Head2Heal
  • Home
  • About
  • Courses at your workplace
    • Emergency First Aid
    • First Aid at Work
    • First Aid Requalification
    • Paediatric First Aid
    • Schools First Aid
    • CPR & Defibrillator
  • Courses at our place
    • Emergency First Aid
    • First Aid at Work
    • First Aid Requalification
    • Paediatric First Aid
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions

1/28/2019

What is the difference between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
The heart
We are asked this question a lot, many people think heart attack and cardiac arrest are the same when in reality they're very different.

While heart attack can lead into a cardiac arrest the starting point for the two are vastly different.

Heart attack is a circulation problem where the blood can't get around the body as easily because a blood clot or narrowed artery is stopping the heart from working effectively. As often the blood can continue to travel around the body to some extent, people can remain conscious and continue to breathe though this will become difficult and often people will experience symptoms such as dizziness and feelings of faintness among other things.
​
You can read more about heart attacks here 
Heart attacks blog
Man having heart attack
Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. Your heart works on electrical impulses to make it beat in the correct order to move the blood around the body. In the case of a cardiac arrest the electrical impulses have come out of sync or have stopped completely. When this happens no oxygen can get around your body to your brain and you will become unconscious and stop breathing very quickly. 
Man does CPR
In either of these situations you should call 999 for an ambulance if they are breathing and awake sit them in the W position and take advice from ambulance control.
If they are not breathing start CPR

Share

0 Comments

11/26/2018

Will I get HIV from giving rescue breaths?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
I get asked this question on nearly all, if not every first aid course that I ever run. Of all the scary things we talk about during the course of the day this is the one that still strikes fear into the hearts of the participants.
You can see the look on their faces change when we start talking about giving mouth to mouth resuscitation, some look disgusted, some look unsure but no one ever looks happy.
Picture
Since the discovery of the HIV virus and the stigma that has attached itself to the transmission of this disease it has been on everyone's radar of things to watch out for.
As we all know science and medicine have come on a long, long way since the discover of the virus in the 1980's. Back then no one really knew anything about it, other than it was deadly. They weren't sure how easily it was transmitted. Whether just breathing the same air was enough for you to become infected with the virus.

Thankfully now we know an awful lot more than we did nearly 40 years ago.
We now know that most people diagnosed with HIV in the UK acquire the virus through unprotected vaginal or anal sex.

We know that other body fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, don't contain enough of the virus to infect another person.

We know that although there is still no cure for HIV there is medicine effective to stop you becoming infected if you think you have been infected through a high risk activity. Giving mouth to mouth resuscitation is not considered a high risk activity, even if there was blood around the casualties mouth. Although b
ody fluids like blood can pass through broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes it's very rare for this to lead to infection.

We know that these medications are so effective the lifespan of someone living with HIV is near enough normal and their quality of life is as good as a person living without HIV.

HIV has NEVER been transmitted through mouth to mouth resuscitation before. EVER.

Picture
Does that mean that you're expected to give rescue breaths every time?

No, giving rescue breaths is still a choice, the aim of this blog isn't to make everyone give breaths every time but it is to educate people about the level of risk involved.

Why are rescue breaths so important anyway? I thought we didn't have to do them?

Rescue breaths help to ensure there is enough oxygen in the blood stream to keep the brain and the rest of the vital organs alive as best as possible until the professionals arrive to take over. The brain tissues start to die after as little as 3 minutes without oxygen. The longer the lack of oxygen continues the more of the brain becomes damaged. This can decrease the chance of survival or make it more likely the casualty will be alive but with brain damage that can cause physical and or mental deficits for the surviving casualty.

Are there other risks?

There are other diseases that can pass on through giving mouth to mouth resuscitation such as Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Herpes. However this risks of these illnesses passing on are very low. And these very low risks can be further lowered with the use of a face shield during mouth to mouth. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
You can find these in and around first aid kits. You can also purchase little Keyring versions of these for when you're on the move.

