First aid advice from the red cross

Being prepared is something very important in the modern, dynamic world. As knowledge is shared freely through various communication mediums, it never hurts to educate yourself about what you can do in stressful situations. Giving first aid is probably the most basic thing to do in that regard, as advice on how to react is given very often – non-governmental organizations, driving tests, high-school courses, etc. Nevertheless, one of the most famous organizations that carry the burden of educating people about such things is the Red Cross. In almost every country it is run by specialists that have experience in the field an fin and give tips that are practical and surely credible. A good example for that is the Canadian Red Cross organization – they often give seminars about the topic and here are some of the areas covered by their experts:

Signs and symptoms of a stroke

As mentioned in the beginning, we live in a dynamic world. Stress diseases connected with the heart are more and more common, so it is becoming a very important thing to be able to identify if someone is having a stroke. A very easy system to do so is to think about the abbreviation FAST. It stands for the following:

• Face – if the person is having a stroke, his or her face will be numb and weak, most often on one of the sides. This contrast makes it easier to spot the difference.
• Arm – The arms are also a great signal. One of the arms is usually also numb and the person is sometimes able to identify the pain before becoming critical.
• Speech – Someone having a stroke will find it difficult to speak – they will talk with effort if at all and the words are probably not going to be very understandable.
• Time – Always act fast. If you have any suspicion of a stroke,besure to call 9-1-1 immediately. If there is a real doctor nearby don’t be in theirway and do everything they ask of you.

Frostbite

Frostbite is very serious and very common in countries such as Canada. If you stumble on a case like this, get the person warm as fast as possible, dry them of any wet clothing and put warm objects under their armpits, the groin, and the neck. Be careful not to burn the skin and if he or she is awake, give them something warm to drink. Last but not least – do not rub the areas of the frostbite and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Influenza

It is a very common viral infection that affects one tenth of the Canadian population each year. It is common, yet very unpleasant and this is why it is important to take preventive measures, especially in the winter.  One of the most basic things is to keep your hands clean, washing them with a lot of soap and warm water. Also apply alcohol–based sanitizers to the doorknobs and switches in your home, as germs brought from outside can live up to two days there. Keep your hands away from cavities such as the eyes, the mouth, and the nose, as they are a way in for the infection.