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Complete First Aid offers a full range of first aid courses. We can deliver anywhere in the Essex.

28/10/2026

If you want to know more about first aid or would like to attend one of our first aid courses why not contact us at [email protected] on 07907488 or via www.completefirstaid.org/contact/

27/10/2026

Alcohol poisoning
When someone drinks too much alcohol they can suffer from alcohol poisoning. Drinking too much alcohol depresses the nervous system from working properly, particularly the brain. It can severely weaken mental and physical functions, and the person may become unresponsive.

If someone has alcohol poisoning, look for:

• a strong smell of alcohol - you may see empty bottles or cans
• reduced level of response
• their face may be moist and reddened
• deep, noisy breathing
• full, bounding pulse.
Later, you may find:

• shallow breathing
• a weak, rapid pulse
• dilated pupils that react poorly to light
• unresponsiveness.
What to do
• If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, reassure them and cover them with a coat or blanket to keep them warm.
• Check the casualty for any injuries, especially head injuries, or signs of any other medical conditions.
• Be aware that the smell of alcohol on an unresponsive casualty could disguise other conditions such as a head injury, stroke, heart attack and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which need appropriate treatment.
• If you’re unsure about how serious their condition is, call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
• Place the casualty in the recovery position so that they do not choke on any vomit.
• Do not try to make them sick.
• Monitor their level of response until they recover or until a responsible adult can take over care.
• If worried, call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
• If they become unresponsive at any point, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to give CPR.

26/10/2026

Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that was common in children before the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced in 1988. Mumps usually passes without causing serious damage to a person’s health.

It is spread by breathing in infected droplets of saliva or from contaminated surfaces transferred into the mouth or nose.

Look for:
• painful swelling at the side of the face under the ears
• a high temperature
• headaches
• joint pain.
What to do
• If you think someone has mumps, seek medical advice straight away.
• Advise the casualty to take the recommended dose of painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• Never give aspirin to a child under 16 years old.
• Apply a warm or cold compress to swollen glands to help relieve the pain.
It is important to prevent the infection spreading in the few days before and after the symptoms develop by:
• regularly washing your hands with soap
• disposing of used tissues.
• Advise the casualty to stay off work or school for at least 5 days after the first symptoms appear.

25/10/2026

Sepsis in babies and young children
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. It can lead to multiple organ failure and possibly death.
Sepsis is caused by the way the body responds to an infection. The infection can occur anywhere, from chest or urinary infections, or problems in the abdomen like burst ulcers, or even simple skin injuries like cuts and bites. Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.

It is a life-threatening condition which makes the immune system go into overdrive as it tries to fight the infection. This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, eventually leading to multiple organ failure and possibly death.

In babies and young children, look for:

• Not feeding
• Vomiting repeatedly
• Passing no urine over the past 12 hours
• Skin is mottled, discoloured, blue, or pale
• A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
• Has a ‘fit’, or seizure
• Severe breathlessness or breathing rapidly
• Not responding or handling as they normally do
• The child being lethargic and/or hard to wake
• Feels abnormally cold to touch.
• They may not have all of these symptoms.
What to do
• If a baby or young child is unwell and you think they have one or more symptoms of sepsis, do not wait call 999 or 112 for emergency help straight away.
• While you’re waiting for help to arrive, reassure them and keep them comfortable.
• Cover them with a blanket if they feel cold.
• Monitor their level of response.

24/10/2026

Seizures in children
A seizure can also be known as a convulsion or fit. In young children, seizures are usually caused by a raised body temperature, often following an infection. This type of seizure, known as a febrile seizure, occurs because the brain is not mature enough to cope with the body’s high temperature.

Look for:
• loss of or lack of a response
• vigorous shaking, with clenched fists and an arched back
• signs of a fever, with hot, flushed skin and sweating
• twitching of the face
• squinting, fixed or rolled back eyes
• breath holding with a red face and neck
• drooling at the mouth
• vomiting
• loss of bladder or bowel control.
What to do
• Clear any objects away from around the child that could be dangerous. Then place pillows or soft padding, such as rolled up towels, around the child. This will help to protect them from injuring themselves while having the seizure.
• Do not restrain the child or move them unless they are in immediate danger.
• Do not put anything in their mouth.
• Try to cool the child down. Take off any bedding and clothes such as a t-shirt to help cool them. You might need to wait for the seizure to stop to do this. Make sure there is fresh air circulating but be careful not to overcool the child.
• When the seizure has stopped, place them in the recovery position to keep the airway open. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
• While you wait for help to arrive, reassure the child and parent. Monitor the child’s level of response.
• While you’re waiting for help to arrive check your baby’s breathing and ensure their airway is open and clear. If they stop breathing at any point prepare to start CPR. Try not to move your baby in case they have a spinal injury.

