Expert: Josh Wells
Bio: Josh Wells is a firefighter and paramedic in Sedona, Arizona.
Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Duration : 0:2:44

Technorati Tags: allergic-reaction, allergies, emergency, first aid, free, help, howto, medicine, Video

Duration : 0:8:54

Technorati Tags: cars, emergency, first aid

Expert: Megan Rouch
Bio: Megan Rouch enjoys off-road unicycling. She has been riding unicycles for eight years. Miss Rouch has instructed unicycling and juggling at the Kent Cummins Magic Camp for the past seven years.
Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Duration : 0:1:0

Technorati Tags: backpacking, bushwalking, camping, comfort, equipment, first aid, gear, health, hiking, nutrition, outdoors, supplies, trekking, wilderness, woods

Nowadays, there are amazing first aid kits in the market. Many of them are assembled to meet the needs of families with children or for other specific purposes.

First aid first means safety first

The first thing families with children should learn about is safety. Preventing an accident is better than responding to one. Regarding children, however, we know that is almost impossible to have a completely accident-free environment. Consequently, parents should know something about first aid. First they should remember that children are often not able to express clearly what they feel or what have happen. Perhaps they were injured seriously for first time and therefore parents should learn to analyze the situation without necessarily asking what has happened.

Stings and bites

If you live in a place where insects could sting or bite your child, your first aid kit should include anti-swelling, instant ice packs, pain reliever, aseptic towels and an anti-inflammatory lotion. Remember that the reaction to a sting or a bite can be local (less severe) or systemic, which affects the function of the lungs or the heart. In the latter case, parents should call immediately the emergencies services, since a further diagnosis and treatment is very probably required. Symptoms of a systemic shock are abdominal or chest pain, dizziness, hives and difficulties breathing.

If there is simply a stinger, remove it gently and disinfect the region carefully. Protect it with an adhesive strip for at least one day. If it itches or hurts, an instant ice pack will be of some relief. Just don’t apply it directly to the skin.

Sunburn

Sunburns can equally be avoided but parents cannot completely discard that they will happen. For this case apply compresses or moisturizing gel. Aloe Vera is very effective in this case. If the pain is too intense, ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used. As in the previous case, search professional medical advice if you think the burn is too severe.

Of course, there are other injuries and ailments that affect your child.  A basic first aid course for infants and children can be a life saver, and can enable the parent to feel more confident in any situation where their children are.

Technorati Tags: basic first aid, first aid, first aid first, first aid first for children, first aid for stings and bites, first aid for sunburn

Article:

Students at the second part of the Community Emergency Response Team training program learned Saturday that there are three kinds of bleeding — arterial, venous, capillary — and how to treat a bloody wound.

“It’s very interesting and very educational,” said Edward Washington, who is taking part in the certification program so he can later teach other members of Lovejoy Baptist Church what he learned. “I plan to take an instructors course in March so hopefully I can instruct others.”

The CERT instructor explained the differences in the types of bleeding like so: Arterial bleeding is what victims in slasher movies experience, with bright red blood squirting from the wound; venous bleeding is when a vein is cut, causing a slower flow of darker blood; and capillary bleeding is must less serious, like road rash or a bad carpet burn.

The more than 30 students were taught to apply direct pressure to the wound, then elevate the wound if possible, and to squeeze a pressure point to slow the flow of blood to the wound. They also learned how to apply different kinds of bandages.

Cheryl Zirkelbach looked to be well practiced when the students paired up try out what they learned, and with good reason. Zirkelback is currently working on a master’s degree in emergency management at Jacksonville State University and is an intern at the local Emergency Managment Agency.

“I needed this experience. I needed to be out there and have the hands-on experience,” she said.

A former nail salon owner, Zirkelbach decided to go to college and ended up graduating from Shorter College with three bachelor’s degrees (communications, history and Spanish). She said she hopes to work in emergency management once she earns her master’s, and she’s open to working anywhere in the world.

“There’s always going to be a another disaster or another war somewhere,” she said.

Students learned how to treat other wounds as well Saturday, such as burns, breaks, sprains, shock and airway obstruction.

“They’re going to learn to triage,” said Vicki Wiles, CERT coordinator and a former student herself.

The program began last weekend with search and rescue training and will conclude Feb. 7 with a training exercise during which the students will have to put out fires, aid victims and treat simulated wounds.

