Category: First Aid

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. It causes the airways to narrow and swell and they may produce extra mucus making breathing difficult. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults. What Causes Asthma? Contact with […]

First aid is not always a one-size-fits-all approach – there are some circumstances which call for an adjustment in the way first aid is administered. Due to the associated anatomical and physiological changes, pregnancy is one such example where some changes should be made. Pregnancy can also cause rescuers to hesitate to administer first aid […]

With the build up to the festive period, and the potential for overindulgence that comes with it, we thought now would be a fitting time to touch on the subject of poisoning. Put simply, poisoning is where a person is exposed to a substance that can damage their health or endanger their life – whether that […]

Prominent in the news recently are the stories of several former elite level rugby players suing the RFU for brain damage following repeated concussions from playing the sport. Most notably Steve Thompson, a member of the World Cup Winning Squad in 2003, who says he cannot remember any of the games he played in. A […]

Way back in July, we explored Heart Attacks and their signs and symptoms. On a similar vein is Angina Pectoris, more commonly known as Angina. Angina occurs when the heart does not get as much blood as it needs, usually because one of the hearts arteries is narrowed or blocked. Types of Angina There are […]

Heat stress, whether it be due to working during the summer months or in an environment that is hot year-round, can put employees at risk of heat exhaustion and, more seriously, heatstroke.  HSE guidance leaflet INDG451 states that heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. Air temperature, […]

What is a Heart Attack? A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of the blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. This lack of blood may seriously damage the heart muscle and can be life threatening. Over time fat, cholesterol and other substances build up and form a plaque in […]

What is Anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction, it can occur when someone is exposed to something they are allergic to (known as an allergen). Reactions normally begin within minutes and progress rapidly, but they can be delayed by up to 2-3 hours. Anaphylaxis is potentially life-threatening and always requires an emergency medical response. […]

The Effects of Bleeding In its most simple terms, air goes in and out, blood goes round and round – anything else is bad! We’ve already looked at what to do if someone has stopped breathing but what about someone who is bleeding? All bleeding will stop. Either through an intervention on our part or […]

We’ve all most probably watched Mrs Doubtfire, and remember the scene where the children, their mother and Pierce Brosnan are sat down for dinner in a restaurant. Pierce’s character swallows a king prawn and begins to choke before being saved by the main character, but how true to real life could this be? What is […]