First Aid for Tick Bites

A recent study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal states that with the current climate changes ticks, and the Lyme disease they can transmit, are spreading across Canada including the North.

Ticks are small insects (the size of watermelon seeds) that dig into the flesh of humans and animals. Because they use a pain killer when they bore into the flesh most hosts do not notice they have been bitten.

When going into wooded or grassy areas: wear long sleeved shirts and pants, wear light colours and don’t wear perfume. When you leave those areas check yourself thoroughly for small black dots especially in areas such as the underarms. If the tick has not bored in yet you can brush it off otherwise use tweezers and pull straight out (avoid twisting). Lyme disease can appear as a rash that starts small and spreads up 18cm across, may cause flu-like symptoms. Later symptoms include arthritis, numbness, problems seeing or hearing, memory loss and high fever. Lyme disease can cause serious medical problems and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Drowning prevention

We have already entered a new season in the Ottawa area, the summer drowning season. Every year lives are lost due to drowning, all of which are preventable through simple safety measures.

If you own a pool then you need to ensure that your yard is fenced in, if you have children even the pool itself should be fenced. A baby can drown in as little of an inch of water and there have been cases of drowning in washing machines (as most parents can attest children move very fast).

By law there needs to a life jacket person plus 1 extra in every boat, even this is not enough since a life jacket is of no use if you are not wearing it. Most people will put life jackets on their children but not themselves. If the boat should tip how will you take of the children if you are trying to find and put on your lifejacket (provided you can even put it on)?

Alcohol should be left onshore and you should not boat while intoxicated.

This summer: Prepare! Stay Safe! Survive!

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Diabetic Emergencies: Did You Know?

A diabetic emergency happens when the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood. The blood sugar level may be too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). Hyperglycaemia develops slowly, so it is less likely to be a first aid emergency.

 

Preventing diabetic emergencies involves taking your medications as prescribed, checking your blood sugar often, if required, and keeping some quick sugar foods with you at all times.

 

Diabetic emergencies can sometimes be mistaken for drunkenness so keep this in mind. Other signs and symptoms are: changes in level of consciousness, changes in behaviour, rapid breathing, cool, sweating skin and skin that is paler than usual. Some diabetics wear a MedicAlert® medical identification product. You do not need to know the difference between the two types of diabetic emergencies because the first aid is the same for both.

If the person is unconscious call EMS/911. If the person is conscious offer them a sugary drink, if the condition does not improve or worsens call EMS/911. If the person’s condition improves, recommend having a complete meal.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Hypothermia: Did You Know?

Hypothermia, the cooling of the body’s core temperature, can happen twelve months of the year in the Ottawa area. The spring time temperature fluctuations and rain can cause a person to go into hypothermia very quickly. A person in mild hypothermia will shiver and complain of the cold, someone in moderate hypothermia will also shiver and complain of numbness, a lack of coordination and may act in a confused manner and impaired judgement. Finally, someone in severe hypothermia will not shiver (a sign their body cannot warm itself up) or complain of being cold along with the confused behaviour mentioned above. Someone in severe hypothermia can also lose consciousness and stop breathing.

 

The best treatment is prevention. Dress for the weather and in layers.

 

For someone in mild or moderate hypothermia seek shelter, remove wet clothing and re-warm with a blanket or an external source of heat. For severe hypothermia the person will need external sources of heat to warm up. EMS/911 should also be called for cases of severe hypothermia.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Seizure Do's and Don'ts

A Seizure is a temporary alteration in brain function that may produce physical convulsions, minor physical signs or thought disturbances. Some Seizures can be caused by medical conditions (such as epilepsy), physical injuries (head injuries) or illnesses (high fever in children). As a general rule no matter the cause if the seizure happens in a public place or if they have never had a convulsion before then 911 should be called. You also never want to physically restrain the person while they are in convulsions since this may cause further injury. Protecting the person from self injury is the main priority and once the convulsion stops then the priority becomes monitoring their breathing and if necessary performing CPR.

Contrary to popular believe nothing should be placed in the person’s mouth. A head tilt chin lift performed after the convulsion will keep the tongue from blocking the airway.

A person in convulsions will lose bladder control therefore maintaining privacy is also important.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

WSIB and Recertifications

I was speaking to a perspective Client this morning who has been dutifully recertify her staffing in First Aid and CPR every three years. As I was trying get the history of the training her staff has been receiving one item became very clear. Since original course her staff had only been taking recertifications. Many people do not realize that according to WSIB regulations you can only take one recertification and then you need to take a full Standard First Aid course.  This would mean if you took a Standard First Aid course in 2008 you would be able to take a Standard First Aid Recertification in 2011 and then you would need to take a complete Standard First Aid course in 2014. This may seem extreme but in a six year period certain parts of the First Aid and CPR will change and by only taking recertifications some things will fall between the cracks.

In this case you are fortunate if you are covered by WSIB. Those workplaces covered by the Canada Labour Code (CLC) cannot take the Standard First Aid recertification course since it is not recognized by the CLC.

First Aid Ottawa provides both Standard First Aid and the recertification course in addition to many other of the high quality Canadian Red Cross First Aid courses. The courses and fun, interactive and informative and best of all they are recognized by both WSIB and the CLC. Check out our website for a list of upcoming courses or give us a call at 613-225-2727.

Is CPR really a lifesaver?

I recently watched a rerun of the series Lost. In this episode the "Doctor" performed CPR and striking the chest and the patient revived. In reality CPR by itself will not restart the heart but it provides oxygen to the brain and other vital organs until the heart can be restarted.

Many people expect that they after the compress the chest and breathe into the patient they will wake up. Although everyone hopes for this situation the reality is important to understand. I often teach that the R in CPR actually means maintain. This is because the rescuer is maintain the necessary oxygen flow to keep brain cells alive. With no CPR the brain cells will die within ten minutes and there will be little chance of revival.

That being said there is a tool available to the general public that can be used suucessfully to restart in 80% of cardiac arrests (when the heart stops beating). The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that will automatically analyze a persons heart rhythm and if necessary send an electric shock across the persons heart. An AED prompts the used to place the pads on the patient, and when to press the "shock" button. Once turned on the rescuer simply places the pads on the patient as indicated on the diagram and while ensuring noone is touching the patient presses the shock button.

This does not mean the CPR is not necessary once the AED arrives. Since the AED will not circulate any oxygen, after each shock the AED will prompt the rescuer to perform two minutes of CPR (it counts this down). After the two minutes the AED will tell the rescuer to stop CPR and will analyze the heart and shock if nescessary if required.

Learning CPR and the use of an AED is easier than ever. All First Aid Ottawa's courses include CPR and AED certification. Visit us at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or call us at 613-225-2727.