Complete First Aid

06/08/2025

Headaches
Most headaches aren’t serious and usually settle without treatment. Some people can get them for no specific reason, but sometimes they occur following a specific cause. Some headaches can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as meningitis, stroke, or as a result of a head injury.
Possible causes:
• an illness such as flu
• dehydration
• stress or tiredness
• exposure to extremely hot or cold temperatures
• excess alcohol, or other drug use.
What to do
• If someone has a headache, help them to sit or lie down somewhere quiet, and give them a cold compress to hold against their head.
• If the casualty is an adult, you can suggest they take the recommended dose of pain killers, like paracetamol tablets. If the casualty is a child, you can give them the recommended dose of paracetamol syrup.
• Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 16 or anyone who is known to be allergic.
Seek medical advice if the casualty:
• does not improve
• develops a severe and incapacitating pain
• has a pain accompanied by fever or vomiting?
• has a pain accompanied by loss of strength or sensation, or by impaired level of response as this could indicate early signs of a stroke
• has a pain as a result of a head injury
• has a pain accompanied by a stiff neck and sensitivity to light; this could indicate that the casualty has meningitis.

05/08/2025

Minor burns and scalds to adults
A burn can be caused by dry heat such as contact with fire, or a hot iron, or exposure to the sun. A scald can be caused by contact with wet heat, like steam or a hot cup of tea. The longer the burning goes on the more severe the injury. Your priority is to cool the burn as quickly as possible.
Look for:
• red skin and swelling
• pain in the area of the burn
• blistering may start to appear.
What to do
• Start cooling the burn or scald as quickly as possible. Hold it under cool running water for at least 20 minutes or until the pain feels better.
• If there is no water available, you could use cold milk or canned drinks.
• Remove any jewellery or clothing, unless stuck to the burn, before the area begins to swell.
• When the burn has cooled, cover the area loosely with cling film. Do not wrap the cling film tightly around the burn as the area needs space to swell.
• If the burn is on a foot or hand you could use a clean plastic bag.
• Do not break any blisters that may appear, as this may cause infection.
• Call 999 or 112 for emergency help
• Monitor the casualty. Seek medical advice.

04/08/2025

Blisters
Blisters are fluid-filled bumps that look like bubbles on the skin. They usually form when someone’s skin repeatedly rubs against something or is exposed to heat. When someone gets a blister, the part of the skin that is damaged leaks fluid that collects under the top layer of the skin, forming the blister.
What to do
• If someone has a blister, don’t burst it as this can increase the risk of infection. Wash the skin around the blister with clean water and gently pat the skin dry with a sterile gauze pad or a clean, non-fluffy cloth.
• If you cannot wash the area, try to keep it as clean as possible.
• If the blister was caused by something rubbing against the skin, cover it with a plaster but make sure the pad on the plaster is larger than the blister area. Ideally use a special blister plaster, as these have a cushioned pad that gives extra protection.

03/08/2025

Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is caused by a loss of salt and water, usually through excessive sweating. It develops slowly and usually happens to people who aren’t used to hot, humid weather.
Look for:

• a headache, dizziness and confusion
• a loss of appetite and feeling sick
• sweat with pale, clammy skin
• cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
• a fast, weakening pulse and breathing.

What to do
• Help the casualty to a cool place, out of the sun and encourage them to lie down with their legs raised and supported.
• You then need to give them lots of water to drink.
• You could also give them an isotonic sports drink or oral rehydration solution, to help replace the salt and fluid they have lost though sweating.
• Do not mix regular cooking salt into water and give it to them to drink, this will make their condition worse.
• Monitor their level of response. Even if they recover quickly, suggest they seek medical advice.
• If their condition seems to be getting worse, call 999/112 for emergency help.

02/08/2025

FREE First Aid Courses for Harlow residents this August. Have a look at our courses dates here https://completefirstaid.org/course-dates/
These courses are free of charge!

Contact Complete First Aid to discuss what training we provide and how we can help you with learning about First Aid courses.

02/08/2025

Sunburn
Sunburn is caused by too much exposure to the sun, a sunlamp or a sunbed. You can prevent getting sunburn by covering up with light clothing, staying in the shade and regularly applying high factor sunscreen.

Look for:
• reddened skin
• pain in the area of the burn
• later, blistering may appear.
What to do
• Cover the casualty’s skin with lightweight clothing. Move them out of the sun, into the shade, or indoors if possible.
• Encourage them to keep taking sips of cold water.
• You can cool the skin by sponging it gently with cold water.
• If the burn is large you could soak the sore skin in a cold bath or shower for 10 minutes.
For mild sunburn, calamine lotion or after-sun lotion may help to soothe. Advise the casualty to stay inside or in the shade.
If the sunburn is severe, for example with blistering, they should seek medical advice.
The casualty could also suffer from heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Be prepared to treat if necessary.

