Abdominal Thrust
Stand behind the person with your foot between his feet. Reach around the waist. Make a fist (thumb outside fingers) and use the knuckle of the thumb in the navel as a landmark. The flat part of the thumb is placed against the abdomen just above the navel.
Asthma
Asthma is a serious respiratory condition that causes narrowing of the airways. Symptoms of an asthma attack include wheezing and shortness of breath. Get help immediately if medication does not bring relief during an episode.
Bites and Stings
Insect bites and stings usually cause little harm unless there is a severe allergic reaction.
Bites and Stings
Insect bites and stings usually cause little harm unless there is a severe allergic reaction.
Bleeding
Minor bleeding can usually be treated at home with simple washing and bandaging the wound.
Burns
Burns are commonly caused by the sun, hot liquids, fire, electricity or chemicals.
Choking
Small children are most at risk for choking, when an object gets stuck in the airway.
CPR
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) saves lives. Someone's life may depend on you reading this section.You and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can save a life: here's how.
Diabetes
Diabetics rely on injected insulin or tablets to keep their blood sugar at normal levels.
Occasionally they can inject too much insulin or because they don’t eat at the right time the tablets or insulin lower the blood sugar too much, causing loss of consciousness.
Drowning
Children under three years are most at risk of drowning, which can take only a few minutes.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a very common condition (usually because the patient hasn’t taken their medication) in which the patient may experience a loss of consciousness with initial whole body spasm followed by rhythmic contraction of all the body muscles.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries may be caused by a foreign object or chemical entering the eye, or a blow to the eye. Here's what to do to prevent further damage to this delicate organ.
Fainting
Fainting occurs when blood supply to the brain is momentarily inadequate, causing brief loss of consciousness.
Fever
Normal body temperature, when measured by an oral thermometer, is between 36.5°C and 37°C. Fever is when body temperature is over 37°C (37.8°C or more when measured rectally).
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked by a blood clot.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 37°C.
Summary
Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 37°C. This typically results from prolonged exposure to cold conditions, especially in damp, wet or snowy weather.
Rabies
Rabies is a fatal viral infection carried in the saliva of warm-blooded animals; the transfer to humans is usually from a rabid dog.
Symptoms in an infected animal include unusual behaviour, aggressiveness, excessive drooling and paralysis.
Road accidents
When stopping to assist at the scene of an accident, park in a safe position that does not add to an already dangerous situation.
Spinal Cord
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is always an emergency as it could lead to chronic painful conditions, permanent paralysis or even death.
Stroke
Stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is disrupted, usually by a blood clot.
Sunburn
Sunburn easily results in superficial burns, especially in children.
Summary
Sunburn easily results in superficial burns, especially in children. Sunburn is managed by cooling the area as quickly as possible. Sunburn can be prevented by avoiding the sun between 10am and 3pm.
Trauma
The common consequence of trauma and injury is bleeding and fractures.
External bleeding is obvious and is best stopped by continuous external pressure with a wound dressing and or towel and elevation of the affected limb.
