Are You Prepared For A Medical Emergency?

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Accidents and injuries can occur at any time. By being prepared for such medical emergencies, you can reduce any harm to anyone involved – whether it’s yourself, a friend, a family member or a complete stranger. Below are a few key tips for being prepared. 

Keep your phone on you

You never know when you may have to make an emergency call. This is why it’s important to keep your phone on you and keep it charged up. If you need to ring an ambulance, you can then do so straight away. This is particularly important when travelling somewhere fairly remote alone – if you’re unable to call anyone for help, your phone literally be your lifeline. 

Take a first aid course

Being able to call a paramedic may not be enough. In some situations, whether a person lives or dies may depend on what treatment you can provide until the paramedic arrives. 

CPR is arguably the most important first aid skill you can learn – this involves manually aiding circulation of blood and oxygen around the body when someone is in cardiac arrest. You can learn more about CPR courses online. 

On top of a cardiac arrest, it could be worth learning first aid to deal with unconsciousness, seizures, burn injuries, cut injuries, choking and heat stroke. You can learn how to deal with all of these types of incidents by taking a full first aid course. You may also be able to learn first aid skills by watching videos online or even by downloading apps (although a course is typically best for providing hands-on training, as well as certification). 

Stock up on first aid supplies

When a medical emergency occurs, having a first aid kit handy could be essential. This should contain items like antihistamines, bandages, eye dressings and antiseptic wipes/creams.

Many people only stock up on the basics like plasters and painkillers without considering more serious accidents. There are first aid kits that you can buy with all the necessary equipment already in them. This could be more convenient than stocking up this kit yourself. Just make sure to replace any items that are used.

Every workplace should have a first aid kit. You should also store a first aid kit at home. On top of this, it could be worth taking some first aid supplies with you while travelling (particularly if you’re camping or hiking). 

Know the early warning signs

Many medical emergencies can be prevented by knowing the warning signs. In other cases, they may simply allow you to act faster to prevent things getting too serious. 
For example, do you know the early warning signs of a heart attack? What about an allergic reaction? It’s worth knowing how to look out for these warning signs not just in yourself but in other people. If you have pets, it could also be worth knowing a few warning signs to spot when they are seriously ill (pets may try to hide such symptoms, making them even easier to miss).