All posts by Ryan Davis Philip

 

Simple breath test during pregnancy could prevent asthma in babies

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Exclusive by medical reporter Sophie Scott and the National Reporting Team’s Rebecca Armitage

Updated

Julie McLeod does an asthma breath test while her six year old son Zen, and clinical research officer Kelly Steel watchPHOTO: Julie McLeod did regular breath tests during pregnancy and her son Zen is asthma free. (ABC News: Sophie Scott )
MAP: Australia

A simple breath test on pregnant women with asthma can significantly reduce the incidence of the illness in their babies, according to new research.

Key points

  • The rate of asthma halved in kids whose mums had a breath test
  • There were also fewer cases of wheezing and lung infection
  • Expert describes respiratory health during pregnancy as a new frontier of asthma research

Hunter Medical Research Institute scientist Adam Collison who ran the study called it an “amazing finding”.

“Ultimately, it means that kids will grow up without asthma who would have had it,” Dr Collison said.

The breath test measured levels of nitric oxide, a marker of lung inflammation.

In the study, half the participants were prescribed medication doses based on how the women assessed their own symptoms.

The other half kept track of how they felt, but they were also assessed more precisely using the breath test.

Scientist do not know exactly why, but by tweaking the mother’s medication according to the breath test findings, they halved the incidence of asthma in the babies.

Hunter Medical Research Institute research student Matt Morten performs an experiment with Dr Adam Collison PHOTO: Researchers tweaked medication for mothers based on the breath test. (ABC News: Sophie Scott )

“In the babies born to the women following asthma guidelines alone, 40 per cent of children developed asthma,” Dr Collison said.

“In babies whose mothers had the breath test, only 20 per cent of the children had asthma.”

Do you know more about this story? Email [email protected]

President of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Peter Gibson said few interventions can prevent asthma in high risk children.

“Here, we show that adjusting asthma treatment in the mother using a breath test can prevent asthma in the child,” professor Gibson said.

Using the breath test means the mothers were more likely to receive medication earlier and more often.

“So we’re correctly identifying the mums who really will benefit from the medication better using that breath test,” Dr Collison said.

Julie McLeod took part in the study six years ago in the hope of not passing on her moderate asthma to her baby.

She did regular breath tests during her pregnancy and her doctor increased her medication doses to clear her airways.

Her son Zen, who is now six years old, is asthma free.

“To be able to do such a simple test to prevent asthma in a child is such a relief for families,” she said.

Chairwoman of the Lung Foundation Christine Jenkins said respiratory health during pregnancy was the new frontier of asthma research.

“Over time this study could be very important. If we can influence events in the mother’s life by measuring their asthma inflammation, controlling it more effectively, it’s very promising that we could potentially reduce the likelihood of children having asthma episodes in early life,” she said.

Test can help other lung conditions

Scientists tweaked the mother’s medication based on the breath test.

Dr Collison said if the levels of nitric oxide were higher, their dose of inhaled corticosteroids were increased.

“If the nitric oxide was deemed to be high, that would mean that the inhaled corticosteriods that those mums were taking for their asthma were stepped up to the next level, and if it was low, those inhaler steroids were stepped back down,” he said.

The reason the incidence of asthma was reduced in the babies was probably due to better asthma control in the mothers.

“We know that those medications were given earlier and to more mums, and so we’re correctly identifying the mums who really will benefit from the medication better using that breath test,” Dr Collison said.

Researchers found babies born to mothers who had the breath test had fewer cases of frequent wheeze and recurrent lung infections.

Dr Jenkins recommends that women with asthma who are pregnant or considering starting a family should speak to their doctor about how to manage their illness.

“You might not have this breath test, but you have to know for sure you’re being carefully monitored, that you take your preventative medication because it can make a big difference to the attacks you have but also more importantly, it could also reduce the likelihood that your baby is going to have asthma,” she said.

Canberra First Aid loves hearing these developments in the first aid world. Hopefully this leads to less children with asthma. If you have any interesting facts we would love to hear about them in our first aid courses held at our new venue in Canberra the Parklands Hotel.

We cant wait to see you in one of our first aid courses, where we will teach you how to treat asthma attacks and also how to manage asthma.

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10 Ways To Teach Children About Basic First Aid

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We love this article at first aid courses in Canberra. We hope you enjoy this as well. We are trying to get the emphasis to schools in the local Canberra about the importance of first aid training for their staff but this article on explaining first aid to students/kids is great. Our first aid courses are designed for adults but we can come to you and complete a basic children’s first aid course so that they are aware especially of when to call 000. Some great ideas before you attend a first aid course here though.

“Mom, give me some ice.” Ranvir, 6, and Viraj, 4, hardly ever seem to get along. One can spot them getting on their mother’s nerves on several occasions. “Such is the case with siblings, especially boys, I guess,” says their mom, Smriti.

Last week however, Ranvir surprised his mother when he came running into the kitchen looking for ice. His brother had fallen off the bed and had got a bump on his head.