30/07/2025

Free First Aid courses for Harlow Residents in the Stow area.
Emergency Paediatric First Aid course Friday 22nd August 9.30am to 4.30pm at Safe To Go Stow, Unit 28 The Stow, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3AN
Book here - https://www.procourses.co.uk/classrooms/318282?facilitator_id=6539
Basic First Aid course for residents Thursday 28th August 9.30am to 12.30pm at Safe To Go Stow, Unit 28 The Stow, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3AN
Book here - https://www.procourses.co.uk/classrooms/318283?facilitator_id=6539
Basic First Aid course for young people (aged 13+) Thursday 28th August 1.30pm to 4.30pm at Safe To Go Stow, Unit 28 The Stow, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3AN
Book here - https://www.procourses.co.uk/classrooms/318284?facilitator_id=6539

Register for this training course on Emergency Paediatric 6 Hour Child /Infant First Aid Level 3 (VTQ) - EPFA in Harlow, Essex. UK training courses in health and safety are offered by ProCourses.

28/07/2025

Anaesthetic drug poisoning
Poisons are chemicals or substances that if taken or absorbed into the body in sufficient quantities can cause temporary or permanent damage. The effects will be different depending on the type, quantity and combination of drug taken, as well as how the person has taken it, such as swallowing, inhaling or injecting.

If someone has been poisoned by anaesthetic, such as ketamine, they may have:

• hallucinations
• shallow breathing
• drowsiness.
What to do
• If the person is responsive, help them into a comfortable position and ask them what they’ve taken.
• Try to reassure them.
• Call 999 or 112 for emergency medical help. Tell them that you suspect drug poisoning.
• Keep checking their breathing, pulse, and level of response.
• Do not try to make them vomit. If they do vomit, then put some of this into a bag or container and give it to the healthcare professionals. This may help them identify the drug or substance.
• If they become unresponsive, open their airway, check their breathing, and prepare to treat someone who’s become unresponsive.

27/07/2025

Seizures in children
A seizure can also be known as a convulsion or fit. In young children, seizures are usually caused by a raised body temperature, often following an infection. This type of seizure, known as a febrile seizure, occurs because the brain is not mature enough to cope with the body’s high temperature.

Look for:
• loss of or lack of a response
• vigorous shaking, with clenched fists and an arched back
• signs of a fever, with hot, flushed skin and sweating
• twitching of the face
• squinting, fixed or rolled back eyes
• breath holding with a red face and neck
• drooling at the mouth
• vomiting
• loss of bladder or bowel control.
What to do
• Clear any objects away from around the child that could be dangerous. Then place pillows or soft padding, such as rolled up towels, around the child. This will help to protect them from injuring themselves while having the seizure.
• Do not restrain the child or move them unless they are in immediate danger.
• Do not put anything in their mouth.
• Try to cool the child down. Take off any bedding and clothes such as a t-shirt to help cool them. You might need to wait for the seizure to stop to do this. Make sure there is fresh air circulating but be careful not to overcool the child.
• When the seizure has stopped, place them in the recovery position to keep the airway open. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
• While you wait for help to arrive, reassure the child and parent. Monitor the child’s level of response.
• While you’re waiting for help to arrive check your baby’s breathing and ensure their airway is open and clear. If they stop breathing at any point prepare to start CPR. Try not to move your baby in case they have a spinal injury.

26/07/2025

Sepsis in babies and young children
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. It can lead to multiple organ failure and possibly death.
Sepsis is caused by the way the body responds to an infection. The infection can occur anywhere, from chest or urinary infections, or problems in the abdomen like burst ulcers, or even simple skin injuries like cuts and bites. Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.

It is a life-threatening condition which makes the immune system go into overdrive as it tries to fight the infection. This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, eventually leading to multiple organ failure and possibly death.

In babies and young children, look for:

• Not feeding
• Vomiting repeatedly
• Passing no urine over the past 12 hours
• Skin is mottled, discoloured, blue, or pale
• A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
• Has a ‘fit’, or seizure
• Severe breathlessness or breathing rapidly
• Not responding or handling as they normally do
• The child being lethargic and/or hard to wake
• Feels abnormally cold to touch.
• They may not have all of these symptoms.
What to do
• If a baby or young child is unwell and you think they have one or more symptoms of sepsis, do not wait call 999 or 112 for emergency help straight away.
• While you’re waiting for help to arrive, reassure them and keep them comfortable.
• Cover them with a blanket if they feel cold.
• Monitor their level of response.

25/07/2025

Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that was common in children before the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced in 1988. Mumps usually passes without causing serious damage to a person’s health.

It is spread by breathing in infected droplets of saliva or from contaminated surfaces transferred into the mouth or nose.

Look for:
• painful swelling at the side of the face under the ears
• a high temperature
• headaches
• joint pain.
What to do
• If you think someone has mumps, seek medical advice straight away.
• Advise the casualty to take the recommended dose of painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• Never give aspirin to a child under 16 years old.
• Apply a warm or cold compress to swollen glands to help relieve the pain.
It is important to prevent the infection spreading in the few days before and after the symptoms develop by:
• regularly washing your hands with soap
• disposing of used tissues.
• Advise the casualty to stay off work or school for at least 5 days after the first symptoms appear.