FIRST AID FOR COMMON DISEASES

ANAPHYLAXIS

What to look for:

1. Difficulty breathing (e.g. tight chest and wheezing)
2. Swelling of the tongue and throat
3. Itchy or puffy eyes
4. An outbreak of blotchy skin
5. Anxiety
6. Signs of shock
What you need to do
If you notice these symptoms and you think someone is
having an allergic reaction then you need to get
emergency help to get them to hospital as fast as you can
(even if the symptoms are mild or have stopped).
Dial 999 or 112 straight away. Tell them you think
someone is having a severe allergic reaction and give any
information you have on what may have triggered it (e.g.
an insect sting, or certain food, like peanuts).
If the person knows what their allergy is, they may have
medication with them, like an auto-injector (for example
Epipen, JEXT or Emerade). This is a pre-filled injection
device, containing adrenaline/epinephrine, which when
injected can help reduce the bodys allergic reaction.
Check if they have one, and if they do, help them to use it
or do it yourself following the instructions.
Help them into a comfortable sitting position, leaning
forward slightly, to help their breathing.
If they become unconscious, open their airway and check
breathing. Follow the instructions for treating someone
who is unconscious.

BLEEDING

What you need to do:

Your priority is to stop the bleeding. Protect yourself by
wearing gloves.
If the wound is covered by the casualty's clothing, remove
or cut the clothes to uncover the wound.
If there an object in the wound

If theres an object in there, dont pull it out, because it

may be acting as a plug to reduce the bleeding. Instead,
leave it in and apply pressure either side of it with a pad
(such as a clean cloth) or fingers, until a sterile dressing is
available.
If there's no object in the wound
Put direct pressure on the wound with your fingers, using
a sterile dressing if possible, to stop blood escaping.
Raise and support the part of the body thats injured so
that its above the heart. This will reduce the flow of blood
to the wound and help stop the bleeding.
Treat them for shock: lay them down with their head low
and their legs raised and supported.
Waiting for help
Firmly wrap a bandage around the pad or dressing on top
of the wound to control the bleeding. Make it firm enough
to maintain pressure but not so tight that it restricts their
circulation.
If blood shows through the pad or dressing, dont remove
it: apply a second dressing on top of the first one. If blood
then seeps through both dressings, remove both of them
and replace them with a fresh dressing. When changing
dressings, make sure you keep pressure applied to where
the bleeding is coming from.
If you can, support the injured area in a raised position.
For example, you can rest a leg on some cushions, or for
an arm you can make a sling.
Keep checking the casualty's breathing, pulse and level
of response.
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their
airway, check their breathing, and prepare to treat
someone who has become unconscious.
BONE
FRACTURE

what to look for:

1. Swelling
2. Difficulty moving
3. Movement in an unnatural direction
4. A limb that looks shorter, twisted or bent

5. A grating noise or feeling

6. Loss of strength
7. Shock
What you need to do:
If it is an open fracture, cover the wound with a sterile
dressing and secure it with a bandage. Apply pressure
around the wound to control any bleeding.
Support the injured body part to stop it from moving. This
should ease any pain and prevent any further damage.
Once youve done this, call 999 or 112 for medical help.
While waiting for help to arrive, dont move them unless
theyre in immediate danger.
BURNS

What to look for:

1. Red skin
2. Swelling
3. Blisters may form on the skin later on
4. The skin may peel
5. The skin may be white or scorched
What you need to do:
Stop the burning getting any worse, by moving the
casualty away from the source of heat.
Start cooling the burn as quickly as possible. Run it under
cool water for at least ten minutes or until the pain feels
better. (Dont use ice, creams or gels they can damage
tissues and increase risk of infection).
Assess how bad the burn is. It is serious if it is:
larger than the size of the casualty's hand
on the face, hands or feet, or
a deep burn
If it is serious, call 999 or 112 for emergency medical help.
Remove any jewellery or clothing near the burn (unless it is
stuck to it).
Cover the burned area with kitchen cling film or another

clean, non-fluffy material, like a clean plastic bag. This will

protect from infection.
If necessary, treat for shock (shock is a life-threatening
condition, not to be confused with emotional shock).
If you are unsure if the burn is serious then tell the person
to see a doctor.
CHILDBIRTH

