In the last year there have been over 50,000 recorded offences involving knives and sharp instruments in the UK. These statistics are shocking and sadly provide a compelling reason to learn first aid. Knife crime is on the rise, with more fatalities and injuries among young people than at any other time. What can we […]
As Easter approaches and supermarket aisles fill with brightly foil wrapped chocolate eggs, a heart breaking warning posted on a parenting website serves as a stark reminder of the choking danger posed by mini eggs. These, and other small spherical sweet treats, are the same size as a child’s airway and thus pose a choking risk […]
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Febrile convulsions are incredibly common in babies and small children. Fits or seizures are triggered by a rise in their core body temperature when they are unwell and feverish. As many as one in 20 children may experience a febrile convulsion by the time they are 5 years old. Febrile convulsions occur most frequently in children between 6 […]
What is a seizure? A seizure is the medical term for a fit or convulsion. One in twenty people will have a seizure at some point in their lives. However, not everyone who has a seizure will have epilepsy. Electrical activity happens constantly in our brains and controls movements and bodily functions. If there is […]
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The British Heart Foundation are campaigning for more people to recognise the signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women. Many people have the misconception that heart attacks only happen to men and this has led to thousands of women failing to realise that they are experiencing a heart attack and consequently not seeking the necessary […]
Pregnancy can be an exciting time for new parents, but for many it brings many worries. There are some adaptations to first aid that are good to know if you or someone you know is pregnant. 1. ChokingIf a heavily pregnant person is choking, first see if they are able to cough and clear the […]
Accidents and injuries often occur at home: It is critical that you know how to give immediate first aid if someone is injured or taken ill. Prompt and appropriate first aid saves lives, prevents injuries and illnesses worsening and can also reduce pain and scarring. This article explores the most common minor injuries and explains […]
Children frequently bang their heads and it is difficult to tell whether or not they have done any serious damage. Although, most head injuries are not serious and simply result on a bump or bruise. However, severe or repeated head injuries can cause damage to the brain. Most blows to the head result in injury to the scalp […]
What is an allergic reaction and how common are they? An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system reacts inappropriately in response to the presence of a substance that it wrongly perceives as a threat. The body doesn’t react to the irritant directly, but to the histamine released by cells damaged through the immune […]
Heart attacks can happen to anyone, of any age. Although they are more likely to occur in older people. In the UK there are over 200,000 hospital visits each year due to heart attacks: that’s 1 every 3 minutes. More than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests (when the heart stops beating effectively) occur in […]
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