“Not only did Ranvir cajole Viraj, he even applied ice and an antiseptic cream on the wound,” says Smriti, proudly.

Smriti says that she feels a certain sense of relief knowing that her child is well equipped to be a caregiver in case there’s a need. “These are required skills you know and should not be looked upon as burdening the child.”

It’s comforting to know that children are competent, especially when it comes to first aid. “Nobody can misguide them,” she says. Plus, these are survival strategies that human beings should know.

Knowing first aid can be fascinating for children if we use the right methods. All we need to do is combine learning with our day-to-day slips and falls; our job is done.

Want to know how? Read the following 10 tips:

1) Wounds as stories

“I treat wounds while giving tips.”

Pranali, mother of a four-year-old, explains every step of the first aid that she gives to her child. Recently, he fell down the stairs and bruised his knee.

“I’m cleaning the wound with antiseptic first. This avoids infection,” she said as she started first aid. Then, she went on to explain that after cleaning, she is applying an antiseptic cream.

“I was crossing my fingers because he licks everything,” she chuckles and explains how her son took the tube of cream in his hands and looked at it as she applied.

“Shaurya stops crying and gets distracted when I involve him in doing his own first aid. I think he learns and remembers my tips,” says Pranali.

If you’re comfortable and calm while giving first aid to your child, you can help him/her remain calm during medical emergencies too. Also, you’re teaching first aid.

Sounds cool. Doesn’t it?

2) Replicate

“He’s a lot into superheroes. They thrill him,” says Ashish. His seven-year-old enjoys action-packed films and does not get anxious or scared when he witnesses accidents. That gave Ashish an idea to teach his son about first aid by replicating a few things at home.

“I used socks and cotton balls to display swellings,” when his son had wanted to see what a swelling around a wound looked like. Ashish also showed him the way to tie bandages.

“I put some tomato sauce on my arm, told my son that a wound bleeds like that, and taught him how to bandage it. The sauce made it fun!”

Ashish believes that there’s no harm being realistic with your children. They need to know how the human body reacts during adverse situations so that, god forbid, if they are in similar situations, they know what to do.

Makes sense!

Doctor doctor!3) Play doctor

Well, this is a tried and tested, age-old method that still works. Playing doctor with young kids teaches them a lot about medical emergencies while maintaining a dose of fun.

“I don’t want him to get nightmares about cuts and wounds,” says Anamika. Her son is barely three and they’ve recently bought him a doctor’s kit. Since he wants to learn how to use it, she uses playtime to teach him about first aid.

“I know he is still too young, but I thought why not start now,” she explains.

Children learn fast when they find fun and relaxation in learning which is why Anamika feels that planning out serious first-aid sessions may not work with her son. During his natural urge for playing doctor, she is teaching her son about injuries, falls, and accidents.

“He listens to it like a story. Later, he’ll know better and by then, we’ll have bypassed the fear,” she exclaims.

First aid kit!4) Make a kit

Mumbai-based preschool teacher Jhanvi tells me that making a first-aid kit together is a good way to teach children the uses of each thing that go into the kit.

It also helps them understand that the first-aid kit is to be used in case of an emergency, it isn’t a toy.

“Yes, many times my kids play with the kit and spoil the contents, especially creams. It’s risky but I need to keep the kit easy-to-reach too,” says Dipika, mother to two boys.

Making a kit together will work as a DIY activity as well as a session on the importance of first aid. Try it!

5) The priority list

“My daughter does not have patience to sit and listen. Even if it’s her favourite activity, I cannot make her sit for more than 10 minutes at a stretch.”

Ridhima’s daughter is like any other kid—she lacks patience. Making a priority list of problems where first aid might be required and teaching children about those aspects first, helps curb this problem.

So, what can be included in this list?

  • Stopping a wound from bleeding
  • Holding nostrils to stop a nosebleed
  • Running a burnt body part under water
  • Putting ice over swellings

“We made a decorated chart with kids where we drew different body parts and basic first aid for them. It was fun,” says Shradha from Notre Dame Academy, Patna.

Why don’t you try making a quick chart or list too?

6) ‘Might’ happen and not ‘will’ happen

“Don’t scare them by saying that these things will happen. That’s key to teaching first aid,” says Dr Thakrey from Mumbai-based Sai Swasthya Clinic.

“Make them feel like superheroes who have the power during any medical emergency,” he says. He explains that describing to children the gory details, plus how important it’s to manage oneself during a medical problem will scare them and first aid should work as a fun tool.

“Kids are smart enough to apply knowledge when needed, we need not push it,” he concludes.

7) All that breaks

“I introduced him to first aid for fractures by using a doll. By slowly bending the doll’s limbs, I spoke about cracked bones and he listened to me, mesmerised,” says Sheena.

Sheena is a dentist who is currently a stay-at-home mom. She enjoys passing on her medical knowledge to her six-year-old.

