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The ambulance service shares essential first aid advice for the festive season
Image: Alexandru Manole / Pixabay
Reporter:
Ella Woszczyk
23 Dec 2024 8:00 AM
As the holidays approach, St John Ambulance is sharing essential first aid advice to help ensure a safe and enjoyable festive season.
St John Ambulance Medical Director, Lynn Thomas said, “The festive period is a joyful time but should come with a ‘health warning’ with the number of things that could go wrong …the DIY decorations, hordes of people under one roof, excessive eating and drinking, and new toys and gadgets to choke on or trip over. We hope our first aid tips will get people up to speed before the festivities begin.”
Get a handle on candles
The festive season is peak time for fire-related incidents.
Never leave candles unattended and always extinguish them before going to bed.
Use non-plastic holders and keep candles away from flammable materials. For added safety, especially around children or the elderly, opt for LED candles.
First Aid for Burns:
Cool the burn or scald under cool running water for at least 20 minutes or until the pain subsides.
For severe burns, seek immediate medical attention.
Cover minor burns with kitchen film and avoid bursting blisters.
Scary fairy lights
De-tangling fairy lights scores high on the festive stress test and is not much fun, but neither is getting a shock from lights on the blink.
Inspect cables for damage before use.
Only use exterior-rated lights outdoors and keep electrical components indoors.
If Someone Gets an Electric Shock:
Do not touch the casualty until they are free from the electrical source.
If safe to do so, use an insulating material (e.g., a wooden stick) to break contact.
Perform a primary survey and treat injuries.
If the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing, begin CPR:
Call 999/112 for help.
Deliver chest compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute. Add rescue breaths if trained, or continue compressions alone.
Toy Gory
Anyone who has ever stepped barefoot on a tiny building block or small plastic toy rarely does it twice, but to prevent inflicting pain on unsuspecting relatives and friends, and avoiding trips, keep floorspace tidy!
Keep floors tidy to reduce tripping hazards.
Ensure toys are age-appropriate and free from small parts that could cause choking.
If Someone is Choking:
Encourage them to cough.
If needed, deliver up to five back blows and five abdominal thrusts.
If they become unresponsive, prepare to administer CPR.
Anaphylactic Shock
Be ready to act quickly in cases of severe allergic reactions.
Call 999/112 immediately and inform them you suspect anaphylaxis.
Assist the casualty in using an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen):
Remove the safety cap, hold the pen firmly, and press it into their thigh until it clicks. Hold in place for 10 seconds.
Help them into a comfortable position for breathing, or lay them down with legs raised if they feel faint.
If symptoms persist and a second EpiPen is available, administer another dose after five minutes.
St John Ambulance urges everyone to stay informed about basic first aid to handle emergencies confidently. For more tips and information, visithttp://www.sja.org.uk
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