Step by step guides to emergency situations according to first aid guidelines
The Department of Labour is changing the first aid regulations, meaning all current first aid level 1,2,3 courses will fall away and a new 5 day full qualification will take its place. Candidates will have to compete a portfolio of evidence to prove they can treat patients. While this change is being challenged and we are awaiting the outcome, the regulations are scheduled to change … Continue reading First Aid Course Special in Cape Town!
A new Poisons Emergency Service came into operation on 1st June 2015, which is serviced by both Tygerberg Hospital and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The individual numbers (021 931 6129 and 021 689 5227) previously used for poison emergencies by these two hospitals have been phased out. There is now a single dedicated telephone number which is operative immediately on a 24-hour basis: 0861 555 777. Poisons Information … Continue reading A New Poison Helpline for Cape Town
A fracture is an injury to a bone often resulting in a clean break. Today we do not use a splint on a fracture victim, unless the injured person will have to be moved before emergency help can arrive. Your only other goal when assisting a fracture victim is to assist in easing the pain of the injured party. Encourage the patient to position the … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Fractures
Fever convulsions are similar to epileptic fits. They occur mainly in children under the age of 7 years old. The convulsions are not caused by high body temperatures but the rapid increase in temperature. They can occur at even low temperatures of around 39 degrees. While fever convulsions appear serious they generally are not. The child will require protection from objects that could hurt him … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Fever Convulsions
When a person is having an epileptic fit allow him or her to move freely, do not restrain the person. This cannot be reiterated enough. Never restrain an epileptic from cramping. Do not burn material under the patients nose, as this leads to smoke inhalation and poisoning. Protect the person by removing all the objects which could cause harm and cushioning the head with pillows. Do not insert … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Epilepsy
All too often people completely misunderstand and irrationally fear epilepsy. Epilepsy is not a disease. It is a condition caused by a chemical and electrical imbalance in the brain. People have the ability to deal with a number of stimuli which trigger electric impulses to our brain, for example light, heat etc. In a nut shell each person cerebral stimuli threshold is unique and allow … Continue reading First Aid Basics: What is Epilepsy?
Poisoning via the skin may happen in a number of ways. It could happen as a result of corrosion, chemical contact, animal bites and stings, or the injection of drugs. When it is chemical, the first step is to check the patients vital signs, once these are established, you should try to clean the affected areas with as much running water as possible. The injuries … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to deal with poisoning via the skin
When a patient has been poisoned by gas or fumes it is imperative that you consider your own safety first and to carefully assess the scene before any rescue attempts are made. When the patient is removed from the danger zone, check their vital signs and the patient must be treated accordingly. Call rescue services immediately. For more great articles and tips, please subscribe to receive our latest articles or join … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Poisoning Via the Respiratory Tract
It is important to carefully assess both the patient and the scene of the accident. Searching for evidence, asking the patient for information and smelling the patients breath are just a few ways to get an indication of what was swallowed. There are 3 main types. 1. If it is a corrosive substance such as bleach, window cleaner or Domestos, etc the affected person should … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Poisoning via the Digestive Tract
An approximated 80% of all poisoning victims in South Africa are under the age of 3 years old. Annually more than 50 000 toddlers are poisoned. 15% are critical and sadly around 8% are fatal. There are 3 main types of poisoning, namely; Poisoning via the digestive tract where substances have been swallowed (click for more info). Poisoning via the respiratory tract when gases or fumes are inhaled(click for … Continue reading First Aid Basics: Different Types of Poisoning
A burn is one of the most serious and yet most common preventable accidents in today’s society. Of all the burn victims, 75% are young children. It is the second most common cause of death for children under three, and when you understand this, you understand just how important it is to teach children about dangerous areas of the home and to limit access to … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Burns
Choking is one of the most common forms of respiratory disturbances. This happens when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat in a way that the patient cannot expel it, depending on the age of the person, there are three methods to expel it. For patients older than 10 the Heimlich manoeuvre is advised. Do not use this move on young children as it may … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Assist a Person That is Choking
Electrical injuries are extremely dangerous, not only because of the burn injury that is inflicted, but because of the circulatory disturbances which can result in heart failure. This condition will not always be obvious immediately and may only occur after a prolonged period of time. It is therefore recommended to treat the burn injury ( click here for directions on how to treat a burn), … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Electrical Injuries
Before you can determine if a person is unconscious, check that they are in fact unconscious and have not simply fainted. Once you have determined that the person has not fainted, asses the level of consciousness by speaking loudly to the patient, if there is no reaction, gently pat the patient on the cheek, and finally if there is still no reaction, inflict a sharper … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Assist the Unconscious Patient
CPR on an infant differs from CPR on an adult. Ventilation of both the nose and mouth simultaneously is required. Chest compressions should be done with just 2 fingers and below instead of on, the nipple lie. The treatment is administered faster but more gently and the rhythm is different in that it is 2 ventilation’s to 15 chest compression’s. For more great articles and tips, please subscribe to receive our latest articles or join … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Perform CPR on an Infant
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