Sheena says that talking to kids about bones and blood supply grabs their interest. “These things are real and there’s a lot of fun in reality,” she says. She has explained to her son that when bones get hurt, blood oozes out from them, which is why they hurt so much.

In these times, one must be patient with the person who is suffering the pain. Secondly, if he comes across someone who has fallen or is complaining of a hurting bone, he should immediately call another adult to help. Calling for help is also first aid.

First aid for fractures and sprains also means making the person who has fallen sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Not touching the hurting bone is the last, but most important rule.

“Helping out without a first-aid kit also comes under first aid, doesn’t it?” asks Sheena and I agree. Don’t you?

8) Raise an alarm!

“They should know that calling an adult to help is sometimes the best help they can provide,” says Dr Thakrey.

Shalini, a marketing executive with a cosmetics firm and mother of two, says that children should be taught to raise an alarm. It’s not their job to assess a situation. By raising alarms during medical emergencies, they will help themselves out of the situation and help the person in need too.

So, teach them to raise an alarm!

9) Mind over matter!

“We dropped him and went grocery shopping next door. Our cell phones were out of reach in that basement shop. He managed alone!”

Swayam had hurt himself at the football field and was feeling faint after that. His coach did some first aid and thereafter, tried calling Swayam’s parents. He was not able to get across to them, but felt helpless since the rest of the team of six-year-olds could not have been left unattended.

While Swayam sat in a corner and waited for his parents, he decided to breathe and stay calm. He pulled out his napkin and pressed his wounds till he felt better.

“We arrived and panicked when we saw the coach panicking around him. But our son stayed calm,” say Swayam’s parents.

They add that we might not always have resources for first aid and even if we have them, they may not work if there is no presence of mind. So along with first aid, teach your kids to employ their minds too!

10) A kid is but a kid!

“Every time I talk about first aid, I talk about personal safety first,” says Swati.

She believes that the safety of her two sons is more important than them helping out. “You can’t jump into a pool to save someone even if you know how to swim,” she tells her kids.

Dr Thakrey says, “Kids are taught first aid to help. That does not mean that they fix other’s problems on their own. They also need to be taught whether a situation demands first aid or not.”

“Getting close to open wires, people who have burnt themselves, or someone injured on the road is not the business of kids,” he adds

“I don’t talk to my sons about all the scary things that might happen,” says Swati.

Don’t you think she’s right? Children need not worry about consequences as they learn first aid. All they need to focus on is that knowledge is fun and that they can help themselves if certain situations arise.

As they say, knowledge is power!

What are the ways in which you teach first aid skills to your child? Share a couple of ideas with us in the ‘Comments’ section below.

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Not All First Aid Kits Are Created Equal

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Check out first aid courses and this first aid kit from the national geographic. We also sell first aid kits and not just first aid training courses so please give us a buzz if you need. We also sell AED’s ready to save a life at your work site. Book in for a first aid course now.

Our handy first-aid checklist will make sure you’re safe when you need it most.

PUBLISHED

There are first-aid kits . . . and then there are good first-aid kits. Some are inexpensive and filled with nearly useless plastic bandages and gauze. Others are built to be professional grade for first responders and medical personnel, and come with oxygen tanks AEDs.

For your home, you want one somewhere in between, and when you travel, you should have a scaled down version of that. Live Prepared 72-Hour Emergency Kits and Premium Gear Kits each contain first-aid kits sourced and designed by experts to have everything you need in case of an emergency.

Traveling with a well-curated first-aid kit is smart practice because many of the items you might have scattered about – yet accessible – at home won’t be quick or easy to find. And that can be a big problem if you find yourself injured while touring about, especially if you are out of the country.

A well-curated first aid kit includes a good balance of necessary items that can help keep you alive and stable enough until medical attention is available.

Dr. Daniel Carlin, who heads WorldClinic, which provides ‘round-the-clock personal medical care services, designed a top-of-the-line medical kit specifically tailored for emergencies and disasters. Here’s what’s in it:

  • Sunscreen
  • Bug repellent
  • Eye wash
  • Band-aids 1”x3”
  • Large band-aids
  • Waterproof band-aids
  • Bacitracin
  • Povidone iodine pads
  • Sting relief pads
  • Alcohol prep pads
  • Rolled gauze 2”
  • 1/2” tape
  • 3” x 3” gauze pads
  • 4” x 4” gauze pads
  • Burn gel
  • Potassium iodine capsules
  • Tylenol
  • Motrin
  • Benadryl
  • Bayer Aspirin
  • Tums
  • Pepto Bismol
  • Splinter forceps
  • Trauma scissors
  • Any prescribed medications

Pain and puncture are the two most common dangers. That means bandages and pain relief are of most common import. Don’t forget stomach issues. They, too, can be treated with a good first aid kit.

To be sure, the average traveler likely won’t want to get stuck at security checkpoints with forceps or trauma scissors in their bag. But this list provides a great starting point for practical planning and preparedness.

