In an unconscious patient, the most common cause of airway obstruction is when the muscles holding the tongue relax causing the tongue to fall back into the oral cavity blocking the airway. If it...

Heatstroke The most serious of the heat-related syndromes, heatstroke can be brought on by exercise or work in a hot environment, coupled with inadequate fluid intake. Young children, older adults, obese people, and people...

All foods contain small amounts of naturally occurring bacteria, however, improper cooking, handling or storage can result in the bacteria multiplying to large enough numbers to cause sickness – food poisoning. Food can also...

Asthma is a chronic (long-term), inflammatory disease in which the lining of a person’s airways becomes swollen and inflamed, the muscles surrounding the airways constrict and mucus production increases, leading to mucus plugs. Asthma...

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...