First Aid Key Skills

Coronavirus - all you need to know

29/1/2020

Chinese Coronavirus – all you need to know and could you have it? A clear guide including how to spot if you have it and what to do.

As far as I am aware no one in Belgium has been diagnosed with Coronavirus yet. But, Coronavirus has certainly hit the headlines and is impacting on people across the world. Knowing that many of us travel widely I though you might like an insight into how you can prevent its spread, its signs, symptoms and treatment.... Why not check out this article from First Aid for Life by clicking on hte link below. It covers all you need to know

onlinefirstaid.com/chinese-coronavirus/

LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

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Have you got a first aid kit at home?

9/1/2020

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It's the time of year when I start clearing out cupboards and doing some routine household maintenance. My job today was to check the contents of our medicine cabinet and my first aid kit and it got me thinking: do you have a first aid kit? do you know where it is? is everything in date and in good condition? what do you need in a basic first aid kit?
If your answer to these questions is no the read on....

Alas, minor accidents and injuries happen so it is important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with them quickly and safely. So, in case you don't have a first aid kit at home or yours needs a bit of tender loving care here are some things to consider.

Firstly:

Your first aid kit should be kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children

Keep your first aid items in a waterproof container. Make sure it's large enough so you can arrange the contents in such a way that you can find what you need quickly. A plastic container with a close-fitting lid or a resealable plastic bag is ideal

Label the first aid box so you can recognise it easily. The standard labelling for a first aid kit is a white cross on a green background

Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies

What should you have in your first aid kit?

A basic first aid kit should include:

gloves – both non sterile (to protect you from infection) and sterile for treating someone with deep wounds or burns*

1 pair scissors – blunt end *

A face shield to protect yourself when resuscitating someone*

*Stored in your box so that they can be accessed immediately and easily

small, medium and large sterile gauze pads – can be used as dressings, as padding or swabs to clean around wounds

plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes

1 packet of cotton wool – to be used as padding but never directly on a wound

2 calico triangular bandages – (ensure they are calico not a cheap version made of paper) these are some of the most useful things in your kit. Ideal, sterile, non-fluffy material to stop bleeding, can be used for slings and support bandages and far easier than a dressing to secure on head, knee and elbow wounds

safety pins

1 pair sterile tweezers – for removing small splinters, that can easily be grasped and pulled out in the same direction that they went in (nothing else should ever be removed from a wound unless by a medical professional)

sterile alcohol-free cleansing wipes to clean skin

micropore/sticky tape to secure dressings and tape fingers and toes. Also useful for labelling things

eye dressings, can be used as small dressings for babies and toddlers

Useful but not essential items might include:

thermometer (preferably digital)

burn gel or a burns dressing – to apply to a burn after cooling

instant ice pack – at home you can use a bag of frozen peas – Ensure it is wrapped in a cloth as it can cause ice burns

foil blanket – to keep the casualty warm, crucially important in helping to prevent them going into shock. They should ideally be insulated from the ground and have this wrapped round them to retain their body heat.

steri strips - great to help close gaping wounds. Always get major or deep wounds swiftly seen by a medical professional

It's a good idea to have a First Aid book with your first aid kit. A quick reference guide with clear instructions on what to do. I would recommend First Aid Manual Revised 10th Edition Published by DK and available from Book Depository or Amazon for around 15 euros.

Here are some additional items you may like to keep at home:

skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
antiseptic cream
painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen
cough medicine
antihistamine cream or tablets
distilled water for cleaning wounds
eye wash and eye bath

Any medicines should be checked regularly to make sure they're within their use-by dates.

A word of caution - as a first aider you should never use any medication or offer medication to anyone other than your own children or family. If someone is on medication for a heart condition, asthma or diabetes for example, you can only put it in his or her hand. If they are not well enough to take it themselves, you need to call 112

Written by Kate Ellwood First Aid Instructor (January 2020)
LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

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Kate Ellwood: there are some simple first aid skills everyone should know! I am committed to sharing those skills with people so they can save a life...........

Coronavirus - all you need to know

Have you got a first aid kit at home?

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