Emergencies aren’t always catastrophes, and a good first-aid kit can help ensure that. But remember that no matter how sophisticated your medical kit, any serious injury or trauma warrants professional medical attention.

 

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How to save a life – first-aid advice you’ll actually remember

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The bystander affect is a thing people. Time to book in to a first aid course so that you and your family are ready in the case of a first aid emergency situation. Our first aid courses cost minimal time and money and can get you ready for the moment. Canberra First Aid Courses are fun and academic get involved today.

A British Heart Foundation report suggests that our reluctance to intervene is killing people who are in cardiac arrest. Here are some simple, memorable steps you can take to help

CPR should be given to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive (about 100-120 beats per minute).
CPR should be given to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive (about 100-120 beats per minute). Photograph: Ruth Jenkinson/Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley

What would you do if you saw someone collapse, clutching his chest? Spring into action, or trust that somebody else might? Maybe it’s not that serious, I think he’ll be OK. Wouldn’t want to cause a fuss, right? Well quite possibly he isn’t OK, and, according to a new report, only three or four in 10 of us intervene in these circumstances, at the cost of thousands of lives.

Resuscitation to Recovery, published this week by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), reveals that a lack of confidence and training – and even a fear of embarrassment – are killing cardiac arrest victims. The stats are stark: survival chances drop by around 10% with each minute without a shock to the heart, either by CPR or a defibrillator. After 10 minutes, survival chances drop to 2%.

“The most common thing people say to us is they wouldn’t do anything because they wouldn’t want to make things worse,” says Clive James, a trainer with St John Ambulance. “But in the case of cardiac arrest, you can’t make it worse because if you don’t do something that person will die.”

Waiting for an ambulance is not an option, and the report estimates that 1,000 lives a year could be saved with improved training and awareness, and the provision of more public defibrillators, which carry simple instructions.

James, 52, who started learning first aid as a nine-year-old cadet, says aide-memoires are vital in making advice stick, and giving people the confidence to act. In the case of CPR, he advises providers to compress the chest to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees (a method famously advocated by Vinnie Jones in a 2012 BHF advert). “It used to be Nellie the Elephant but the key is that it’s faster than people think,” he says (about 100-120 beats per minute).

St John Ambulance also uses “FAST” for spotting the signs of a stroke (Facial weakness; Arm weakness; Speech problems; Time to call 999). For choking victims, there are four steps: cough; slap; squeeze it out; call for help (encourage the person to cough, use five sharp blows to the back, squeeze out the obstruction using up to five abdominal thrusts or Heimlich manoeuvres, then, if all else fails, call). The final step is call for help.

The new report also illustrates how first-aid advice evolves, incorporating new research. “When I started there are things we’d consider to be barbaric today,” James says. Broken collar bones were bandaged forcefully in such a way to separate the bones. “Now we just say get the arm into the most comfortable position for the person to get them to hospital.”

In 2014, St John Ambulance issued new advice on helping choking babies. Previously, parents were told to place the child face down along one forearm and strike the baby’s back with the other hand. Now the advice is to place the baby on a thigh while sitting down, supporting it with one hand while striking with the other (five times with the heel of the hand between the shoulder blades).

Amazingly, first-aid training is still not required in schools. In 2015, the BHF, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross expressed their dismay after Tory backbenchers blocked a bill that would have made it compulsory in secondary schools. In the meantime, awareness is key. “Nobody should ever be afraid to help someone in need,” James says.

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Level 2 and 3 job-starters must have first-aid training

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20 March 2017 by Katy Morton

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All newly qualified Level 2 and 3 entrants to the early years workforce must have a paediatric first-aid (PFA) certificate within three months of starting work in order to be included in ratios.

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Suggested training providers include St John Ambulance

All newly qualified Level 2 and 3 entrants to the early years workforce must have a paediatric first-aid (PFA) certificate within three months of starting work in order to be included in ratios.

The requirement, originally intended to start in September 2016, has been added to the revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework, effective from 3 April.

The EYFS now says all entrants who completed a Level 2 or 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016 must have either a full PFA or an emergency PFA certificate.

Newly qualified entrants include staff who had been apprentices or long-term students and have gained a Level 2 or 3.

Those who started work between 20 June 2016 and 2 April 2017 must hold either of the certificates by 2 July 2017 to be included in ratios.

Providers can make an exemption if staff are unable to gain a certificate due to disability.

Annex A of the framework provides further detail of what training has to be completed in order to obtain either a full or emergency PFA certificate (see box, right).

It states that settings are responsible for identifying and selecting a ‘competent’ training provider to deliver their PFA training. A number of training providers are suggested, including St John Ambulance, the Red Cross and St Andrew’s First Aid.

Training for the full PFA should last a minimum of 12 hours, and a minimum of six hours for the emergency PFA.

The certificates should be displayed in settings or made available to parents and renewed every three years.