What to do:
1.
Call
999/112
for
emergency
help. Give
the ambulance control details of the stage that the mother
has reached, the length of each contraction and the
intervals between them.
2. During the first stage, help her sit or kneel on the
floor in a comfortable position. Support her with cushions
or let her move around. Stay calm, and encourage her to
breathe deeply during her contractions.
3. Massage her lower back gently using the heel of your
hand. She may find having her face and hands wiped
soothing, or you can spray her face with cool water and
give her ice cubes to suck.
4. When the second stage starts, the mother will want
to push. Make sure the surroundings are as clean as
possible to reduce the risk of infection. The mother should
remove any items of clothing that could interfere with the
birth. Put clean sheets or towels under the woman; she
may also want to be covered. Encourage her to stay
as upright as possible.
5. As the baby is born, handle him carefully, as newborn
babies are very slippery. Give him to the mother; lay him
on her stomach or wrap him in a clean cloth, towel or
blanket.
6. As the third stage begins, reassure the mother.
Support her as she delivers the afterbirth; do not cut the
cord. Keep the placenta and the umbilical cord intact as
the midwife, doctor or ambulance crew need to check that
it is complete. If bleeding or pain is severe, treat for shock.
Help the mother to lie down and raise her legs and keep
her warm.

CRAMPS

What you need to do:

Rest briefly and cool down

JOINT
DISLOCATION

Drink clear juice or an electrolyte-containing sports

drink

Practice gentle, range-of-motion stretching

gentle massage of the affected muscle group

Don't resume strenuous activity for several hours or

longer after heat cramps go away

Call your doctor if your cramps don't go away within

one hour or so

and

What to look for:

The four signs of a dislocated joint are:
1. Strong, sickening pain
2. Not being able to move the joint
3. Swelling and bruising around the joint
4. Shortening, bending or deformity of the joint
What you need to do:
Advise them to stay still and help them to support their
dislocated joint in the most comfortable position.
Stop the joint from moving using a bandage. For an arm
injury, make a sling to support the arm. For a leg injury,
use padding or broad-fold bandages.
To give extra support for an injured arm, tie it in place by
bandaging around the sling and the chest.
Once youve stopped the joint from moving, take or send
the injured person to hospital.
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of
response. Check the circulation beyond the bandages
every ten minutes and loosen if necessary.

HEART
ATTACK

What to look for:

If you think someone is having a heart attack, look for the
four Ps:

1. Pain a continuous pain in the chest, which could

spread to the jaw, neck or arms
2. Pale skin
3. Rapid and weak pulse
4. Perspiration/sweating
What you need to do:
Call 999 or 112 for medical help
think someone is having a heart attack.

and

say

you

Then, help move them into the most comfortable position.

The best position is on the floor leaning against a wall with
knees bent and head and shoulders supported. This should
ease the pressure on their heart and stop them hurting
themselves if they collapse.
Give them a 300mg aspirin, if available and they're not
allergic, and tell them to chew it slowly.
Be aware that they may develop shock. Shock does not
mean emotional shock, but is a life-threatening condition,
which can be brought on by a heart attack.
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response.
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their airway,
check their breathing, and prepare to treat someone who
has become unconscious. You may need to do CPR.
HYPERGLYCEM What to look for:
IA
(diabetic
Warm, dry skin
coma)
Rapid pulse and breathing
Fruity sweet breath
Really thirsty
Drowsiness, leading to unconsciousness if not treated
What you need to do:
Call 999 or 112 straight away for medical help and say that
you suspect hyperglycaemia.
While you wait for help to arrive, keep checking their
breathing, pulse and level of response.
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their airway,

check their breathing and prepare to treat someone whos

become unconscious.

HEAT STROKE

What to look for:

These are the six key things to look for:
1. Headache, dizziness and discomfort
2. Restlessness and confusion
3. Hot flushed and dry skin
4. A fast deterioration in the level of response
5. A full bounding pulse
6. Body temperature above 40C (104F)
What you need to do:
Quickly move them to a cool place and remove their
outer clothing but ensure you maintain their dignity.
Then call 999/112 for an ambulance.
Wrap them in a cold wet sheet and keep pouring cold
water over it until their temperature falls to at least 38C
(or 100.4F). Measure this with a thermometer under their
tongue or under their armpit.
If you cant find a sheet, fan them or sponge them down
with cold water to keep them cool.
Once their temperature seems to have gone back to
normal, replace the wet sheet with a dry sheet.
While waiting for help to arrive, keep checking their
temperature, as well as their breathing, pulse and level of
response.
If they start getting hot again, repeat the cooling process
to lower their temperature.
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their
airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat
someone whos become unconscious.

