Tag: South Brisbane

What to do if your child is choking?

31 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

Please download the below free PDF and print it out to put on your fridge, wall or anywhere to remind you what to do if your child is choking. The information is based on the Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines. A common mistake is to hit the child hard on the back while they are actually trying to cough up the blockage themselves. This can cause the blockage to go further into the airway and completely block the airway.

If your child is able to cough, speak or breathe then let them lean forward and keep trying to cough it out or let them lay over your lap and cough. If they are becoming more distressed and unable to cough or breathe then call the ambulance. If your child is unable to cough, breathe, talk or make little or no sounds then proceed with 5 back slaps across the shoulder blades with your child over your lap and then place your hand across the chest and give 5 gentle pushes into the chest (called chest thrusts). Call the ambulance. Alternate these until the child coughs out the blockage or the ambulance take over. Be prepared if your child falls unconscious to follow the DRSABCD steps of CPR.

Teach your children to make a noise to alert you if are not watching your children eat their food. Whether they bang the table, throw their food at you, stamp the floor or simply come to you if they are choking as they will be unable to speak or scream to alert you that they are in trouble.

It is always recommended to learn these life saving skills under guidance from a professional first aid trainer in a first aid course. This will give you more confidence to be able to help your children or others.

Choking Child

Contact First Aid Action on 07) 3901 0599 or email us at info@firstaidaction.qld.edu.au for more information about our courses.

Teach your children to call for help!

27 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

Have you taught your children to call the ambulance? Do they know the number? Do they know not to hang up? Do they know the ambulance operator is not a scary person and will help them in an emergency?

Four easy words to teach your children to help them to remember how to call for help are:

CALL – call the emergency number in your country (000 or 112 on a mobile phone in Australia)

SAY – that you need an ambulance, police or fire brigade

WAIT – until the operator puts you through to the correct emergency service and DO NOT HANG UP

STAY – stay on the phone and answer the operator’s questions as best as you can. They will always help to keep you calm and tell you what to do if there is an emergency at home.

There are other important steps to teach your children in an emergency:

Practice an emergency plan if there is a fire or danger in the home. Do they know the best way to get out of the house?
Can they reach the door to open it up for the ambulance to enter the home?
Can your children remove any pets safely into another part of the house so the ambulance can enter the home safely?
Do your children know where the first aid kit is in the house and how to use the items in the first aid kit?
Have you taught your children the recovery position in case a parent, grandparent or other relative falls unconscious in the home.
Teach your children some basic first aid skills so they may able to save a life one day.

Finlay the First Aid Bear has a great catchy song to sing a long to “Call, Say, Wait, Stay” available to download on Spotify and most streaming platforms.

What is the Recovery Position?

18 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

The recovery position is an important position to place an unconscious breathing casualty. If the unconscious breathing casualty remains on their back for too long then there is a risk of choking on their bodily fluids and the tongue relaxing and blocking their airway. The staff at the Ipswich Jets Football League Club have recently practiced this important skill on each other, as they have a very large clientele that come and visit the club every day. The most important part of this position is ensuring that the head is tilted back and the mouth facing downwards to allow for the drainage of any fluids from the mouth and nose.

It is recommended to learn this important skill in a First Aid or CPR course, and be prepared for anyone unconscious and breathing at home, at work or in a public place. It could save a life! A first aid course will provide you with more information about this skill. Teach your children this important skill too, so that they can save your life if needed.

First Aid action Provide first aid to family friends and workplace

First Aid Risks Associated With Flooding

10 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

During a flood, first aid risks include drowning, cuts and wounds from debris, contaminated water leading to infections, and potential exposure to hazardous materials or animals.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the first aid risks associated with flooding:

Immediate Risks:

Drowning:

Floodwaters can rise rapidly and unexpectedly, leading to drowning, especially in areas with strong currents.
Cuts and Wounds:

Floodwaters can carry debris, including broken glass, sharp objects, and submerged items, which can cause cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds.
Trauma:

Fall
ing debris, collapsing structures, and the force of floodwaters can cause injuries like fractures, sprains, and concussions.
Electrocution:

Floodwaters can come into contact with downed power lines, posing a serious risk of electrocution.
Hypothermia:

Prolonged exposure to cold floodwaters can lead to hypothermia, especially if people are caught in the water or become wet.

Infection Risks:

Contaminated Water:

Floodwaters can be contaminated with sewage, bacteria, and chemicals, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and infections.
Skin Infections:

Contact with floodwater can lead to skin infections, especially if there are cuts or abrasions.
Infectious Diseases:

Exposure to floodwater can lead to the spread of diseases like leptospirosis and melioidosis.
Wound Infections:

Cuts and wounds exposed to contaminated floodwater are at a higher risk of infection.

Other Risks:

Exposure to Hazardous Materials:

Flooding can cause the release of hazardous materials from damaged infrastructure or industrial sites, posing risks to health.
Animal Encounters:

Flooding can displace animals, including venomous snakes, increasing the risk of encounters.
Allergic Reactions:

Floodwaters can carry pollen and other allergens, potentially causing allergic reactions.

