Complete First Aid

26/11/2025

Treating Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially when the person is doing strenuous activities or hasn’t had enough water. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
• Cool, moist skin
• Heavy sweating
• Dizziness
• Weak pulse
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Headaches
To treat someone with heat exhaustion:
• Get the person to a shaded area that’s out of the sun.
• If there are no shaded areas available, keep the person covered by any available materials that can block sunlight.
• Give the person water and keep them hydrated.
• Place a cool cloth on their forehead to lower their body temperature.

25/11/2025

When treating sprains, apply ice to the injured area for 10 minutes but make sure it is wrapped in a cloth. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin. Strap the injured area tightly with a stretchy bandage to provide support and to keep the area compressed. Don’t wrap it so tight that it’ll cut off circulation. Keep the limb elevated or make sure the person avoids putting weight on the injured limb.

24/11/2025

To treat hypothermia, Be gentle with the afflicted person. Don’t rub their body and don’t move their body in too jarring of a way; this could trigger cardiac arrest.
Move the person out of the cold and remove any wet clothing. Cover the person with blankets and use heat packs. Don’t apply heat directly to the skin because this could cause major skin damage. Give the person warm fluids.

23/11/2025

If someone is choking but is making a noise they have partially blocked airway, encourage them to cough. This may be enough to dislodge whatever is in their airway. If someone is choking and is silent, their airway is fully blocked. Hit them between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand HARD up to 5 times. If this doesn’t work put your arms around their stomach and pull in sharply up to 5 times. Repeat the cycle if you need to.

22/11/2025

Tip of the Day: If someone is immersed in water and becomes unconscious but recovers - be aware of secondary drowning. Their lungs can become inflamed, and fluid can build up. The person would have trouble breathing and it might get worse over the next 24 hours.

21/11/2025

Tip of the Day: When doing CPR (chest compressions) it can be very tiring. If you have people who can help try and hand over every minute or so to allow you to rest and ensure the compressions are done effectively. Make sure there is no delay when handing over.

21/11/2025

Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Someone with chickenpox will usually have a high temperature and an itchy rash with red blisters. It is a common disease and mostly affects children.
Look for:
• red spots that can appear anywhere on the body and become itchy, fluid-filled blisters, which may burst and scab over
• a high temperature above 37°C (98.6°F)
• general aches and pains
• loss of appetite
What to do
• If someone has chickenpox, make sure they are comfortable.
• Give them plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• If the casualty is a child, you could give them an ice lolly to suck.
• You can give the casualty the recommended dose of paracetamol for an adult or the recommended dose of paracetamol syrup for a child.
• Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 16.
• If the blisters are very itchy, ask a pharmacist for advice about creams and antihistamines that can be used to help.
To prevent the casualty from itching, you can:
• trim their fingernails
• put socks on their hands at night
• dress them in loose clothing.
Seek medical advice, if:
• the blisters appear to be infected
• you’re worried that they are getting worse.

20/11/2025

Did you know? A defibrillator doesn’t RESTART the heart. A defibrillator STOPS the heart when it is beating abnormally, allowing the heart’s own natural rhythm to kick in. It will only work on someone with an abnormal heartbeat, and you cannot make anyone worse by using one.

19/11/2025

Treating Fractures:
Sometimes it’s very easy to tell if someone has suffered a fractured bone. But sometimes it’s not. If you suspect someone of having a fracture:
• Don’t try to straighten a fractured limb.
• Use a splint or padding to stabilise the area and keep it from moving. A magazine can be used as a temporary splint for an arm or lower leg.
• Keep the area elevated, if possible.

18/11/2025

Treating Cuts and Grazes
Blood is a vital component of our bodies. When someone is bleeding, you want to prevent as much blood from leaving their body as possible. Try and find a clean cloth or bandage. Then:
• Apply gentle pressure for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Clean the wound by gently running over it. Avoid using soap on an open wound.
• Cover the wound with a bandage.

17/11/2025

Dislocated joints
A dislocated joint happens when bones are partly or completely pulled out of their normal position. Joints can dislocate when a strong force wrenches or pulls the bone into an abnormal position.
Someone with a dislocated joint may:
• complain of a severe, sickening pain
• be unable to move the joint
• have swelling and bruising around the joint and it may look shorter, bent or deformed.
What to do
• Advise the casualty to stay still. Help them to support their dislocated joint in the most comfortable position.
• Do not try to put the dislocated bone back into its socket, as this may cause further injury.
• Stop the joint from moving.
Send the casualty to hospital. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if you can’t take them yourself.

16/11/2025

If you want to know more about first aid or would like to attend one of our first aid courses why not contact us at hello@completefirstaid.org on 07907488 or via www.completefirstaid.org/contact/
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Scarlet fever in babies
Scarlet fever is an infection that causes a blotchy, pink-red rash. It’s most common in young children but can affect people of any age. It’s not usually serious and can be treated with antibiotics from your GP. Once the baby has had it, they are unlikely to get it again.
Look for:
• a sore throat
• headache
• a high temperature
• swollen neck glands.
As the fever develops they may have:

• a rash on the body
• a red face
• a white or red tongue.
What to do
• If your baby develops any of the above symptoms seek medical advice straight away.

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