HYPOTHERMI
A
(sun

What to look for:

These are the four key things to look for:

exposure)

1. Shivering, cold, pale, and dry skin

2. Tiredness, confusion, and irrational behaviour
3. Slow and shallow breathing
4. Slow and weakening pulse
What you need to do:
If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to warm
them up.
If they are outside, if possible get them indoors. Cover
them with layers of blankets and warm the room to about
25C (77F). Give them something warm to drink, like
soup, and high energy food, like chocolate.
Once they have warmed up, tell them to see a doctor as
soon as possible
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their
airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat
someone whos become unconscious.
If they are outdoors and you cant move them indoors:
1. Find something for them to lie on to protect them from
the cold ground, like heather or pine branches.
2. If their clothes are wet, change them into dry clothes, if
possible. Put them in a sleeping bag and cover them with
blankets, if available. Make sure their head is covered too.
3. Then call 999/112 for an ambulance. If possible, dont
leave them by themselves but stay with them until help
arrives.
4. While you wait for help to arrive, keep checking their
breathing, pulse and level of response.

HYPOGLYCEMI
A
(insulin
shock)

What to look for:

Weakness, faintness or hunger
Confusion and irrational behaviour
Sweating with cold, clammy skin
Rapid pulse
Trembling
Deteriorating level of response

 Medical warning bracelet or necklace and glucose gel or

sweets
Medication such as an insulin pen or tablets and a
glucose testing kit
What you need to do:
Help them sit down. If they have their own glucose gel,
help them take it. If not, you need to give them something
sugary like fruit juice, a fizzy drink, two teaspoons of sugar,
or sugary sweets.
If they improve quickly, give them more sugary food or
drink and let them rest. If they have their glucose testing
kit with them, help them use it to check their glucose level.
Stay with them until they feel completely better.
If they do not improve quickly, look for any other causes
and then call 999 or 112 for medical help.
While waiting, keep
breathing and pulse.

NEAR
DROWNING

checking

their

responsiveness,

What to look for:

If someone has been rescued from drowning you need to

(asphyxiation) check if theyre breathing or not.
If they aren't breathing, then youll need to give CPR
(cardio pulmonary resuscitation) straight away.
What you need to do:
As soon as the casualty has been rescued from the
water, check if theyre breathing.
Ask someone to call 999 or 112 for medical help.
If the person is unconscious and not breathing, give them
five initial rescue breaths before starting CPR.
Once youve done this, start CPR: 30 chest compressions,
then two rescue breaths. Keep giving CPR until help
arrives, the casualty regains consciousness, or youre too
exhausted to keep going.
If youre on your own, give CPR for one minute, before
you call 999 or 112 for medical help.
If they start breathing again at any time, treat them

for hypothermia by covering them with warm clothes and

blankets. If they recover completely, replace their wet
clothes with dry ones.
Keep checking breathing, pulse and level of response
until help arrives.
POISONING

What to look for:

If you think someone may have swallowed poison, these
are the five key things to look for:
1. Nausea and vomiting (sometimes blood-stained)
2. Cramping stomach pains
3. A burning sensation
4. Partial loss of consciousness
5. Seizures
What you need to do:
If the person is conscious, ask them what they have
swallowed, how much and when. Look for clues, like plants,
berries or empty packaging and containers.
Call 999 or 112 for medical help and tell them as much
information as possible.
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of
response.
If they become unconscious, open their airway and check
breathing. Follow the instructions for treating someone
who is unconscious.
Never try to make the person vomit, but if they vomit
naturally then put some of their vomit into a bag or
container and give it to the ambulance. This may help
them identify the poison.

SPRAIN

What to look for:

If you think someone may have strained or sprained a
muscle, ligament or tendon, these are the three key things
to look for:
1. Pain and tenderness
2. Difficulty moving

3. Swelling and bruising

What you need to do:
Remember RICE for the four steps to deal with strains and
sprains:
Rest

Help them to sit or lie down and support in a

comfortable raised position the part theyve hurt.

Ice

To cool the area, apply a cold compress, like an ice

pack or cold pad. This will help to reduce the
swelling, bruising and pain. Do not leave on for more
than ten minutes.

Comfortable support

Leave the cold compress in place or wrap a soft layer

of padding, e.g. cotton wool, around the area. Tie a
support bandage around it, to hold it in place, which
goes up as far as the next joint on each side. For
example, for an ankle injury, the bandages should go
from the base of the toes to the knees.

Elevation

Elevate the injury and support it with something soft,

like cushions.