Share

0 Comments

10/12/2018

A stab in the dark: How to use an Epipen

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Epipen
If you see someone having an anaphylactic emergency, this may have happened to them before in which case they may have with them an Adrenaline Auto Injector (AAI)

There are a few different brands of these AAI's such as EpiPen, Jext and Emerade to name a few. All these devices work by injecting a dose of adrenaline into the system to slow down the bodies over reaction.
adrenaline auto injectors
  • First of all if you've never used one of these devices, see if the casualty is able to administer the device themselves. Most people can if the reaction is noticed quickly.
  • If they can't do it themselves READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
  • All the devices have instructions on them and although they work similarly it's best to check before administering.
  • All devices have some kind of safety cap - Remove before administration
  • Keep your fingers and thumbs away from the ends. Best to put the pen flat in your hand then put your thumb around it first followed by your fingers.
  • Push or swing the device firmly until it clicks then
  • HOLD IT STILL for the time required - between 5-10 seconds.
  • Don't throw it away after use as the ambulance will need to know how much has been administered.
  • Keep an eye on them, if you don't see any improvement after 15 minutes and the ambulance hasn't arrived take further advice from ambulance control.

Share

0 Comments

10/12/2018

Anaphylaxis

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Anaphylaxis
Chances are unless you've been hiding under a duvet for the past few weeks, no judgement here (just jealousy!) you've heard a lot about anaphylaxis on the news.
Tragically lives are lost each year because of this over reaction of the immune system.
Most, if not all parents are very aware of anaphylaxis as there seems to be a childhood epidemic of allergies at the moment. Particularly to that deathly little legume... the peanut!
Anaphylaxis peanuts
No, Peanuts aren't nuts, they're actually part of the pea family. I know, confused us too!

What lots of people don't understand of forget is that allergy is a sliding scale with anaphylaxis being at the nasty end of it and intolerance being at the not so nasty end of it.

There is however one thing that everyone is allergic to.... If you manage to make it all the way to the end of this I'll reveal the answer. #getreading
Reading blog

What is Anaphylaxis

Ok, so imagine your immune system being a bit like guards around a castle. They're on patrol all the time just waiting and watching for any signs of attack from an outside invader.
Now if a foreign solider came along you'd expect them to go into attack mode to deal with the intruder. Well this is how your immune system normally works. So this is what a normal reaction looks like to something that could be harmful.

Back to the soldiers around the castle.
If you have anaphylaxis your soldiers are on super high alert, a small animal moves in the undergrowth and they launch a full scale attack, cannons, arrows the whole lot! Bit of an overreaction? There's anaphylaxis.
Soldier

What are the signs?

  • Red flushed skin
  • Hives (looks like nettle rash)
  • Feeling faint
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Swelling
  • Severe Asthma or breathing difficulties
  • Unconsciousness
Anaphylaxis

How to treat an anaphylactic emergency

  • IF this has happened before the person might have an Adrenaline Auto Injector AAI. Sometimes called an EpiPen though there are other brands of these AAI's. Call 999 and administer pen.
  • If this is the first reaction, call 999 straight away. Tell them you think it's anaphylaxis
  • if they're having breathing difficulties, keep them sitting up to help them breathe.
  • if they're not having breathing difficulties, lie them down and elevate their feet to help their circulation.

Check out our how to use an epipen blog if you're not sure how to do it.

​https://www.head2healfirstaid.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-an-epipen

Share

0 Comments

10/8/2018

Asthma: it's not easy bein' wheezy!

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Asthma
As the seasons start to change, the leaves go golden, mornings become more crisp and asthmatics everywhere collectively sigh.
The change of the seasons means it's more likely their asthma symptoms are going to worsen.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is an allergic reaction that takes place in the lungs.
There are lots of "triggers" to asthma that are individual to the person, they may include things like:
  • Pet fur
  • Pollen
  • Air Pollution
  • Smoke/Aerosols
  • Stress/Exercise (yes, exercising is stressful!)