OTHER CHANGES

The revised framework also incorporates the new Level 3 qualification requirements, replacing the GCSE-only rule.

It states, ‘To count in the ratios at Level 3, staff holding an Early Years Educator qualification must also have achieved a suitable Level 2 qualification in English and maths as defined by the Department for Education on the Early Years Qualifications List published on GOV.UK.’

Other updates include references to the Prevent Duty guidance, and training for staff on female genital mutilation.

The new framework says ‘training made available by the provider must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way. These may include – any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home, or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at risk of) female genital mutilation.’

There is also information about DBS disclosures and barred list, which reminds providers to check disclosures for employees and consider whether they contain any information that would suggest a person is unsuitable for a position before they start work with children.

It says providers can check the status of a disclosure if a potential or existing employee has subscribed to the online DBS Update service. Where a check identifies there has been a change to the disclosure details, an enhanced DBS disclosure must be applied for.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Mention is also given to the 2011 physical activity guidelines, to which providers ‘may wish to refer’. Dr Lala Manners, director of Active Matters, said this does not go far enough.

In a letter to Nursery World, Dr Manners said, ‘The Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines have been relegated to a footnote on page eight, as “guidance on physical activity that providers may wish to refer to”.

‘What an abject dereliction of duty by all concerned. Where is the incentive for anyone to read, let alone implement or embed, these guidelines in daily practice?

‘How come an initiative that was deemed important enough by the Department of Health to be included in the Obesity Strategy is considered completely superfluous by the DfE?’

  • Read Dr Manners’ letter.

PAEDIATRIC FIRST-AID TRAINING

The full PFA training covers:

  • What to do if a child is having an anaphylactic shock or electric shock;
  • has suffered burns or scalds, a suspected fracture, head, neck or back injuries;
  • has suspected poisoning, a foreign body, eye injury, bite or sting;
  • is suffering from the effects of extreme heat or cold; or
  • is having a diabetic emergency, an asthma attack, allergic reaction or suspected meningitis.
  • Understanding the role and responsibilities of a paediatric first-aider.

The emergency PFA covers:

  • Assessing an emergency situation and prioritising what action to take.
  • Helping a baby or child who is unresponsive and breathing normally or not breathing normally.
  • Helping a baby or child having a seizure, choking or bleeding, or suffering from shock caused by severe blood loss.

Great news in the UK that many more workers are going to require a first aid course so that they can work. Make sure you get yourself trained at a local first aid course so you can get ready in case of an emergency or if this requirement comes to fruition in Australia.

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Top Ten First Aid Tips

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Book in to one of our first aid curses in Canberra to get our top ten tips. These are good but we can teach you the skills to administer first aid also. So get trained in a first aid course today.

 

Top Ten First Aid Tips
Timely assistance, comprising of simple medical techniques, is most critical to victims.
First aid is the life saving, critical help given to an injured or a sick person before medical aid arrives. This timely assistance, comprising of simple medical techniques, is most critical to the victims and is, often, life saving. Any layperson can be trained to administer first aid, which can be carried out using minimal equipments.

Bleeding nose
A nosebleed occurs when blood vessels inside the nose break. Because they’re delicate, this can happen easily. When this happens, lean slightly forward and pinch your nose just below the bridge, where the cartilage and the bone come together. Maintain the pressure for 5 to 15 minutes. Pressing an ice pack against the bridge can also help. Do not tilt your head back if your nose bleeds as you may swallow blood which can potentially go in your lungs. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes or if it accompanies a headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, or vision problems, please consult a health expert.

A Sprain
Sprains occur when the ligaments surrounding a joint are pulled beyond their normal range. Sprains are often accompanied by bruising and swelling. Alternately apply and remove ice every 20 minutes throughout the first day. Wrapping the joint with an elastic compression bandage and elevating the limb may also help. Stay off the injury for at least 24 hours. After that, apply heat to promote blood flow to the area. If the injury doesn’t improve in a few days, you may have a fracture or a muscle or ligament tear so call a doctor.

A Burn
If there’s a burn place it under cool (not cold) running water, submerge it in a bath and loosely bandage a first- or second-degree burn for protection. Do not put an ice pack on major burns. Ice can damage the skin and worsen the injury. Don’t pop blisters. Don’t apply an antibiotic or butter to burns as this can breed infection. First-degree burns produce redness while second-degree burns cause blisters and third-degree burns result in broken or blackened skin. Rush to doctor if the victim is
coughing, has watery eyes, or is having trouble breathing.

Choking
True choking is rare but when a person is really choking, he can’t cough strongly, speak, or breathe, and his face may turn red or blue. For a victim of age one or older have the person lean forward and, using the palm of your hand, strike his back between the shoulder blades five times. If that doesn’t work, stand behind the victim, place one fist above the belly button, cup the fist with your other hand, and push in and up toward the ribs five times. If you’re alone, press your abdomen against something firm or use your hands. Do not give water or anything else to someone who is coughing.

