Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction. It may start within seconds, minutes, or hours following contact with an allergen. An allergen is a substance that is capable of producing an allergic reaction. This happens when the body identifies a substance as harmful and wants to protect itself. Should someone have an anaphylactic […]
Tourniquets can only be used on arms or legs. With other parts of the body, you would have to use direct pressure and haemostatic dressings. Tourniquets control excessive bleeding that you cannot control with direct pressure and pressure dressings. These types of bleeds are classified as catastrophic bleeds. They include amputations, stab wounds, gunshot wounds, […]
If you do not have a commercial tourniquet, you can create improvised tourniquets using something flexible such as a triangular bandage, a scarf or a necktie. However, you should not use a thin flexible material such as a shoelace, string or a wire. If you were to use something like this, you may end up […]
During an emergency situation, the timely resolution of the most life-threatening cause is paramount and choking is certainly one of those instances. Hence, the damage caused by the use of aggressive and forceful compressions, thrusts, and back blows warrant the collateral damage from these interventions. Any injuries sustained are irrelevant if the person is dead. […]
An Aspod is a simple carrier for emergency Aspirin. There is evidence that taking aspirin during a heart attack is very beneficial. It can reduce the size of the clot causing the heart attack and sometimes even causes the platelets in the clot to disperse. Studies show that taking aspirin increases survival rates by around […]
Thousands of children and infants need medical care for poisoning from products commonly found in and around the home. Although the long-term injury is rare, the anxiety and distress caused to both child and parents could be avoided by increased awareness. Remember, this type of poisoning can happen to anyone, no matter what age they […]
Drowning is defined as death within 24 hours of suffocation by submersion in a liquid, normally freshwater or seawater. Near-drowning implies successful resuscitation from suffocation caused by submersion. Secondary drowning refers to fluid accumulation in the lungs following what appears to be a successful recovery from a near-drowning event. What to Do if Someone is […]
Nose Bleeds are common in children and adults and in most cases are easily treated. Nosebleeds can be distressing to children and be embarrassing to adults. Blood vessels in the nose are close to the skin and easily damaged by putting things in the nose, as well as stress and illness. Nosebleeds can also be […]
Fainting is a common cause of a patient losing consciousness. It is caused by a lack of blood to the brain. This can be caused by anxiety, hunger, pregnancy, stress, worry, tiredness, standing for long periods, too hot or after receiving local anaesthetic containing adrenaline. If a patient is lying flat, there are much less […]
Having an alcoholic drink is not usually a problem but when taken in excess it can lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning may be a one-off event for the person involved, or it may be linked to a more serious case of alcoholism. Alcohols are a group of chemical compounds, most of which are liquid […]
