that begins like a stroke and lasts between a few minutes to 24 hours. Also known as a mini-stroke, it does not cause...

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, either by a blood clot blocking an artery or bleeding due to a burst blood vessel, and the brain cells are deprived...

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to relieve the pain, stiffness and inflammation of painful conditions affecting the muscles, bones and joints. Some first aiders may be trained to admininster NSAIDs such as Iburpofen...

Fractures of the pelvis often cause life threatening internal blood loss are one of the most serious musculoskeletal injuries. The SAM Sling is a non-invasive, easy to use, single-use device, which can be applied...

In this first aid blog post we explain some of the science behind electrical injuries and the different patterns of injuries that occur.  The overall outcome of an electric shock to an individual depends...

Fractures (broken bones) are common injuries for first aiders to have to deal with.  The correct first aid management of fractures is important as this will reduce pain and promote fracture healing.  When treating all...

Asthma, one of the commonest medical conditions, is a disease in which the airways become blocked or narrowed. The young and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. The effects of asthma are reversible, but they...

Immobilizing a fracture is an important skill for first aiders and first responders. Good immobilization will reduce pain and reduce the chance of further complications.  Various types of splints and immobilisation materials are available, commonly encountered...

Spinal immobilization is performed in order to reduce the chance of further damage occurring to the spinal cord. First aiders and first responders may be taught a variety of different methods to immobilize the...