Head2toe First Aid

Real Life First Aid Incidents – A Series… Can you guess what happened? 👀
You know that moment when you think the stove is off and safe… but it’s still hot? 😬

Well… THIS is why toddlers and hot stovetops don’t mix! 🔥

One quick touch was all it took for a little hand to come into contact with a hot stovetop and cause a burn.
Accidents can happen in seconds, especially with curious little ones. Knowing what to do straight away can make a big difference.
🩹 First Aid for a Burnt Hand:
👉 Move the child away from the heat and stop the burning process.
👉 Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible.
👉 Remove rings, watches or other tight items from the affected hand if they are not stuck to the skin.
👉 Do not use ice, creams, oils or butter on the burn, and don't pop any blisters.
👉 After cooling, cover the burn with a light, loose, non-stick dressing or clean, dry, non-fluffy material.

⚠️ Burns involving the hand may need medical assessment, particularly if the burn is deep, blistered, larger than a 20-cent coin, or you are concerned about the injury.

🚨 Call Triple Zero (000) if the burn is severe or the child has other serious symptoms.

And remember… just because the stove is switched off doesn't mean it's safe to touch! 🔥👋
A few seconds of curiosity can result in a painful injury.

It's a webinar kind of week.... about to run my 2nd Medication webinar of the week for Regional SA.

We LOVE developing flexible training solutions.

Scenario:
An older family member has fallen at home. They tell you, “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

Would you know what signs mean you should seek urgent medical help?
🚨 Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance if they:
• Lost consciousness or briefly blacked out.
• Are confused, unusually drowsy or difficult to wake.
• Have a seizure.
• Have trouble speaking, seeing, walking or moving normally.
• Develop weakness or numbness.
• Have a severe or worsening headache.
• Vomit after hitting their head.
• Have blood or clear fluid coming from their nose or ears.
• Have severe pain, particularly in the hip, neck, back or chest.
• Cannot stand or put weight on a leg.
• Have significant bleeding that won't stop.
• Have difficulty breathing.

⚠️ Don't assume they're okay just because they say they are.
Older people can have significant injuries after a fall without immediately recognising or reporting them. Falls can result in hip fractures and head injuries, and some symptoms can develop later.

What would you do?
👉 Stay with them, keep them comfortable and assess for obvious injury.
👉 If there are signs of a serious injury or medical emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
👉 If it isn't an emergency, contact their GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice.

What would you do? 🤔

👀 Can you guess what this photo is?
If you guessed a snake bite, you're right!

This is the foot of our trainer Amanda's 14-year-old great niece after she was bitten by a Black Tiger Snake (eek! 🐍). Amanda's family have kindly given us permission to share this photo as a timely reminder that we're not the only ones making the most of the winter sunshine after a few cold, drizzly days.

One common misconception is that snakes completely hibernate during winter. In reality, many remain active and will often come out to bask in the sun on warmer winter days. The difference is that we're usually not looking out for them as carefully as we do in summer.

In this case, the snake was lying in the sun when it was accidentally stepped on. It bit straight through long pants and socks. Amazingly, Amanda's niece didn't realise she'd been bitten at the time. Fortunately, she saw the snake and thought to check her foot, where she found the bite marks.

Thankfully, there was a first aid kit nearby. The Pressure Immobilisation Technique (PIT) was applied to the entire limb using bandaging and a splint, and 000 was called immediately.

The good news? It turned out to be a dry bite, meaning no venom had been injected. However, you can never assume this at the time. Every snake bite must be treated as a medical emergency, even if the person feels well.

🐍 Remember:
• Apply a bandage from below the bite covering as much of the limb upwards as you can (use clothing if no bandage is available).
• Splint the limb and keep the person still.
• Call 000 immediately.
• Do not wash the bite site, cut the wound, or try to catch the snake.

As the weather starts to warm up—even in winter—take a little extra care when walking through long grass, around rocks, or anywhere snakes may be soaking up the sun.

Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make all the difference. At Head2Toe First Aid, we're passionate about giving people the confidence and skills to respond when it matters most.

Have you ever come across a snake during winter? We'd love to hear your story in the comments! 🐍☀️

The best first aid is prevention... but prevention isn't always easy. ❤️

If you've trained with us before, you've probably heard us say that the best first aid is prevention.

The same is true when it comes to our health.

As a nurse, I've spent years encouraging people to have screening tests, monitor their health, and pick up potential problems early. It all sounds so logical... until you're the one sitting on the other side of the desk.

Recently, I was reminded of that firsthand.

With a strong family history of early heart disease, my GP recommended some additional testing, including a calcium score scan, to help us better understand my risk.

The blood tests were easy.

Booking the scan? That was another story.

It wasn't because I didn't have time. It was because I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

What if something was wrong?

Had I done enough?

Should I have exercised more? Eaten differently?

Would I walk away with a handful of new medications?

It turns out that sometimes our emotions can be much bigger barriers than our busy schedules.

Eventually, I booked the scan, kept the appointment, and (after spending far too much time imagining the worst) returned for my results.

Thankfully, everything came back looking really good. No medication for now.
But the biggest feeling wasn't excitement—it was relief.

Not simply because the results were good, but because I finally had the information I needed to make informed decisions about my health moving forward.

Ironically, I left that appointment and headed straight to my mammogram. It had become my "proactive health day," and it reminded me why prevention matters so much.

Whether it's a heart health check, a skin check, bowel screening, a mammogram, cervical screening, or another test your healthcare provider has recommended, don't let fear stop you from getting the information you need.

Knowledge isn't something to fear—it's one of the most powerful tools we have.
Just like first aid, taking action early gives us the best chance of achieving the best possible outcome.

Have you been putting off a health check you've been meaning to book? Maybe today is the day to take that first step. 💕