Shock! What is it?

11 August 2025/in Blog

Managing a Casualty in Shock Following Injury

Shock, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow, depriving vital organs of oxygen. It often results from trauma, significant blood loss, burns, severe infections, or allergic reactions. Recognizing and treating shock rapidly can mean the difference between life and death. When a casualty develops shock after an injury, prompt and effective intervention is essential. This guide provides a thorough approach to recognizing, treating, and supporting a casualty who is experiencing shock.

What is Shock?

Shock is a critical failure of the circulatory system, leading to inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. It is not simply a psychological response or emotional upset—it is a physical crisis that requires immediate action. There are several types of shock, including hypovolemic (due to blood loss), cardiogenic (due to heart problems), septic (due to severe infection), and anaphylactic (due to severe allergic reaction). Injuries most commonly cause hypovolemic (from blood loss or fluid loss) and sometimes neurogenic shock (from spinal injury).

Recognizing Shock

Early recognition is crucial. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of survival. Look for these key signs and symptoms:

Pale, cold, and clammy skin
Rapid, weak pulse
Rapid, shallow breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Thirst
Confusion, anxiety, or restlessness
Dizziness or faintness
Low blood pressure (if able to measure)
Blue tinge around lips and fingernails (cyanosis)

As shock progresses, the casualty may become unconscious. If shock is not treated, it can lead to organ failure and death.

Principles of Treating Shock

When you suspect someone is in shock, your priorities are:

Call for emergency medical help immediately.
Stop any ongoing loss of blood or fluids.
Ensure an open airway and support breathing. Recovery position if unconscious and breathing normally.
Help maintain body temperature by using an emergency blanket from the first aid kit if available.
Reassure and monitor the casualty.

Step-by-Step Treatment

1. Call for Emergency Help

Time is of the essence. As soon as you suspect shock, dial emergency services. Give them clear information about the casualty’s condition, location, and details of the injury.

2. Lay the Casualty Down

Help the casualty to lie flat on their back fi conscious and make comfortable.

3. Control Bleeding and Treat Injuries

If the casualty is bleeding:

Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, bandage, or even your hand if necessary.
Do not remove any embedded objects—apply pressure around them.

4. Support Breathing and Airway

Make sure the airway is open:

If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position: on their side, with the mouth open and facing downward to allow fluids to drain.
If necessary, clear the mouth of any obstructions.

5. Maintain Body Temperature

People in shock are very vulnerable to cold. Cover them with a blanket, coat, or any available covering to keep them warm, but avoid overheating. If outside, protect them from wind, rain, or snow. However, do not allow them to eat or drink, especially if surgery may be needed.

6. Monitor and Reassure

Stay with the casualty and observe their condition closely. Talk to them calmly and reassuringly, even if they seem confused or agitated. Be ready to perform CPR if they stop breathing and become unconscious.

7. Do Not Give Food or Drink

Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink—even if they are thirsty. Food and fluids can complicate medical treatment, especially if surgery is required. If the casualty asks for water, moisten their lips with a damp cloth.

8. Loosen Tight Clothing

If safe and appropriate, loosen tight clothing to improve circulation and comfort.

9. Avoid Unnecessary Movement

Keep the casualty as still as possible. Excessive movement can worsen injuries or increase blood loss.

10. Keep Calm and Wait for Help

Remain calm to help the casualty to remain calm and provide reassurance. Calmly encourage the casualty to relax and breathe slowly. Stay alert for any changes in their condition.

Special Considerations

Spinal Injuries:

If you suspect a spinal injury, do not move the casualty’s head, neck, or back unless absolutely necessary for safety or to maintain an airway if unconscious and breathing. Do not elevate the legs. Call for professional help immediately.

Pregnancy:

For a pregnant casualty, avoid the shock position. Instead, place them on their left side to minimize pressure on major blood vessels.

What Not To Do

Do not let the casualty get up or walk around.
Do not give medication unless prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Do not try to warm with a hot-water bottle or direct heat.
Do not ignore any signs of worsening condition.

When to Perform CPR

If at any point the casualty becomes unconscious and stops breathing, begin CPR immediately and continue until help arrives. Attach a Defibrillator if available and follow the voice prompts.

Preventing Shock

While not always possible to prevent, quick recognition and treatment of injury, bleeding, or other causes can minimise the risk of shock developing. Educate yourself and others in basic first aid to be prepared for emergencies. It is always recommended to attend a First Aid Course under instruction of trained professionals to practice vital first aid skills.

Conclusion

Treating shock in an injured casualty is about rapid assessment, reassurance, and careful action. Your ability to stay calm, control bleeding, and keep the casualty warm can save a life. Remember, always seek professional medical help as soon as possible. First aid is not a substitute for proper medical care but is often the vital first step toward recovery.

First Aid training is fun!