Poisoning

Potential household hazards include cleaning supplies, carbon monoxide and pesticides. Bites and stings can also be poisonous to some people. If a person is unconscious or having trouble breathing, call the doctor. Do not wait until symptoms appear to call for help. And don’t try to induce vomiting. The poison could cause additional damage when it comes back up. The victim shouldn’t eat or drink anything in case of suspected poisoning.

Animal Bites
In case of an animal bite, stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure until it stops. Gently clean with soap and warm water. Rinse for several minutes after cleaning. Apply antibiotic cream to reduce risk of infection, and cover with a sterile bandage. Get medical help if the animal bite is more than a superficial scratch or if the animal was a wild or stray one, regardless of the severity of the injury.

Bruises
Ice the area on and off for the first 24-48 hours. Apply ice for about 15 minutes at a time, and always put something like a towel or wash cloth between the ice and your skin. Take a painkiller if there is pain. Visit your doctor if the bruise is accompanied with extreme pain, swelling or redness; if the person is taking a blood-thinning medication or if he /she cannot move a joint or may have a broken bone.

Diarrhea
During diarrhea its essential to treat dehydration. Give an adult plenty of clear fluid, like fruit juices, soda, sports drinks and clear broth. Avoid milk or milk-based products and caffeine while you have diarrhea and for 3 to 5 days after you get better. Milk can make diarrhea worse. Give a child or infant frequent sips of a rehydration solution. Make sure the person drinks more fluids than they are losing through diarrhea. Have the person rest as needed and avoid strenuous exercise. Keep a sick child home from school and give banana, rice, apple and toast. For an adult, add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as diarrhea stops. Avoid spicy, greasy, or fatty foods.

Eye Injury
If there is chemical exposure, don’t rub your eyes. Immediately wash out the eye with lots of water and get medical help while you are doing this. Do not bandage the eye. If there has been a blow to the eye apply a cold compress, but don’t put pressure on the eye. If there is any bruising, bleeding, change in vision, or if it hurts when the eye moves, see a doctor right away. For a foreign particle in the eye – don’t rub the eye, pull the upper lid down and blink repeatedly. If particle is still there, rinse with eyewash. If this too doesn’t help, see your doctor.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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EMS providers to receive mental health first aid training

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Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis

Feb 24, 2017

Mental Health Commission

OTTAWA, Ontario — Mental Health First Aid Canada and St. John Ambulance announced a new agreement that will increase the number of instructors equipped to offer mental health first aid training.

MHFA Canada will train at least 40 St. John Ambulance instructors in mental health first aid, who will in turn teach the course on behalf of St. John Ambulance.

“Mental health first aid should be made as accessible to Canadians as physical first aid,” Louise Bradley, Mental Health Commission of Canada president and CEO, said. “Our partnership with St. John Ambulance is a significant step toward making that a reality.”

Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, it is given until appropriate treatment is found or the crisis is resolved.

“Mental health problems and illnesses affect 1 in 5 Canadians in a given year,” Allan Smith, St. John Ambulance CEO, said. “As an industry leader in first aid, adding a focus on mental health will further St. John Ambulance’s mission to improve the health, safety and quality of life of Canadians at work, home and play.”

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, family members, friends or colleagues.

Great news for those in the first aid industry and also learning to be a paramedic. Mental Health first aid is one of the biggest issues starting to face society. It will soon be more important for people to learn these skills than your everyday first aid.

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Could you save your child’s life if they fell ill or had an accident?

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Here is a good first aid training article from Belfast. Make sure you get yourself in to a first aid training course in Canberra. We offer great first aid training courses at a cheap cost and we believe we offer an excellent session also. First aid training will give you the skills to save a life and you will be grateful you spent the money to save a family member in need.

 

Precious life: it’s very important parents know what to do if their child falls unexpectedly ill22
Precious life: it’s very important parents know what to do if their child falls unexpectedly ill

Although more than 60 children a year die due to accidents in the home, almost a quarter of parents admit they don’t have any baby or child first aid knowledge.

A new study shows 21% of mums and dads have been forced to give a child emergency first aid, but only 31% said they felt confident doing it.

Instead, 38% were terrified the child could die, 20% were worried they would be left injured, and 11% panicked and froze completely.

As a result, St John Ambulance and the parenting channel ChannelMum.com have teamed up to produce a new video first aid course that features vital first aid techniques and signs of common illnesses, plus tips from TV GP Dr Dawn Harper, and real-life experiences from mummy vloggers like Charlie O’Brien.

The seven-video series can be viewed at www.channelmum.com/topic/first-aid

Isobel Kearl, national training officer at St John Ambulance, says the videos are a great starting point for parent first aid and highlight how easy and quick it is to learn essential life-saving skills.

She stresses: “For parents looking to further their first aid knowledge, our basic first aid courses take between just three to six hours and give hands-on experience. Once parents know what they are doing, they have the confidence to take action quickly and are able to act if needed.”

