With the end of year holiday season upon us, it's important to be prepared for that unexpected first aid emergency! Accidents do happen, and it's wise to be properly equipped with a first aid kit to suit your needs - whether it's for camping, boating, or staying at home.

There's all kinds of danger you can run into, so here's a quick list of some of the notable things to watch out for.

 

Heat Stroke

Australian summers are known to be brutal when it comes to temperature - reaching over 40 degrees Celsius in some parts! Heat exhaustion happens when the body has been exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time causing water and salt depletion from the body. This is exacerbated with physical activity in high heat. Symptoms can include dizziness, nausea and headaches, and can be treated quickly by drinking fluids and staying in a cool shady area. 

If heat exhaustion is left untreated and the body continues to stay in prolonged high temperatures, this can develop into heat stroke - a serious and potentially life threatening condition. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature rises to at least 40° C and neurological complications begin. Symptoms include seizures, disorientation, nausea, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

To treat Heat Exhaustion:

  1. Rest in a cool and shady place.
  2. Loosen tight clothing and sponge down with cool water.
  3. Give fluids to drink and seek medical aid if symptoms are worsening.

To treat Heat Stroke:

    1. Follow DRSABCD
    2. Apply cold packs to the neck, groin and armpits.
    3. Cover with a wet sheet.
    4. Ensure an ambulance has been called (000).

Give fluids to drink if conscious and wait for medical help.


Sunburn

Sun safety is as important as ever, in the blazing summer heat, but did you know that sunburn can happen all year round? In fact, it happens equally as much in winter as it does summer. Sunburn is a sign that the skin has been exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays for too long, but skin damage isn't always evident. Sunburn typically presents as a reddening of the skin and blistering, alongside dizziness and nausea for more severe cases. If you've forgotten to slip/slop/slap before heading outdoors, then read on to learn how to treat sunburn.

To treat Sunburn:

  1. Rest in a cool and shady place.
  2. Cool shower, cool bath, or sponge with cool water for 10 minutes. Repeat if it eases discomfort.
  3. Apply wet gauze padding to the sunburnt area.
  4. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
  5. Seek medical assistance for infants and casualties with blisters.

 

Snake, Spider and Insect Bites

The creepy-crawlies are out in full force, and even though they're not likely to bite, there's nothing more important than safety! Snake, spider and insect bites are most common in the warmer months, and should always be treated as potentially life threatening. 

To treat Snake bites:

All known or suspected snake bites must be treated as potentially life-threatening, and medical aid should be sought urgently.  

  1. Follow DRSABCD.
  2. Call 000 for an ambulance.
  3. Lie the patient down and ask them to keep still.
  4. If the bite is on a limb, apply an elasticised roller bandage over the bite site as soon as possible.
  5. Apply a further elasticised roller bandage, starting just above the fingers or toes and moving upwards on the bitten limb as far as can be reached. (Use clothing if an elasticised roller bandage is not available.) Apply the bandage firmly. You should be unable to easily slide a finger between the bandage and the skin.
  6. Immobilise the bandaged limb using splints, and make sure the patient stays still until help arrives.

To treat Spider bites:

Spider bites can be tricky - depending on the type of spider that has bitten you! We go through a few different bites and what you need to do:

Funnel Web / Mouse Spiders:

These are the most dangerous spiders and treatment from medical emergency is urgent. Call for an ambulance immediately.

  1. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage - starting from the tips of the hands or toes.
  2. Keep calm, still and keep the wound level with the body.
  3. Immobilise the limb with a splint if possible.
  4. Wait for emergency services.

Red Back Spiders:

Not as life-threatening, however, a bite can cause significant pain.

  1. Apply a pressure bandage and cold compress.
  2. Raise the affected limb.
  3. Seek medical assistance if required.

Other Spiders:

Most other spiders are harmless in terms of danger from their bites:

  1. Wash the bite site with water and mild soap.
  2. Apply a cold compress if necessary to help with swelling / pain.

To treat Insect bites:

  1. Follow DRSABCD
  2. Apply a cold compress if necessary to help with swelling / pain.
  3. Seek medical help if symptoms worsen. 


Ticks

Ticks are the Aussie issue A, the little friends you pick up and have oh-so-much trouble getting rid of. For times like these, nothing's better than a good Tick Puller. These should be mandatory to keep on hand whenever you're spending time outdoors - after all, ticks love you much more than you love them, and keeping them away is like pulling teeth - try pulling ticks instead!

 

General Injuries

For those inevitable times when you roll your ankle running around outside, you need something to treat it. Instant ice packs don't require any refrigeration, so they're really handy to have in your kit when you're travelling. These are also helpful for the treatment of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Bandages, bug spray, antiseptic... the list goes on and on, and it's almost impossible to think of every possible problem that could crop up, especially if you've got kids, and the best route to make sure you're covered for every situation is getting your hands on a first aid kit. Sure, your kid could cop character-creating cuts, but if you've collected a kit, these consumables can catch what could be a killer call to 000 quick. (Try saying that fast!)

 

Party Season

We all want to cut loose, especially at the end of a long year, but don't get to the point where anybody needs to cut you off instead. The holidays are supposed to be fun for everybody - don't ruin it for your family or coworkers by getting too silly, particularly at a work Christmas party. Make it a night to remember, not one people want to forget.

 

For further information, check out Fastaid's blog on this topic here