How to Treat the 4 Most Common Sports Injuries

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

How to Treat the 4 Most Common Sports Injuries  With the warmer weather starting to come around everyone is gearing up to play outdoors. While making the most of the sunshine it is important to be aware of sports injuries and how to treat them if they occur. The First Aid Canada team has put together recommendations for frequent injuries occurring in a sports setting: Sprained Ankle Spraining an ankle is a very popular injury occurring among athletes. It occurs when one of the ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that hold your bones together) twists, stretches too much or …

What to Look for on the Golf Course this Spring

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

  With Spring in full bloom the golfers have started to head out to the courses to break personal records, for friendly competition with friends or maybe even a hole-in-one! If you are a frequent golfer it is important to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of heart attacks. It is not uncommon for cardiac arrest to occur on the golf course as the attacks themselves sneak upon you suddenly. Heart attacks can also happen at any age. For more information on warning signs and symptoms check out our blog on The Difference in Heart Attacks for Men and …

How to Make Your Workplace a Safer Place

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

How to Make Your Workplace a Safer Place Office safety is crucial in any workplace. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read up on the Provincial Safety Requirements for your province on our blog you should definitely do so by clicking here or finding your province below: British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec Newfoundland & Labrador Nova Scotia  New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Along with an adequate first aid kit is important to have an Automated External Defibrillator onsite in the office. Cardiac arrest can occur at any age and it has even been recorded that the most …

How to Recognize and Manage Allergic Reactions

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

How to Recognize and Manage Allergic Reactions  Recognizing an Allergic Reaction Allergic reactions happen when a person’s immune system overreacts to something usually harmless, such as food, pollen, bug stings/bites, or medications. Although very common, allergic reactions can be fatal so it is important to recognize the spectrum of symptoms occurring during an allergic reaction, what to do before help arrives and how to prevent incidences in the future. Mild Allergic Reactions: Hives Itchy skin Red, itchy eyes Nasal congestion, runny nose Rashes Moderate to Severe Allergic Reactions: Swelling of the hands, feet, lips, face, or throat Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, …

How to Treat Burns

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

How to Treat Burns  Burns can occur more frequently over the holidays due to hazards such as Christmas lights, candles and holiday cooking. To prevent hospital visits it’s important to be prepared in the home to treat yourself if any burn-related accidents occur. First Aid Canada offers a few different options in regards to burn treatment: Water-Jel Cool Jel Water-Jel Cool Jel is a gel formulation that works quickly in emergency situations by cooling and soothing the inflicted area. The non-toxic and non-irritating gel formula also provides a protective barrier against bacteria to ensure protection against contamination. 2nd Skin Burn …

Signs, Symptoms & Treatment: Frostbite & Hypothermia

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

Frostbite Exposure to below-freezing temperatures causes frostbite. Frostbite can affect any area of the skin, however is most common in hands, feet, face and ears. It is important to understand the symptoms of frostbite to prevent this serious condition from progressing. Signs & Symptoms Aching pain Numbness Skin feels hard and waxy Skin is white and/or gray-yellowish in colour Treatment If you are without immediate medical attention and believed you are dealing with frostbite call a doctor right away. Begin by finding shelter, ideally indoors Do not attempt to thaw the frostbite as this can cause permanent damage Remove all …

How to be Prepared up the Mountain

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

Mountain Preparedness With the weather coming in full force towards winter Canadians are anticipating their visits to both local and destination slopes. Adventuring up the mountain can be an absolute blast from sledding, snowboarding and skiing to snowmobiling, tubing and snowshoeing – the fun is endless! Which is also one main reason why mountain goers should know how to be prepared:   BYOK – “Bring Your Own Kits” It is highly recommended to pack your own types of first aid supplies with you while hitting the slopes. You never know when and where you may find yourself in a situation …

How to Rescue an Infant from Choking

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

How to Rescue an Infant from Choking The First Aid Canada team hopes you never have to be put into the position of saving an infant’s life, however it is valuable to know the steps on how to proceed if you ever find yourself faced with this reality. Choking: Step 1: Assess the Situation Is the infant crying or coughing? Is their face turning red or blue? If the infant is unable to cry or cough this means there is most likely something blocking their airway. Their skin may be turning bright red or blue. If the infant is coughing …

NEW 2015 CPR/AED Guidelines

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

NEW 2015 CPR/AED Guidelines The ILCOR 2015 CPR/AED Guidelines for Adult Basic Life Support and CPR Quality: Lay Rescuer CPR Here’s what you need to know about changes: The crucial links in the out-of-hospital adult Chain of Survival are unchanged from 2010, with continued emphasis on the simplified universal Adult Basic Life Support (BLS) Algorithm. The Adult BLS Algorithm has been modified to reflect the fact that rescuers and activate emergency response (i.e. through the use of mobile telephone) without leaving the victim’s side. It is recommended that communities with people at risk for cardiac arrest implement PAD programs. Recommendations …

What to do if you knock out a tooth?

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

First Aid for Knocked-Out Tooth No one wants to think about the possibility of having a tooth knocked out or picture it. However, with all things in life it is important to be educated when you feel this could be a danger, for example if you are a hockey player, cyclist or work in an environment where this could be a future risk. Step 1: Collect Teeth and/or Fragments Collect fragments Only touch the crown (top part of the tooth), be sure to not touch the root Rinse tooth gently if necessary Step 2: Re-Insert or Store Teeth Rinse tooth …

Tips for Babysitting First Aid

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

Tips for Babysitting First Aid Being a responsible caretaker means being prepared. Feeling confident in your problem solving and first aid skills can allow you to relax and focus on the children you are caring for. Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind while child-minding: Stay Focused It is important to keep your eyes on the children at all times while they are awake. There can be an assortment of hazards both indoors and outdoors with appliances, plants, animals, etc. If you are asked to complete an additional task by the parents while you are minding the …

The Importance of First Aid Training

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

Why should you take a Standard First Aid Course? Many people respond with the fact that it is mandatory for a job or it looks good on a resume. Despite this being the most common response, most people don’t realize that participating in a first aid course not only trains you how to properly respond to emergencies but it also trains you to become a leader and perhaps one day save a life. Recently, Clayton Blackwood of Toronto decided to take charge and help save the life of a 30-year-old woman who was struck by a van: He was cycling …