Eye injuries are surprisingly common, and there are many different types of eye injury. Chemical Contaminants If you get a chemical into the eye, it needs to be washed out as soon as possible. Ideally, you should use either an eyewash station (common in factories and laboratories) or proper eyewash, normally a type of […]
Coagulopathy is a condition in which the blood’s ability to coagulate – clot – is impaired. This would mean that if someone had a serious bleed, the bodies’ ability to form clots and stop the bleeding would be reduced. This condition can cause prolonged or excessive bleeding, which occurs typically during any sort of medical […]
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. […]
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 […]
The Recovery Position is a way of placing the patient into a more safe and secure position. The Recovery Position allows you to monitor the patient easily and also negates the risk of them choking on anything. Use of Recovery Position After carrying out a primary survey, you will be able to tell if the […]
Frostnip is where the skin freezes and becomes red, white and painful. Frostnip most commonly happens to the patient’s extremities such as fingers, toes, ears and nose. This can be an early sign of frostbite, so it is essential to warm up those areas quickly. However, at this stage, calling the emergency medical services is […]