The ChannelMum study found the most frightening first aid scenario for parents is choking, with 53% saying it was their biggest fear. Almost a quarter of parents have faced the reality of their child choking.

The next most alarming situation is a seizure – with 14% of parents reporting their child has had one – followed by a severe allergic reaction, experienced by one in 20. Meningitis was a very real fear for 6% of parents, and 16% have had to treat their child for a burn. In addition, almost one in 10 has given CPR to a child.

The survey of 2,000 adults showed becoming a parent was the biggest trigger for 55% of parents who wanted to improve first aid knowledge, compared to just 11% who went on to learn more first aid after having a serious accident themselves.

The poll also revealed 84% of parents attempt to childproof their home to reduce the risk of accidents. However, just 42% keep a first aid kit at home.

And while 82% of families ensure they keep medicines out of children’s reach, over a third (36%) admit they leave laundry items, which can be toxic, within children’s grasp, and 54% have yet to secure TVs to stop them falling. A further 43% don’t tie up blind cords, despite them being linked to several child deaths.

Parents correctly identified that one minute a day spent learning first aid and minimising risks can cut the chance of children having a serious accident or needing first aid.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com says: “Giving first aid to a baby or child can be frightening, but not as frightening as not knowing what to do.

“We want to reassure parents they can learn first aid basics quickly, and they could make all the difference if their child, or someone else’s, falls ill.”

Quick life-saving tips

CHOKING:

Always cut food lengthways.

If your child is choking, never poke inside their mouth as this could push the blockage further down.

BURNS

Any burn bigger than your child’s palm needs urgent medical attention.

Put burns into cold water for at least 10 minutes.

Cover in clingfilm to keep sterile before getting help.

ALLERGIES

Have antihistamines in your home.

Treat a rash with antihistamines.

Swollen lips or tongue? Get to the hospital.

SEIZURES

If your child has a seizure, place them gently on the floor and clear space around them.

If the seizure lasts more than two minutes, get medical help.

If your child has a seizure without a temperature, get medical help.

CPR

ABC – Airways, Breathing, Circulation.

Start with five rescue breaths, then 30 compressions/ two rescue breaths and repeat until help arrives or the child breathes.

MENINGITIS & SEPSIS

Don’t wait for the rash – learn the other signs including joint and limb pain, light sensitivity, blotchy pale skin, flu-like illness and cold hands and feet. Babies may have a high-pitched cry.

Be aware sepsis can happen from any infection, and signs include no wet nappy for 12 hours, vomiting, convulsions, feeling cold, not feeding and hard to wake.

FEVER

Under six months a fever is 38 degrees C. Over six months it’s 39 degrees C.

Never treat children with aspirin – check the medicine label.

Child not getting better after 72 hours? Get medical attention fast.

Belfast Telegraph

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How to save a life – first-aid advice you’ll actually remember

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A British Heart Foundation report suggests that our reluctance to intervene is killing people who are in cardiac arrest. Here are some simple, memorable steps you can take to help

CPR should be given to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive (about 100-120 beats per minute).
CPR should be given to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive (about 100-120 beats per minute). Photograph: Ruth Jenkinson/Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley

What would you do if you saw someone collapse, clutching his chest? Spring into action, or trust that somebody else might? Maybe it’s not that serious, I think he’ll be OK. Wouldn’t want to cause a fuss, right? Well quite possibly he isn’t OK, and, according to a new report, only three or four in 10 of us intervene in these circumstances, at the cost of thousands of lives.

Resuscitation to Recovery, published this week by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), reveals that a lack of confidence and training – and even a fear of embarrassment – are killing cardiac arrest victims. The stats are stark: survival chances drop by around 10% with each minute without a shock to the heart, either by CPR or a defibrillator. After 10 minutes, survival chances drop to 2%.

“The most common thing people say to us is they wouldn’t do anything because they wouldn’t want to make things worse,” says Clive James, a trainer with St John Ambulance. “But in the case of cardiac arrest, you can’t make it worse because if you don’t do something that person will die.”

Waiting for an ambulance is not an option, and the report estimates that 1,000 lives a year could be saved with improved training and awareness, and the provision of more public defibrillators, which carry simple instructions.

James, 52, who started learning first aid as a nine-year-old cadet, says aide-memoires are vital in making advice stick, and giving people the confidence to act. In the case of CPR, he advises providers to compress the chest to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees (a method famously advocated by Vinnie Jones in a 2012 BHF advert). “It used to be Nellie the Elephant but the key is that it’s faster than people think,” he says (about 100-120 beats per minute).

St John Ambulance also uses “FAST” for spotting the signs of a stroke (Facial weakness; Arm weakness; Speech problems; Time to call 999). For choking victims, there are four steps: cough; slap; squeeze it out; call for help (encourage the person to cough, use five sharp blows to the back, squeeze out the obstruction using up to five abdominal thrusts or Heimlich manoeuvres, then, if all else fails, call). The final step is call for help.

