First Aid Mag

If you’re with someone, especially elderly people and they are experiencing sudden weakness and numbness, it would be easy to assume they are just tired, and the symptoms will pass after a nap. However, these may be signs – “early signs” – of stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Australia and a major cause of severe, lifelong disability. It occurs when the blood flow into the brain is interrupted (ischemic stroke) or when the blood vessels in the brain bursts open (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people fully recover completely from strokes, but more than half of stroke survivors are often left with lifelong effects. The key to lower the chance of disability and death is the early recognition of stroke symptoms. Did you know that there are multiple ways to tell if someone is experiencing a stroke? The acronym F.A.S.T helps you easily identify the common first signs of stroke for both men and women. Here are the common signs and symptoms as well as ‘early

What is it that makes therapy so important to those battling with mental illness? Every year, millions of people experience mental health disorders, yet only fraction receives treatment from mental health therapists. There are several reasons why people are still having their second thoughts in seeking professional help, ‘therapy doesn't work' or ‘sharing my problems with someone won't help'. This way of thinking prevents people from enjoying the positive benefits that therapy could bring. The truth about therapy is that it really works in treating mental illness. But we get it, therapy is not always accessible to everyone nor an option for some people. So, we prepared a list of small and simple mental health care strategies you can start doing immediately. It’s not meant to be a substitute for professional help, but it can be a useful addition or way to accelerate your healing. Write your thoughts down on a journal When you’re stuck on a neg

It's time to dispel some of the most popular myths that surround first aid. We’re debunking those misconceptions once and for all to prevent everyone from handling injuries the wrong way. Here are some of the common myths about first aid: Myth #1: Sucking a Snake Bite Don’t try to suck the venom out. The venom from the snake bite is shot into the bloodstream towards the heart and moving around the body. There is no possible way you could suck out all the venom. Instead, keep the bite below the level of the heart and try to stay calm as you contact the emergency medical services. Myth #2: Hyperventilating into a Paper Bag It’s a traditional practice to treat hyperventilation by rebreathing into a brown paper bag. The idea behind this is rebreathing in the bag helps the body restore its proper levels. But studies have shown that hyperventilating into a paper bag will only make things worse. It’s better to try breathing through pursed lip and if the hyperve

Emergencies do not come with warnings - it can happen anytime, anywhere and to anybody. The first step in handling emergency situations is to call 000 (Emergency Number Australia). While waiting, bystanders with basic first aid knowledge must do something while waiting for the emergency help to arrive. Yet, many people are reluctant to step forward to help due to lack of knowledge on first aid application. Pre-hospital deaths could have been prevented had first aid been carried out before the emergency medical services arrive. First Aid Training must be recognised and promoted as an essential life skill that It is. Below are the basic life-saving skills everyone should know to be emergency ready. Perform CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is performed to provide chest compressions and rescue breaths when the heart is not pumping on its normal pace. With Adult CPR, the ratio is 30:2. Apply a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute about 5-6 cm de

Knowledge in First Aid has its benefits. Accidents are inevitable and there is no single bit of guarantee that people are safe from any physical injury, illness or trauma. The best possible thing that people can do is to be prepared in case any accidents, mishaps and occurrences will happen. Number of reasons are keeping people from learning first aid and getting the necessary training to perform it effectively.  1.) Fear of doing the wrong thing 2.) Misconceptions on the training costs 3.) Not having enough time 4.) No idea where to get training A trained person is capable to save a life and can make a world of difference. While a non-trained person is most likely puzzled and clueless in times of emergency. First aid training course only takes a matter of hours to complete, but it will render an individual powerful with all the knowledge needed to tackle an emergency. First Aid knowledge is gained by getting trained. Here are the 4 top reasons why first aid training is imp

A person can bleed to death in less than 5 minutes’ We know victims can die from uncontrolled bleeding in a matter of minutes, and there isn't enough time to wait for the emergency medical responder to arrive. Blood loss is the leading cause of preventable death following injury.   Severe bleeding injuries often occur in multiple casualty events such as earthquakes, mass shootings, and everyday events like automobile crash and industrial accidents.   In the past years, the news seems full of never-ending incidents that took the number of people’s lives. Therefore in 2015, the ‘Stop the Bleed' or Bleeding control initiative is launched to educate and empower citizens to stop life-threatening blood loss after unintentional injuries. While the training to stop blood loss can save lives in mass casualties and shooting situations, it also comes into play in rural accidents. Sometimes we forgot that life in a rural area can be dangerous. They live in an unsafe stat

If you witness a case of electrocution while it’s happening, would you know what to do? Electrocution is a serious workplace hazard that belonged to the ‘Fatal Four’. The fatal four are considered as the leading causes of deaths among workers, and death due to electrocutions ranked no. 2 in the list, next to falls. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has estimated 5,000 work-related electrocution deaths in the past five years.  These fatal electrocutions incidents are unacceptably high in across industries, most especially in the construction industry. The risk is greatest among construction workers (maintenance, engineers, and electricians) since they are exposed to dangers on a regular basis. Their job sites often present exposed wirings and numbers of other potential electrocution hazards. Electrical accidents primarily occur because of unsafe and unmonitored working conditions. In some cases, electrocution occurs due to faulty electrical equipmen