First Aid Tips for Various Medical Emergencies

Asthma

1. Help the casualty use their inhaler.
2. Encourage slow breaths.
3. Call for emergency medical assistance.
4. Monitor the casualty for wheezing, difficulty speaking, and grey-blue skin color.

Angina

1. Sit the casualty down.
2. Administer the casualty's angina medication.
3. Ensure rest and keep bystanders away.
4. Advise the casualty to seek medical advice.
5. If pain persists, call for emergency medical assistance. Symptoms: Central chest pain easing with rest.

Approaching a Casualty

1. Assess the situation.
2. Assess the casualties.
3. Check responsiveness.
4. Open the airway.
5. Check breathing.

Anaphylactic Shock

1. Call for emergency medical assistance.
2. Help the casualty administer their medication.
3. Make the casualty comfortable.
4. Monitor for anxiety, swelling of hands, feet, and face, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, a feeling of terror, difficulty breathing, confusion, and agitation.

Burns and Scalds

1. Start cooling the burn with cool running water.
2. Call for emergency medical assistance.
3. Remove any constricting items.
4. Cover the burn loosely with a sterile dressing or clean cloth. Symptoms: Pain in the affected area, breathing difficulties if the airway is affected, swelling and blistering of the skin, shock.

Broken Bones

1. Support the injured part.
2. Protect the injury with padding.
3. Support with slings or bandages.
4. Take or send the casualty to the hospital. Symptoms: Distortion, swelling and bruising, pain and difficulty moving the affected area.

CPR (Adult)

1. Position hands on the center of the chest.
2. Give 30 chest compressions.
3. Check that the airway is open.
4. Begin rescue breaths.
5. Watch for chest fall.
6. Continue CPR.

CPR (Child)

1. Check that the airway is open.
2. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Position one hand on the center of the chest.
4. Give 30 compressions.
5. Give two rescue breaths.
6. Continue CPR.

CPR (Infant)

1. Check that the airway is open.
2. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Position two fingers on the center of the chest.
4. Give 30 compressions.
5. Give two rescue breaths.
6. Continue CPR.

Choking (Adult/Child)

1. Encourage the casualty to cough.
2. Give up to five abdominal thrusts.
3. Call for emergency medical assistance. Symptoms: Difficulty speaking, coughing, and breathing; no speaking, coughing, or breathing.

Choking (Infant)

1. Give up to five back blows.
2. Check the infant's mouth.
3. Give up to five chest thrusts.
4. Call for emergency medical assistance. Symptoms: Able to cough but with difficulty breathing or making any noise; no cough or noise.

Concussion

1. Treat for impaired consciousness.
2. Monitor the casualty.
3. When the casualty has recovered, place them in the care of a responsible person.
4. Go to the hospital if there is blood from the head.

DRABC

Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

Emergency (Danger)

Call 999/112 for emergency help.

Emergency (Conscious Casualty)

Check airway and breathing, circulation, then call 999/112.

Emergency (Unconscious Casualty)

Ensure airway is open and clear, check breathing, check circulation, then call 999/112.

Fainting

1. Lie the casualty down and raise their legs, supporting their ankles on your shoulders to improve blood flow to the brain.
2. Make sure the casualty has plenty of fresh air.
3. If the casualty recovers, help them to sit up gradually.

Heart Attack

1. Make the casualty comfortable.
2. Call for emergency medical assistance.
3. Give the casualty their prescribed medication if available.
4. Monitor the casualty. Symptoms: Chest pain spreading to one or both arms, breathlessness, discomfort like indigestion in the upper abdomen, sudden collapse, ashen skin, and blueness of lips.

Head Injury

1. Apply direct pressure to any wound.
2. Secure the dressing with a bandage.
3. Help the casualty lie down.
4. Call for emergency medical assistance. Symptoms: Scalp wound, clear fluid or watery blood from the nose or ear.

Hypothermia

1. Re-warm the casualty gradually.
2. Call for emergency medical assistance.
3. Give the casualty energy food or warm sugary drinks.
4. Monitor the casualty. Symptoms: Cold, pale, dry skin, shivering, apathy, disorientation, lethargy, impaired consciousness, slow breathing.

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

1. Give the casualty sugar.
2. Give the casualty some sugary food or drink.
3. Monitor the casualty.
4. Call for emergency medical assistance if the condition doesn't improve. Symptoms: History of diabetes, weakness, faintness or hunger, confusion, sweating with cold, clammy skin, wearing a medical bracelet.

Meningitis

1. Seek medical advice immediately.
2. Treat any fever.
3. Check for signs of a rash.
4. Call for emergency medical assistance. Symptoms: Flu-like illness with high temperature, cold hands and feet, joint and limb pain, mottled or very pale skin.