“The search and rescue, that’s one of the hardest things,” said Zirkelbach. “When you’re going into a building and it’s dark and smokey you can get lost really easily.”

Technorati Tags: first aid, first aid first, learn first aid, triage

Putting first aid first is important in this winter season in North America for those of us who venture out of doors.

Stock your first-aid kit

- Idaho Statesman Edition Date: 01/15/09

A First Aid Kit is one item that hikers, climbers and back country backpackers can’t afford to forget.

A first-aid kit should contain:

- An easy-to-follow first-aid instruction booklet that explains how to handle basic problems.

- Assorted adhesive bandages, athletic tape and moleskin.

- Basic drugs and lotions, such aspirin, antiseptic, antacid tablets, sunscreen and any prescription medicines.

- Tweezers, a small mirror, razor blade or knife.

- A bee-sting kit, venom-extraction pump, wipes, plastic gloves and eye pads.

- For extended trips, you should consider packing additional items like extra bandages, drugs and ointments.

Source: REI

Technorati Tags: first aid, first aid kit, first aid kits, stock first aid kit

While this may be a little shocking, it is so true of today — parent’s are so caught up in the thought of their child being hurt that they forget to put their first aid training to use.  This article reviews the steps to take to combat snakebite as well as praises the fast acting stranger who saved a young child’s life.

Read the article here

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,27574,24881819-5006009,00.html

Snakebite first aid first

Technorati Tags: first aid, first aid first, first aid first blog, snakebite

Normally, first aid first blog is about tips and tricks for incorporating first aid into your everyday.  But this article here  caught my eye.

It seems that people, mostly teens and late twenties, who are overcome with emotion at the appearance of their favorite star and later recover – do recover.  The sign of their recovery, the ability to text shows that they are functioning, and are well.

According to the article, “…Based on a standard test of neurological function, having the co-ordination to hit the tiny buttons and send a text message indicates a sufficient degree of recovery…”

Go figger.
Check out the full article, and discover how text messaging is used to put first aid first.

Technorati Tags: first aid, first aid first, first aid treatments

While emergency first aid training isn’t something that’s required for many employers or educational systems, it’s certainly worth considering. By taking the time to explore emergency first aid training, you can make sure that you are confident no matter what happens to you or to your family and friends. Accidents and injuries will happen, so any opportunity you have to prepare your family is a chance you should take. Here are some ways to learn basic first aid training.

First aid training will help you prepare your family for any sort of medical emergency. But it will take some time and effort to ensure that you are learning all that you can and learning all that you need to know. However, it’s worth it.

Some local community centers and schools may also offer first aid training. Check to see if your town does and you might find that these courses are much cheaper than the Red Cross without being any less in terms of what you learn. You can also talk to your local colleges and universities to see if they are offering first aid training to the local community.

Prepare Your Family With Treatment For Scrapes With Emergency Supplies

It’s easy to see how a first aid kit contents can be very different. Many people and businesses create their own first aid kits for this very reason.

In your workplace or office space, you can look for the first aid sign when you need to get a ice pack or another piece of first aid equipment. These signs are usually posted on the outside of the first aid kit or at other first aid stations in your company – eye wash stations, for example. These signs should be easy to see and identify so that no time is wasted during an emergency.

Create Your Family Emergency First Aid Kit For broken bones

A first aid kit should be well-stocked and contain all the items you may have the most frequent need to access. For example, someone who does a lot of cooking will want to make sure there’s plenty of burn ointment and bandages in the kit. Another person who enjoys playing basketball regularly will want a kit with items for treating sprains and bruises.

Emergency Supplies

Technorati Tags: emergency first aid, emergency first aid kit, emergency supplies, first aid, first aid first

Its the fear factor that may get you.  After all, it is YOUR child that is hurt, or screaming, or bleeding.
Not to worry, though, as I found this article worth a closer study.  Its an easy read, covers the basics like nosebleeds, teeth knocked out, and burns – it even goes over puncture wounds and poisonings.

Nothing can compensate, however, for having some first aid training first.  As the article reminds us “…Contact your local Red Cross or American Heart Association chapter for CPR, AED and First Aid certification courses. …. Also, check that your kids’ coaches, teachers or camp counselors are certified and trained as well.”

Good, sound advice for anyone, read the whole article to find out more.

Emergency First Aid for Dads

Technorati Tags: emergency first aid, first aid, first aid for dads, parents first aid