If the pain is severe, or they cant use their limb at all, take
or send them to hospital. Otherwise, just tell them to rest it
and to see a health care professional, if necessary.
SYNCOPE

What to look for:

There are three key signs of someone fainting:
1. Brief loss of consciousness, often causing them to fall
to the ground
2. A slow pulse
3. Pale cold skin and sweating
What you need to do:
If someones feeling faint, tell them to lie down.
Kneel down next to them and raise their legs, supporting
their ankles on your shoulders to help blood flow back to

the brain. Watch

recovering.

their

face

for

signs

that

theyre

Make sure that they have plenty of fresh air ask

bystanders to move away and if youre inside then ask
someone to open a window.
Reassure the casualty and help them to sit up slowly.
If they dont regain consciousness again quickly, open
their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat
someone who is unconscious.
SEIZURE

ADULT
What to look for:
With any kind of seizure it is really important to keep
checking:
their level of response and pulse
and that the person is breathing.
It is also important to protect them from harming
themselves during the fit
If you think someone is having a seizure, there are six key
things to look for:
1. Sudden loss of consciousness
2. Rigid body with an arching back
3. Noisy difficult breathing
4. Convulsions (jerky uncontrolled movements)
5. Loss of bladder and bowel control
6. Afterwards they may be confused, tired and fall into
a deep sleep
What you need to do:
Dont restrain or move them.
Protect them from hurting themselves. Clear away any
potentially dangerous objects, like hot drinks or sharp
objects.
Make a note of the time when the seizure started and how
long it lasts.
Protect their head by placing something soft underneath it,

like a towel, and loosen any clothing around their neck.

Once the seizure has stopped, they may fall into a deep
sleep if they do, open their airway and check their
breathing.
If theyre breathing, put them in the recovery position.
If they stop breathing at any point, prepare to treat
someone who is unconscious and not breathing.
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response.
Call 999 or 112 for medical help if:
its the casualty's first seizure, or the cause is unknown
theyre having repeated seizures
the seizure lasts more than five minutes
theyre unconscious for more than ten minutes.
CHILDREN
What to look for:
If you think a child is having a seizure, there are seven key
things to look for:
1. Vigorous shaking with clenched fists and an arched
back
2. Signs of fever hot, flushed skin, and sweating
3. Twitching of their face and squinting, fixed or
upturned eyes
4. Holding their breath, with a red, puffy face and neck,
and drooling at the mouth
5. Possible vomiting
6. Loss of control of their bowel or bladder
7. Partial or full loss of consciousness
What you need to do:
Dont restrain or move them. Instead, protect them from
hurting themselves. Clear away any potentially dangerous
objects, like hot drinks or sharp objects, and put pillows or
soft padding around them.
Cool them down. Take away any bedding and take off a

layer of clothing. Make sure they get some fresh air by

opening a door or window, but be careful you dont cool
them down too much.
Once the seizure has stopped, theyre usually very sleepy
or unconscious, so put them into the recovery position to
help them keep their airway open. Then call 999 or 112 for
emergency medical help.
Reassure them and whoevers looking after them, if
that is not you.
While you wait for help to arrive, keep checking their
breathing, pulse and level of response.
STROKE

What to look for:

If you think someone is having a stroke, check the three
main symptoms using the FAST test:
Face look at their face and ask them to smile. Are they
only able to smile on one side of their mouth? If yes, this
is not normal.
Arms ask them to raise both arms. Are they only able
to lift one arm? If yes, this is not normal.
Speech ask them to speak. Are they struggling to
speak clearly? If yes, this is not normal.
Time if the answer to any of these three questions is
yes, then it is time to call 999 or 112 for medical help
and say you think the casualty is having a stroke.
What you need to do:
While you wait for help to arrive, keep them comfortable
and supported. If theyre conscious then you can help them
into a comfortable position
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of
response. Dont give them anything to eat or drink because
it could be difficult for them to swallow so they might
choke.

TOOTHACHE

What you need to do:

Rinse your mouth with warm water.

Use dental floss to remove any food particles or
plaque wedged between your teeth.

Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to dull

the ache, but don't place aspirin or another painkiller
directly against your gums because it may burn your
gum tissue.

Sparingly apply an OTC antiseptic containing

benzocaine directly to the irritated tooth and gum for
temporary relief.

Apply oil of cloves (eugenol) on a small piece of

cotton directly to the sore tooth and gum to numb the
area.

If the toothache is caused by trauma to the tooth,

apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.

Call your dentist immediately if you have any of the

following with a toothache:

WOUND

Pain that persists for more than a day or two

Fever

Signs and symptoms of infection, such as swelling, pain

when you bite, red gums or a foul-tasting discharge

Trouble breathing or swallowing

What to look for:

If the bleeding doesnt stop, or if theres a foreign object in
the cut, or you think it might be infected, then you should
tell them to see a health care professional.
What to do:
Clean the wound by rinsing it under running water or using
alcohol-free wipes.
Pat it dry using a gauze swab and cover it with sterile
gauze. If you dont have these, then use a clean, non-fluffy
cloth.
Raise and support the part of the body thats injured. If its
a hand or arm, raise it above the head. If its a lower limb,
lay them down and raise the cut area above the level of
the heart. This will help stop the bleeding.
Remove the gauze covering the wound and apply a sterile
dressing.

If you think theres any risk of infection then suggest

they see a health care professional.