23/10/2026

Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency, and you need to act FAST. A stroke can occur when blood supply to the brain is disrupted and starves the brain of oxygen.

Look for:

• Facial weakness - uneven smile, droopy mouth or eye
• Arm weakness - can they raise both arms?
• Speech problems - can they speak clearly?

What to do
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, use the FAST guide to identify the key signs:

F – stands for facial weakness.
Look at their mouth or eye – they may be droopy, and they can’t smile evenly.

A – arm weakness.
Ask them to raise both of their arms. They may only be able to raise one. Or get the casualty to squeeze both your hands. One hand may squeeze much less than the other.

S - speech problems. They are unable to speak clearly or might not be able to understand what you are saying to them. Ask them a question, such as ‘What is your name?’ Can they respond appropriately?

T – time to call 999/112 for emergency help and tell them you suspect a stroke after using the FAST guide.

• While waiting for help to arrive, keep them comfortable, supported and reassure them.
• Do not give them anything to eat or drink because it may be hard for them to swallow.
• Keep monitoring their level of response until help arrives.
• If they become unresponsive prepare to treat for an unresponsive casualty.

22/10/2026

Scarlet fever in babies
Scarlet fever is an infection that causes a blotchy, pink-red rash. It’s most common in young children but can affect people of any age. It’s not usually serious and can be treated with antibiotics from your GP. Once the baby has had it, they are unlikely to get it again.
Look for:
• a sore throat
• headache
• a high temperature
• swollen neck glands.
As the fever develops they may have:

• a rash on the body
• a red face
• a white or red tongue.
What to do
• If your baby develops any of the above symptoms seek medical advice straight away.

21/10/2026

Hypothermia in babies
Babies have an underdeveloped mechanism for maintaining their own body temperature and may develop hypothermia easily in a cold environment.
Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when someone’s body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). Normal body temperature is around 37°C (98. 6°F). Hypothermia can become life-threatening quickly, so it’s important to treat someone with hypothermia straight away.
A baby may:
• be cold to touch
• be quiet and sleepy
• be limp
• refuse to feed.
What to do
• If you suspect a baby has hypothermia, take them to a warm room and dress them in warm clothes.
• Do not place any direct heat, such as hot water bottles, near a baby as they can cause burns.
• You can also wrap them in a blanket and hold them close to you to help to warm them up.
• Call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Keep trying to warm them until help arrives.

20/10/2026

Bruises
Bruises occur when an injury causes blood to leak into the skin or tissues beneath the skin. They may not appear straight away, but the skin can still be painful and often feel tender at first. Elderly people and those taking anticoagulant (anti-clotting) drugs can bruise easily.
What to do
• Raise and support the injured part in a comfortable position.
• Hold something cold against the injury to help reduce the swelling, like an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in a tea towel for at least 20 minutes.

19/10/2026

How to apply a dressing
When you have a wound, you should always cover it with a dressing as this can help to prevent infection. When applying a dressing always wear disposable gloves. Some dressings have a wound dressing and bandage attached.

How to apply a dressing with a bandage attached
• Wash hands and put on disposable, non-latex gloves before touching a dressing or wound. We recommend using nitrile powder-free gloves for your first aid kit.
• Unfold the dressing pad and lay it directly on top of the wound, keeping it in place by holding the bandage on each side. Make sure the dressing covers beyond the edge of the wound.
• Wrap the short end of the bandage around the injured part to secure the dressing pad.
• Then wrap the longer end around the injured part, making sure all of the dressing pad is covered. Leave the short end hanging out.
• Secure the bandage by tying the short and long ends together in a reef knot, over the top of the pad to keep pressure on the wound.
• Then check their circulation. To do this press a nail or skin beyond the wound for five seconds until it goes pale. If the colour doesn’t come back within two seconds, the bandage is too tight, so you’ll need to loosen it. Keep checking their circulation every 10 minutes.
Once the bleed is under control, secure in place with the bandage, tying the knot over the wound to keep the pressure on. If blood comes through the first dressing you can apply a second dressing over the first.

Address

ARU Writtle Main Campus, Lordship Road
Writtle
CM13RR

Telephone

+441245473380

Website

http://www.completefirstaid.org/

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