First Aid Considerations:

Clean Wounds:

Thoroughly clean any cuts or wounds with clean water and soap or antiseptic wipes/solutions to prevent infection.
Dress Wounds:

Cover wounds with sterile bandages to keep them clean and protect them from further contamination.
Seek Medical Attention:

Seek medical advice for any wounds that show signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, or pus.

Prevent Dehydration:

Ensure access to clean water and encourage people to stay hydrated.

Monitor for Illness:

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of waterborne diseases and seek medical help if necessary. These may include: headaches, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, diahorrea.

Follow Emergency Instructions:

Listen to and follow the instructions of emergency services and local authorities.
Stay Informed:

Monitor local news and weather reports for updates on flood conditions and safety advice.

Please feel free to email us at info@firstaidaction.qld.edu.au if you would like advice on first aid.

Emergency Checklist from Get Ready Queensland

5 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

GRQ Emergency Kit checklist

Please go to “Get Ready Queensland” website : https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/emergencykit to find out what to pack in an emergency kit. I have attached it to this blog but it is well worth reading the other important information about getting ready for any emergencies – cyclone, fire, flooding etc.

It is very important to have your first aid kit ready to be prepared for emergencies that can happen from broken glass, flying debris, falls and building collapses. Some of these incidents can cause severe bleeding, broken bones, spinal injuries and unconsciousness. I have never personally been through any cyclone before and it certainly is a bit daunting as it really is “unknown” what will happen. All I can do is be prepared! Brush up on your first aid skills if you have done a course a while ago and I wish everyone to stay safe. My fingers and toes are crossed that Alfred will behave himself!

Follow the steps of DRSABCD in an Emergency

3 March 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

Emergency Action Plan – DRSABCD

Do you know the below facts on Cardiac Arrest in Australia:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia.
Only approximately 10% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.
Performing immediate CPR and attaching an AED (Defibrillator) by a bystander can significantly increase the chances of survival, potentially doubling or tripling the survival rate.
Nearly 80% or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest happens at home – so are you prepared?
Statistics indicate that men are more likely to experience cardiac arrest than women.

Learning how to perform CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) is important skill to have that you hope you will never need to use. A lot of people are caught out and not prepared when an emergency happens at home. Even just performing compressions on a person will give them a better survival rate than doing nothing. CPR is all about maintaining blood flow and oxygen around the body as the person’s heart is no longer pumping. Call the ambulance as soon as you can and use a Defibrillator if there is one nearby and follow the voice the prompts! Survival rates are greatly increased with the use of early defibrillation.

Learn the DRSABCD of CPR as per the attached flyer and practice these skills in a first aid course so that you are better prepared for an emergency. Give us a call if you wish to know more information about Cardiac Arrest, CPR, Defibrillators or you wish to come and learn first aid with us – 07)3901 0599.

Choking – Hit the person on the back or not?

17 February 2025/in Blog/by Sara Balzary

You are out to dinner with some friends having a great time, chatting away, laughing and all of sudden one of your friends is choking on their food! They are coughing, still breathing but panicking! You give your friend a really hard hit on the back thinking that will help them but…….Oh No! They can now no longer cough or breathe!

Hitting a person hard on the back while they are trying to cough, can still breathe and talk can actually make it worse if they are choking. The force of the hit can cause the blockage to go further down their airway and completely block it if it is only partially blocked. Something that a lot of people don’t realise and think it is the right action to do.

There are two types of Choking (Airway Obstruction):

Partial Airway Obstruction: A partial obstruction is when a foreign object (most likely food) has partially cut off the airway. Signs include: coughing, difficulty in breathing or noisy breathing, talking (crying in babies).
1. First Aid for a Partial Obstruction is: Encourage the person to cough out the obstruction whilst leaning forward. If the cough becomes ineffective or the person is experiencing worsening breathing difficulty, then call the ambulance.
Full Airway Obstruction: A full airway obstruction is when the foreign object has completely cut off the airway. Signs include: unable to cough, breathe or talk, turning blue in the lips, panicking.
1. First Aid for a Full Obstruction is: Lean the casualty forward and administer 5 back slaps between the shoulder blades then administer 5 chest thrusts (pushing on their chest). Alternate these actions while the person is still conscious or able to cough the object out. Call the ambulance as soon as possible, and be prepared to follow the steps of DRSABCD when the person becomes unconscious.

Come and learn more about choking for adults, children and infants at our first aid courses and practice these actions so that you are well prepared for this type of emergency. Book yourself in now!Choking Infants Choking Child

Tag Archive for: South Brisbane

What to do if your child is choking?

Teach your children to call for help!

What is the Recovery Position?

First Aid Risks Associated With Flooding

Emergency Checklist from Get Ready Queensland

Follow the steps of DRSABCD in an Emergency

Choking – Hit the person on the back or not?

Have a laugh! Bloopers making videos!

True or False? Nose bleeds

First Aid in the Workplace – Top 5 things to know

First Aid can save lives

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