Wendouree West Community Gateway - Topics

First Aid - Emergency Numbers

Numbers To Call In An Emergency
To get medical assistance, call an ambulance on '000' as soon as possible. This number can be dialled from any phone, fixed or mobile. Alternatively, the digital mobile number is '112'. This number can be accessed on digital mobile phones only. You cannot access it from fixed network or new technology such as CDMA. 112 can be dialled from anywhere in the world with GSM coverage, and is automatically translated to that country's emergency number. The number can be dialled in any network area without the presence of the SIM card or without having the pin number for the phone.

First Aid - Kits

First Aid Kits
First Aid emergency kits are available at leading pharmacies, or can be purchased online through various organisations. You might even like to make a first aid kit to suit your own needs. St John Ambulance offers a range of products for purchase. PARASOL EMT also design and supply kits for a range of different situations. Kits include a comprehensive range of first aid supplies in durable and appropriate containers. If you can not find what you need here, call us and we can customise a kit for you.
Commercial.
Domestic.
Recreational.  
Industrial.
Vehicle.

First Aid - Medical Emergencies

Here we cover some common medical conditions that may threaten a person's life unless quick action is taken to treat those conditions. Early identification and treatment of these conditions may save a life.

Anaphylaxis
This is the most severe form of an allergic reaction and can be life threatening. Anaphylaxis occurs after exposure to an allergen to which a person is already sensitive. Contact the Australasian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (ASCIA) for more information.

Asthma
Asthma sufferers have sensitive airways, and when exposed to certain triggers the airway narrow making it difficult for them to breathe. Asthma can develop suddenly or over several days. Treat the condition with care as the effects can be sudden and serious. Contact the National Asthma Council Australia or Asthma Australia for more information.

Bites and Stings
Venomous bites and stings are injected poisons. Many of Australia’s creatures are particularly poisonous, with eleven of the world’s twelve most venomous snakes residing here. As for general poisoning, prevention is better than cure, so take care when in an area frequented by snakes and spiders, and treat venomous sea creatures with respect.

Choking
Choking is caused by the lodgement of a foreign object in the airways. If a casualty appears to be in increasing distress, then the object may be totally obstructing the airway and you may need to assist in its removal.

Croup
Croup is a condition that mainly affects children. It is a viral infection of the voice box and windpipe. Croup will normally last three to four days and the patient may have repeated attacks. The condition is more evident at night, with the patient often having a hoarse cough. a slight temperature and breathing difficulties. Seek medical aid as soon as possible.

Diabetes
This condition is caused by an imbalance of sugar or glucose in the blood. Patients can suffer from hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). When in doubt as to wether the patient is suffering low or high blood sugar levels, treat as for low blood sugar. Contact Diabetes Australia for more information.

Drug Overdose
Drugs are usually medicinal substances that come in a variety of forms: pills, capsules, powders, liquids, aerosols and pastes. All drugs, even non-prescription drugs, are dangerous when taken as an overdose. Using another person’s medication is also a very dangerous practice. Elderly people are at risk of accidental overdose due to memory lapses, and unsupervised children are also potential risks.

Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disorder which takes the form of recurring seizures. Seizures are sudden uncontrolled episodes of electrochemical activity in the brain. Brain cells normally communicate with each other in a coordinated way to control our conscious state and body movements. During a seizure this communication is temporarily disturbed and becomes uncoordinated. Don't be afraid to help a person having a seizure.

Febrile Convulsions
These occur in babies and young children and is often caused when a child has a high temperature. The most important thing you can do in this situation is remain calm and comfort the child. Medical help should be sought as soon as possible.

Heat Induced Conditions
The body has some natural defence mechanisms against excessive heat and cold. It regulates body heat by sweating, releasing heat through the body surface (heat loss) and through lung moisture evaporation. Cold is managed by shivering, which generates heat within the body. Heat related conditions are those conditions brought on by exposure to high temperatures and humidity.

Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation occurs when a person takes quick, shallow breaths from the top of their chest. Hyperventilation may occur due to a number of causes, most of them related to anxiety, fear or irrational emotional outbursts. Reassurance of the casualty and a calm approach often lead to the condition being quickly relieved.

Near Drowning
Near drowning is the term for survival after suffocation caused by submersion in water or another fluid. Some experts exclude from this definition cases of temporary survival that end in death within 24 hours, which they prefer to classify as drowning.

Poisoning
Poisons are substances that if inhaled, ingested, absorbed or injected, harm the structures or functions of the body. Some types of poisons may act immediately on the body, others may act more slowly. Whatever the substance, remember that Prevention Is Better Than Cure!

Stroke (Brain Attack)
This happens when essential supplies of blood and oxygen are cut off from the cells in the brain that control everything we do. Attacks generally happen from one or two things; a blocked blood vessel to the brain, or a ruptured blood vessel causing bleeding into the brain. Contact the National Stroke Foundation for more information.
 

First Aid - Resuscitation