The new report also illustrates how first-aid advice evolves, incorporating new research. “When I started there are things we’d consider to be barbaric today,” James says. Broken collar bones were bandaged forcefully in such a way to separate the bones. “Now we just say get the arm into the most comfortable position for the person to get them to hospital.”

In 2014, St John Ambulance issued new advice on helping choking babies. Previously, parents were told to place the child face down along one forearm and strike the baby’s back with the other hand. Now the advice is to place the baby on a thigh while sitting down, supporting it with one hand while striking with the other (five times with the heel of the hand between the shoulder blades).

Amazingly, first-aid training is still not required in schools. In 2015, the BHF, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross expressed their dismay after Tory backbenchers blocked a bill that would have made it compulsory in secondary schools. In the meantime, awareness is key. “Nobody should ever be afraid to help someone in need,” James says.

 In a first aid course with us at Canberra First Aid we teach the stayin alive method also. It is great because people remember at the time most needed when they start CPR. Book in to a first aid course with u on our website and look out for our new business Canberra South First Aid Courses which will be starting up in the near future. We love training our students and feel we are the best first aid course in Canberra.

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Lack of awareness of grape choking hazard puts children at risk, say doctors

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Make sure you cut your grapes up for your kids. This as mentioned in our first aid course is one of the most common causes of choking. We have first aid courses running every week in Dickson< Canberra. Our courses are competitively priced, and provide great feedback on your first aid skills and knowledge. We will also give gap training to anyone who attends a first aid course in Canberra and needs extra help with passing. We look forward to seeing you at one of our first aid courses soon.

Grapes can completely plug a child’s airway, with research suggesting they are third most common cause of death in food-related incidents

Doctors say parents and carers should chop up soft fruits such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters before giving them to children, and make sure youngsters are supervised while eating.
Doctors say parents and carers should chop up soft fruits such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters before giving them to children, and make sure youngsters are supervised while eating. Photograph: Nick Ansell/PA

Grapes are the third most common cause of death among children who die in food-related choking incidents, and doctors say a lack of awareness among parents, carers and health professionals could be leaving young children at risk.

The size and shape of grapes means that they can completely plug children’s airways, with the tight seal produced by fruit’s smooth, flexible surface making them tricky to shift with first aid manoeuvres.

Research from the US and Canada suggests that grapes are behind only hotdogs and sweets as the most common cause of death in food-related incidents.

But doctors say there is a lack awareness of the choking risks posed by soft fruits, adding that the small number of cases seen in a given hospital each year doesn’t reflect the true extent of the problem, with many more near-misses likely to be occurring.

“We only see the tip of the iceberg, we only see it when it is not alleviated,” said Dr Jamie Cooper, consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and co-author of a new “plea for awareness” published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

In a warning to adults, the authors of the research outline a number of tragic cases that have occurred in recent years – one of which involved the death of a 17-month-old boy who choked on a grape at his home.

“The parents and other people were there and they did everything appropriately to try and dislodge the obstruction,” said Cooper. The attempts were to no avail and he was rushed to the local community hospital. “Experienced people still failed to dislodge the obstruction with non-invasive first aid manoeuvres,” Cooper added. “A paramedic did attend but the child had gone into cardiac arrest before the grape was able to be removed. Everything was tried to resuscitate the child, but he died later.”

In another case, a five-year-old boy choked on a grape at an after school club, with first aid attempts by staff and an ambulance team unable to dislodge the fruit. The child went into cardiac arrest and, despite a paramedic managing to remove the grape with a special pair of forceps, died.

“It is not just tiny, little kids – we would suggest up to the age of five the kids are more at risk because they don’t chew as well, their swallowing is not quite as coordinated and they get distracted when they are eating,” said Cooper.

In a third instance, a two year old boy remained in intensive care for five days after choking on a grape but went on to make a full recovery.

Cooper says parents and carers should chop up soft fruits such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters before giving them to children, and make sure youngsters are supervised while eating. But, he adds, further measures could also help to prevent tragedies. “Ideally we would like supermarkets and big chains to consider putting some choking hazard warning labels on [grapes], just like they do on toys and other things,” said Cooper.

Tina Newton, a consultant in the emergency department at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said choking on grapes was a common issue. “It is a definite problem, we have recognised it for years; I have seen children die from choking on grapes” she said.

Like Cooper, Newton recommends that the fruit should be cut up for children, adding that parents should also be aware of what to do if their child chokes. “For a child, turn them upside down and slap them hard on the back between the shoulder blades,” she says.

Katrina Phillips, chief executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, reiterated the advice for adults to chop up grapes. “We’ve heard from thousands of parents and carers on Facebook and many just don’t realise how easily a young child can choke to death on a grape. But they’re vulnerable because they’re still learning to chew and their airway is tiny, so a whole grape can completely block it,” she added. “We hope these case reports go a long way to raising awareness of the risk and the simple steps families can take to keep children safe.”

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