But they just need their pump thing don't they?

 "oh, it's just asthma! What are you moaning about?"

Just asthma? JUST ASTHMA!

Did you know Asthma kills 3 people per day in the UK... 3 people every day somewhere in the UK will lose their lives to "just asthma".
​
​I'm going to pause here and let that sink in.
*dramatic pause*

Still think it's "just" asthma...
Asthma deaths

No more Just Asthma

Asthma is a Breathing Problem. Oxygen = Life 
I'm not sure why some people have decided that a breathing problem isn't cause for serious concern.
​If you're going to learn only one thing from this blog post I'd like it to be that Asthma is life threatening and should be treated as such.

What to look out for

Signs that someone is having an asthma attack include:
  • Wheezy sound on the outward breath (this isn't always present)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Paler skin with possible blueness around the lips
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Exhaustion
  • Unconsciousness

How to help

If you think someone is having an Asthma attack
  • Encourage them to sit up tall, shoulders back to open the chest and airways
  • See if they have their blue reliever inhaler. Allow and help them to take it if they do.
  • Give up to 10 puffs of the blue inhaler if no improvement call 999
  • If no blue inhaler call 999 straight away
  • If someone else has a blue inhaler they have offered, check with 999 before allowing the casualty to take it.
  • DON'T move them from where they are unless they are in danger.
Asthma Inhaler

If you made it all the way to here then you've learned why more people need to be aware that asthma can and will kill.
The way we stop it is awareness. 
More people need to know that asthma can be fatal, pass it on!

Share

0 Comments

6/24/2018

Concussion: Shake, Rattle & Roll

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Concussion
Concussion is when your brain gets shaken within your skull.
Imagine a jelly in a box.
Now shake the box.
​Kind of messy right?
It's not much fun having a concussion, any one who's had it will tell you it can make you feel a bit rough.

When is it concussion and not just a bump?

A bump will be painful and might give you a bit of a lump on your bonce but you shouldn't have any lasting effects. To treat the bump apply a wrapped ice pack for about 10 minutes to take some of the pain and swelling down. If other symptoms develop then you might have a concussion.
Bumped head

What symptoms might develop?

Some of the typical symptoms usually develop fairly soon after the bump and include the following:
  • Short loss of consciousness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • blurry vision
  • confusion
  • tiredness
  • dazed or vacant look
  • headache

What do I do if I think someone has concussion?

Before I get into what you should do, here's some things they SHOULDN'T be doing
  • Driving
  • Operating machinery
  • Any sports activities
  • Eating, Drinking or Smoking are also ill advised

If you think someone has concussion you should:
  • take them to hospital for a check over
  • treat any injuries to their head (see above)
  • keep them quiet, calm and still
If they become unconscious again or are very difficult to wake Call 999 for an ambulance
ambulance

Share

0 Comments

6/24/2018

Everything you need to know about choosing a training provider

0 Comments

Read Now
 
As an employer you have a duty to ensure you are choosing a training provider who is competent to delivery the quality of first aid training needed for your workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide some really good information about what makes a provider competent… and in true Health and Safety Executive style its very long and very boring to read through.
Yawn
Good News, here’s everything you need to know in a nutshell!

The training provider should be able to demonstrate:
  1. Their training is regulated by documented quality assurance schemes whether independently or through an Awarding Organisation.
  2. Their staff have the appropriate qualifications to deliver training. (a First aid at Work and a Level 3 teaching qualification)
  3. The course contents and teaching hours are appropriate for your needs assessment and are in line with the course content set by the HSE.
  4. They only allow a maximum ratio of 12:1 student to teacher
  5. Their certificates provide all the appropriate information to comply with HSE standards.
choosing a training provider
Now we’ve covered that… Here’s why you should choose us!
  1. Skillbase First Aid are our Awarding Organisation, all of the above are compliant so everything is taken care of!
  2. We are passionate - We believe in what we do.
  3. We love common sense - No PhD required to get to grips with our courses! (Though if you have one that's great too!)
  4. We get YOU involved - No death by PowerPoint here!
  5. We don't believe in scary tests ​- We take a more relaxed approach with ongoing assessment throughout the course​
WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Our courses are aimed at instilling you with the confidence to deal with emergencies both in and out of work. We also include Child and Baby CPR and Choking on EVERY COURSE!
Child baby CPR