24 July 2025/in Blog

How much fun do you have at your first aid courses? Does your trainer just read from a PowerPoint most of the time? Does your trainer use props for visual effects?

One of the most effective ways to learn first aid skills is by doing close to real life scenarios and have fun at the same time.

Learning by doing, often referred to as experiential learning, has several benefits, especially in a practical subject like first aid:

Enhanced Engagement: Hands-on training keeps participants more engaged and interested in learning the content.

Better Retention: Practical application helps reinforce the knowledge that is learnt, making it easier to remember and recall information in real-life situations.

Skill Development: Practicing skills with props and visual effects allows learners to gain confidence and proficiency, which is crucial in emergency situations.

Immediate Feedback: Participants can receive instant feedback from their instructors, allowing them to correct mistakes in real-time and improve their techniques.

Realism: The use of visual effects and props simulates real-life scenarios, preparing learners to respond effectively when faced with actual emergencies that may occur at the workplace or home.

Overall, incorporating these elements leads to a more effective and impactful learning experience in first aid training. It is also important that you have fun while you learn! I certainly do as the trainer for First Aid Action RTO31668!

Contact us now and let Luella train your staff and prepare them for emergencies. Read our 320 five star reviews to see what her clients think about her training.

Phone: 07) 3901 0599

Email: info@firstaidaction.qld.edu.au

Teach your children First Aid!

22 April 2025/in Blog

Here is 8 yr old Alexis helping her mum keep still after falling down the stairs at home.

Do your children know what to do if you or a loved one who is looking after them has a fall, cuts themselves, is unconscious, is not breathing, how to call for an ambulance, choking on food, bitten by a snake and many other minor and major emergencies that may happen at home? Parents often don’t think about teaching their children first aid as they often don’t feel that they need to. But what about if you fall unconscious for a medical reason or you bump your head on some furniture and become unconscious. The simple technique of rolling you into the recovery position and calling the ambulance may save your life.

Check out little 8 year old Alexis performing a lot of first aid skills on my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO49Wu-VLtuFVFmATqPG1mg

Alexis loves learning first aid and showing her friends at school what she has knows. She is well prepared for emergencies such as CPR, choking, stopping bleeding, burns, snake bites, how to make 3 slings, how to hold her mum still in case of a neck injury and what is in a first aid kit.

Many first aid providers offer shortened and simple courses for younger children and it is always better to receive the proper practical training under the guidance of a professional.

Can you assist with an Asthma Attack?

8 April 2025/in Blog

Staff from Dexus (Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Management) learning how to assist with an Asthma Attack.

Facts on Asthma in Australia: (information collected from Asthma Australia):

Almost 2.8 million people have asthma in Australia
Asthma is the leading cause of disease for children up to 14 years
There were 474 deaths due to Asthma in 2023.

As a First Aider in the workplace, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of asthma and how to help a work colleague if they develop symptoms.

Asthma symptoms include:

Coughing that won’t go away
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Unable to speak or say sentences
Chest Tightness
Feeling tired
Becoming sweaty
Silent asthma – no symptoms at all until they are unwell.

Please download the below poster from Asthma Australia and pop it up in your first aid room in the workplace as a reminder on how to assist a casualty with Asthma:

AAFA-First-Aid-2023-A3_CMYK_v10_Blue-1

It is highly recommended to practice assisting a casualty with a spacer and inhaler under professional instruction in a first aid class near you. Please contact First Aid Action RTO 31668 on 07) 3901 0599 to book into one of our courses or check out our website www.firstaidaction.qld.edu.au for more information.

What is a Log Roll?

3 April 2025/in Blog

Luella demonstrating a Log Roll.

A log roll or also known as a spinal roll, is when you are needing to place a casualty with a back injury onto their side very carefully. The main reasons why you would need to do this is to protect the airway & breathing if the casualty is unconscious, or the casualty is needing to vomit or there is severe bleeding to stop on their back to access the wound. If the casualty is conscious and able to breathe then it is best to hold their head and not move them (unless danger is present) so that unnecessary movement may cause further injury to the neck and spine. Leaving an unconscious casualty too long on their back can increase the risk of choking on their tongue relaxing onto the airway and bodily fluids. The Australian Resuscitation council guidelines state that the protection of a person’s airway and breathing is priority.

The person at the head always takes control of the roll with at least two other people on one side and roll the person together keeping the neck and spine in alignment. It is always best to learn this important technique under instruction from a trained professional in a first aid course so you have the confidence to perform this skill at home or in the workplace.

Contact First Aid Action RTO 31668 for further information: 07 3901 0599 or email us at info@firstaidaction.com.au

What to do if your child is choking?

31 March 2025/in Blog

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

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.

First Aid action Provide first aid to family friends and workplace

First Aid Risks Associated With Flooding

10 March 2025/in Blog

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

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

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.

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