Share

0 Comments

6/12/2018

Heart Attack

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Heart Attack
What does a heart attack look like? Does the person always stop, clutch their chest looking momentarily terrified and drop to the floor?
heart attack
This is what we call the “Hollywood Heart Attack” it’s what TV programs and films show to demonstrate to the viewer exactly what’s happening without the explanation. *Cue end music* tune in next week to see Barbra in a hospital gown 😉
Heart attack
Here she is looking slightly worse for wear!

​In the real world a heart attack can look very different, symptoms can even vary between men and women.

Just a bit of background...
​A heart attack is a blockage in the heart, which stops oxygen getting to all parts of the muscle which makes the heart muscle die. Blockages can be caused by blood clot or narrowing of an arteries by build up of cholesterol, (you know that stuff they go on about in the Flora adverts!).

Imagine your circulation system being like a motorway all around your body, a heart attack is like the road to the heart being closed for roadworks or traffic cones cutting the three lanes down to one.
Traffic jam
If it doesn’t always look like it does on TV, what am I looking for? I hear you ask

Signs and symptoms may include:

Pain in the centre of the chest, though many women do not experience this symptom which may be why only 2 in 1000 women compared with 6 in 1000 men between 30-69 years old are known to have heart attacks each year in the UK.

Pain may spread into the back, between the shoulder blades and into the arms (particularly the left arm)
Some women complain of neck or tooth ache or upper abdominal pain

Struggling to get their breath

Paler than usual or grey skin, maybe with blueness around the lips

Sweaty

Feeling or being sick

Dizzy and weak


So now comes the really important bit… What can you do to help?!

Dial 999 for an ambulance. Do not wait to see if the pain subsides.

Sit the casualty down. This will take pressure off the heart and also prevent the casualty hurting themselves if they collapse. It is best to lean the casualty against something and lift and support their knees. This is commonly referred to as a ‘w’ position. (pictures at the bottom!)

Reassure the casualty and try to keep them calm (easier said than done I know!)

If the casualty has their own medication for a heart condition let them use it. If they do not have any medication, we can offer aspirin if we have it and they are able to take it. (not allergic for example) They should take a normal dose as indicated on the packet (usually 300mg). The casualty should chew the tablet slowly, which will allow it to get to work quicker than swallowing. If you are unsure, ask 999 ambulance for advice.

If the casualty loses consciousness or stops breathing ask 999 for advice.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Myth Buster

No amount of coughing is going to help if you're home alone and having a heart attack, no matter what "the cardiologist on Facebook" says..

If you are home alone and may be having a heart attack, call 999, unlock and open your front door to allow the paramedics access should you become unconscious. Once you've done that sit in the W position and stay calm until help arrives

Share

0 Comments
Details

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018

    Categories

    All
    Anaphylaxis
    Asthma
    Breathing Difficulties
    Breaths
    Bumped Head
    CPR
    Epipen
    First Aid
    Head Injury
    Health
    Heart
    Heart Attack
    HIV
    Signs And Symptoms
    Training
    Work

    RSS Feed

Picture

What Our Clients Are Saying

Sarah of Head2heal first aid is an amazing instructor. you will leave your course confident enough to take on any first aid situation you come across. recommend 100% - Gill Cleeve

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • Home
  • About
  • Courses at your workplace
    • Emergency First Aid
    • First Aid at Work
    • First Aid Requalification
    • Paediatric First Aid
    • Schools First Aid
    • CPR & Defibrillator
  • Courses at our place
    • Emergency First Aid
    • First Aid at Work
    • First Aid Requalification
    • Paediatric First Aid
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions